Glenmorangie Harrison Ford
Photography: courtesy of Glenmorangie

THERE ARE FEW things more quintessentially Scottish than a single malt whisky, and few actors who enjoy a single malt whisky more than Harrison Ford. The partnership between Ford and Glenmorangie, then, is an exceedingly natural fit. But even so, we didn’t expect to see the 82-year-old actor donning a kilt any time soon.

Ford and Glenmorangie have come together for Once Upon A Time in Scotland, a cinematic campaign directed by Australian actor and filmmaker Joel Edgerton. The project is an off-script, immersive journey into the heart of Glenmorangie’s Highland home that sees Ford explore Scotland’s glens and lochs. Shot in the picturesque town of Tain, the birthplace of Glenmorangie, the series captures Ford experiencing the whisky-making process firsthand. Twelve full-length episodes, the first six of which you can watch right now on YouTube, are a glimpse into the craftsmanship behind every Glenmorangie dram and the cultural tapestry of Scotland.

Dr. Bill Lumsden, Glenmorangie’s master distiller, assures us that Ford’s involvement isn’t just a marketing stunt. A longtime admirer of scotch whisky, Ford was already familiar with Glenmorangie before the collaboration.

“This is the first time that he’s actually worked with the Glenmorangie company, but I can say categorically that he knew the brand before,” Lumsden confirms. “Mr. Ford is a very well-known lover of not just whisky, but specifically single malt Scotch whisky.”

Beyond Ford’s star power, authenticity is at the heart of the campaign. The series is a realistic look inside Glenmorangie’s craftsmanship, with Dr. Lumsden and other employees positively chuffed to appear alongside Ford. “Myself, the distillery team, including the warehouse operators, all actually got to not just meet Harrison Ford, but to actually act along with him and appear in the films,” Lumsden says. “It’s unbelievable to have done that.”

Acting as Ford’s co-star is the Glenmorangie Original 12 Year Old, the distiller’s recently reimagined core expression. The whisky itself is a testament to the brand’s philosophy – one that balances tradition with innovation. Lumsden took us through exactly what sets the brand apart. “We are ruthlessly focused on maintaining the character and quality of our whisky,” he says. “Our whisky style is all about elegance and complexity and finesse. We are also very experimental and very open to new ideas, and from my perspective, nothing is impossible. Until, of course, I’ve proved that it actually is. But most things aren’t.”

The Original 12 Year Old boasts a rich and complex flavour profile according to Lumsden, reflecting Glenmorangie’s commitment to constant improvement. “What I was trying to achieve was to take something that people have known and loved for decades and see if I could improve on it,” he explains. “The key flavours you will find in there are all these nice floral notes; a little bit of rose or jasmine or carnation. You get some nice delicate fruits, particularly citrus fruit like mandarin orange, a bit of ripe peach and some nice pear and melon flavours. But then you get all these lovely, sweet wood-derived flavours, like honeycomb, crème brûlée and maple syrup. To top it all off, you get this curious herbal, minty top note.”

While Glenmorangie is known for its heritage, the brand is also deeply invested in innovation. Lumsden has long been fascinated by the endless possibilities within whisky-making. “As a scientist, I’m naturally inquisitive by my nature,” he says. “I get bored very easily, so I’m always trying to do new things. Obviously, that helps me a lot in my work in terms of trying to create new flavours, trying to make new styles of whisky.”

Clearly, this focus on innovation extends to Glenmorangie’s approach to marketing. Instead of following industry norms, Glenmorangie is setting new ones. “I would argue very strongly that at Glenmorangie we never follow. We always plough our own furrow,” Lumsden says.

Once Upon A Time in Scotland is certainly a new furrow, for both Glenmorangie and Ford. The series’ visuals capture Ford in a new light, and the actor’s traditional Scottish kilt is even custom made and designed by streetwear brand Palace – yet another fitting nod to Glenmorangie’s ability to fuse tradition with modernity.

The first six of 12 full-length episodes of Once Upon A Time in Scotland have now been released on the Glenmorangie website and YouTube. Additional episodes will be rolling out throughout 2025. The Glenmorangie Original 12 Year Old is available now at glenmorangie.com

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