Harrison Ford’s latest screen appearance sees him star alongside the Glenmorangie Distillery team in “Once Upon a Time in Scotland,” a mini-series of 12 episodes directed by actor and filmmaker Joel Edgerton. Ford is a genuine whisky drinker, and the “Star Wars,” “Blade Runner,” and “Indiana Jones” star chose to play a version of himself in the new ads. Whisky Advocate was invited to attend a preview screening of the campaign in advance of the launch.
Ford brings his wry, self-deprecating sense of humor to the screen as we watch a behind-the-scenes story unfold. He travels to Scotland to shoot what appears to be a clichéd scotch whisky advertisement full of mountains, lochs, castles, and bagpipes. Edgerton’s direction playfully subverts the overworked stereotypes as Ford gruffly scoffs at a storyboard proposal requiring him to reprise his credentials as an action hero, longing instead to simply curl up in front of a roaring fire in a Scottish castle and enjoy a glass of smooth single malt scotch. The result is an irreverently enjoyable parody of the stuffy whisky advertising of days gone by. By the time Ford’s gravelly voiceover purrs the word “Glenmorangie” in a deep, rolling Scottish burr, it sends chills down your spine.
In one episode, we see Ford getting tongue-tied as he attempts to perfect the pronunciation of Glenmorangie, and in another, learning the pitfalls of inexperience as a first-time kilt wearer. Playing up the cranky, cantankerous elements of his character for laughs, reminiscent of his role as Dr. Paul Rhodes in “Shrinking” on Apple TV+ at times, Ford undergoes a journey of discovery as he meets the real men and women who make Glenmorangie at the distillery in Tain. Dr. Bill Lumsden and Gillian Macdonald from the whisky creation team play supporting roles across different episodes. It’s the first time the craftsmanship of the local people who work at the brand’s home has been at the heart of a Glenmorangie advertisement since The 16 Men of Tain campaign in the 1990s. Filmed over three days throughout the Highlands, the locations for “Once Upon a Time in Scotland” include the 19th-century Ardross Castle, the scenic landscapes around Loch Glass, and various settings at Glenmorangie Distillery from the warehouse to the stillroom. The finished episodes showcase Glenmorangie’s core range of Highland single malts and will be rolled out throughout 2025, with the first six episodes and bonus content now available to view on Glenmorangie’s website, online, and across social media.
