Premium whisky brand Balblair has partnered with internationally acclaimed Scottish photographer and director David Eustace to encourage everyone to embrace precious moments with a beautiful new film.
The film, titled ‘Precious Time’, explores the unrushed craft behind the luxury brand’s single malt whisky and features the unspoilt beauty of the Highlands that surround the iconic distillery, which was formed way back in 1790.
Here, LLM writer Raj Gill talks to David to hear his thoughts and inspiration behind the film.
How did the partnership arise between yourself and Balblair?
I had been introduced to Balblair and the distillery manager, John McDonald through a friend. On my first visit, I was overwhelmed by the respect the brand has for time, I found a unique perspective on their unhurried approach to creating whisky.
Embracing ‘Precious Time’ began to feel synonymous with Balblair. In my initial conversations with John we uncovered a mutual appreciation and perspective for how time impacts us, which led to me being entrusted with the writing, creation, and the direction of this film.
Then came the pandemic – the ultimate time test. It was interesting to see how, without the pressure and relentlessness of everyday life, we were all forced to slow down. Now the world is coming out of isolation and restrictions, we are all ready to escape and savour all the things we’ve not been able to do. I think we move back into normality with a new found appreciation of time and to embrace those moments that may have flown past us previously.
Through making this film, I’ve not only been given the opportunity to take in the immense beauty of the Scottish Highlands and deliver it to the world, but also to communicate the sentiment of how precious moments in time truly are.
What is the inspiration behind the ‘Precious Time’ film?
Having visited Balblair’s distillery many times and getting to know John, I’ve always been struck by the feeling that time there passes quietly. There is a real sense of their hope to achieve the perfect single malt. Every day most of us track and plan how to use our time most quickly and efficiently, yet in contradiction, the best use of time is to reconnect with the moment and step away from the day to day. The beauty lies, quite simply, in slowing down and finding moments to experience the natural passage of time.
The importance Balblair places on time and taking things slowly, really inspired me. One of the most enjoyable parts of whisky, for me, is that moment before you drink it. The key shot of the film is when John lifts the glass, looks at it and the film cuts just before he drinks it. This is because that moment is his time, his enjoyment. That is the precious time.
What does ‘Precious Time’ mean?
Relating to the time it takes to create a great whisky, but the importance of time to the people behind it and reflection in their craft, is something that I really wanted to highlight. Precious time means different things to different people, and that is the beauty of it. Balblair sees how important this is. Balblair has a genuine respect for the passage of time and role it plays in their craft. Theirs is a distillery with a team that has an unwavering hands on approach. Their passion drives each step in the journey to create such an authentic whisky.
The film is beautifully shot, how did you find the locations?
There is a feeling of timelessness when visiting the distillery and the surrounding landscape. You really don’t have to look too far to discover the beauty of the distillery’s unspoilt setting in the Scottish Highlands. The distillery has been a figure in the landscape largely unchanged since 1790, which itself is timeless. The surrounding land provides key natural ingredients to create the whisky.
Each spot in the film has a connection to Balblair. One location is the Struie Hill viewpoint which showcases the rolling hills that lead seamlessly to the sea. It is a vista that has been appreciated by generations past. We pay homage to the importance of a moment, enjoying the time and how precious it is.
Are there another two or three locations we can focus on from the film?
We caught the sunrise over the Dornoch Firth Bridge to give us an uninterrupted, panoramic view across the water to show the incredible reflection. We filmed on Struie Hill viewpoint which gave us an incredible outlook of the landscape and an appreciation for the beauty and diversity of the local area with hills and coastline next to each other. Each of drop of Balblair’s whisky takes a piece of this Highland wonderland with it as it departs the distillery. The locations are an exceptionally important part of the film.
The letter is a key focus for the film. Please can you share the importance of the letter and what it represents?
It takes time and effort to sit and write a letter. The letter is a beautiful way to highlight the importance of consideration. There is a tactile quality connected with writing a letter too. Our day to day lives thrive on fast communications. The immediacy of social media, text, video calls give us a level of connectivity that we have never known before. But living in this fast-paced environment often means there isn’t an opportunity to immerse ourselves in seeking out those moments to really enjoy.
But swap out one of those communications and put pen to paper and the impact is quite different, for both the author and the recipient. Recognising the importance and skill in writing a letter creates a moment in time in which both the writer and the reader feel a sense of personal connection.
What would you like the viewer to feel after watching the film?
My hopes would be for the viewer to feel a sense of enjoyment, contentment and reflect on their own day. Whatever moments you are fortunate enough to enjoy in life, try and savour them, for each one is precious. Time demands respect from us all. We all know it slips by with such fragility, but I hope the film will encourage the viewer to stop and savour the special moments in life.
What’s next for the Balblair and David Eustace partnership?
I have joined the Balblair team as creative director, with a few other exciting projects in the pipeline for the future. I will continue to celebrate life, savour more things that are interesting and champion the appreciation of precious time.
