Hi! Some years ago, Dave Broom and I first started to talk about working together. Over talk of music and literature and fine spirits, those early conversations became The Amber Light. And, so, here we are again: this time, we're casting our lens over to Ireland, my homeland, with an eye to similarly dive deep into its history and creativity through the methods and rituals of its drink culture. We'd love to welcome you on this journey with us.
It's quite an undertaking, these projects, and we need all the help we can get. Some progress has been made - you can see some highlights of a recent trip in the short video on this page, featuring the people we believe that will help us unravel and reveal the wonders of Irish drinks. And there's much more to come!
In that regard, we've partnered with the fine folks at That Boutique-y Whisky Company to create a one-off blend of Irish whiskies featured in the film, and a special tasting pack from Drinks by the Dram. They're a group that we feel are aligned perfectly with our ethos: fun, passionate, and committed to getting to heart of what makes these liquids so special. We're delighted to be able to offer as part of this crowdfunding campaign.
The Amber Light was a great success, and we're proud to have garnered awards and praise all round the world. We're confident we can not just emulate but grow on that success with this film.
While our target is £40,000, we can absolutely use whatever amount we are able to raise here - and filming is ongoing. We aim to complete the film by next Summer.
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We will very much rely on your help too. Please feel free to share this campaign with any likeminded friends and acquaintances, and on your various social media channels. Any way you could get the word out would be greatly appreciated. I think Indiegogo has provided some handy links…
Please be in touch. We look forward to hearing from you.
Warmest regards,
Adam.
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What's it all about, then?
The story of spirits has flowed through Ireland for centuries. Spirits have been traded, bartered, weaponised, outlawed, celebrated and loved. They are to be found at the heart of births, weddings, and funerals, at declarations of war, and the signing of treaties.
Each creator distils their culture into a liquid that reflects the place in which it was made and the people who made it. Using a blend of science, art, craft and magic, this ancient process remains under-explored, with limitless stories.
In this follow-up to 2019's award-winning 'The Amber Light’, we travel with spirits writer Dave Broom, this time journeying through Scotland's Celtic neighbour, Ireland. He finds a small country with epic proportions. A place of pubs and pints, of fiddles and famine, and tales of a storied whiskey industry which faltered but now is blossoming once more.
On a circular tour around this small island, we start in Dublin where we first experience the interlinking narratives of creativity, community and booze. Joyce, pub sessions and the rise and fall and rise again of Irish whiskey. From there, it's south to Cork and Kerry via Waterford - the land of rebels and innovators, and the Irish food revival.
Then it's the wild west coast, the Atlantic stretching out forever, where the past is being reshaped into a new and exciting future by artists, brewers and distillers. Finally, Donegal to Belfast, exploring the fluidity of borders, and life after The Troubles -minds and places changed in the very cradle of distillation.
Ireland’s drinks industry is the perfect illustration of how the country has been reborn. A new generation has looked into the past and come up with new ways to make not just whiskey but assert a new Irish identity. This is a new Ireland filled with new possibilities.
The cultural renaissance also applies to music, writing, food and art. Through conversations and sessions with Ireland's leading contemporary poets, writers, musicians and artists, we'll
celebrate and reveal how these disciplines intertwine with those of whisky to create a new Irish narrative.
Cinematic yet immediate, playful and with a poetic charm, this film will feel like an intimate chat beside the fire in your favourite pub. This is a look at Ireland’s creative rebirth, and the central role of drink within it.
