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Want to support this channel and help us preserve old films? Visit Visit our website This 1950s film describes the different stages of production of Scotch whisky from start to finish. It may have been made at the Glenlivet distillery near Ballindalloch in Moray, Scotland, which produces single malt Scotch whisky, or the Glenrothes distillery located in the town of Rothes in the heart of Speyside. The distillery sits beside the Burn of Rothes, hidden in a glen on the edge of the town. (The Scots spell it whisky and the Irish whiskey, with an extra 'e'. Whiskey is also used when referring to American whiskies.) A close-up of a water rapid in a river. Pan down to reveal the full river, then a smaller stream (:06-:37). Exterior shot of distillery, with a river in foreground (:41-:44). Seven or so workers roll barrels in front of the distillery (:45-:52)Close up on two workers rocking a barrel (:53-:55). A sequence of shots alternate between the exterior of the distillery from different angles, and the surrounding landscape (:56-1:43). A field of barley shown (1:44-1:58). Open-backed trucks drive sacks of barley into the distillery (1:59-2:03), then workers are seen unloading the sacks into the barley loft (), then barley is steeped in water (2:14-2:32). Various highland rivers shown from a range of perspectives (2:33 – 2:52). ‘Maltmen’ are seen spreading steeped barley onto the malting floor (2:53-3:04), then barley shown under magnification in two different stages of germination (3:05-3:13). Maltmen put on specialised boots, and begin turning the barley (3:14-3:36). Kiln exterior (3:37- 3:50). Workers are seen in the peat ‘mosses’, removing peat with shovels (3:51-4:13), then is placed in an active furnace below the malting floor. Camera returns to maltmen turning drying barley (3:51-4:26). A revolving scoop guides dried malt into a mill, seen spilling out of a large pipe as a steaming mixture of malt and water (4:27-4:43), the mixture is seen being mechanically stirred by revolving brakes in a large cauldron, and residue is dropped into a truck outside the distillery (4:44-5:06). A man cleans the inside of the fermenting chamber (5:07-5:15). Several men add yeast to the fermenting chambers (5:16-5:31). The foam on top of chamber shown forming, then rotating mechanical arms subdue foam. (5:32-5:45). A man inspects several pot stills i(5:46-5:57). Two men throw fuel into the furnace below the still (5:58-6:17). The stillmen strikes a bobbin against a pot still, to gauge the level of the ‘wash’ inside (6:33-6:52). A man continues to inspect the pot-stills, as does the excise officer, who carries a large set of keys (6:53-7:16). Shots of the cooling pipes, leading into a body of water, which condense vapours into liquid again (). Shot of two spirit stills being inspected (7:31-7:37), two men are working at a spirit safe, one releasing the distillate into beakers (7:38-8:09). Workers are seen working with whisky casks (8:10-8:34). The excise manager and general distillery manager unlock the warehouse and enter (8:35-8:53). Workers roll casks across the warehouse floor. One removes a sample of new whiskey and hands to the managers (8:54-9:12). The managers observe sample, measuring alcohol content with an alcometer. (9:13-9:32). A single cask rolled into storage. From the writing on the side it appears that this is Glenlivet Scotch. Shot of many casks in storage including one from Glenrothes. A controller taps at the casks with a hammer, then begins to remove cork to attain a sample (9:33-9:54). Shots of highland landscapes (9:55-10:27). Exterior shot of a of master blender’s office. A master blender describes the blending process to the camera. In front of him is a series of single origin whiskies, in small glass bottles, each with a respective sample glass. We takes pensive sniffs of various glasses (). Barrels of whiskey shown (11:59-12:06). A man knocks corks from the barrels and guides whisky down a trough to the blending vats (12:07-12:24). Blending vats shown, and a worker pumps whisky into an out-of-frame barrel. Blenders are seen testing various barrels before allowing contents to age (12:25-12:47). Extreme long shot of bottling factory. Bottling process shown, then boxed in shipping containers and stencilled (12:48-13:28). Two formally dressed men at a bar in a luxury jet are sampling a flight of whisky (13:30-14:08). Exterior shot of distillery, followed by more shots of highland landscapes. A man in quintessential Scots dress (14:09-14:52). Closing slate (14:53-14:59). This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit
