Press release: Distillery Drama

Falkirk Distillery becomes set-jetting spot

Falkirk Distillery is toasting its screen tourism debut in a new film by Scottish award-winning actor Brian Cox, reveals national tourism and events organisation, VisitScotland.

The distillery, near Polmont, rolled out the barrel rather than the red carpet when it hosted Cox (Succession) in August 2024 to film for his directorial debut.

Eighteen months later and the distillery is a star location in Glenrothan, directed by Cox and starring fellow Scots, Alan Cumming and Shirley Henderson. The film is set to be released in cinemas across the UK and Ireland on 17 April.

Screen tourism (also referred to as set-jetting), whereby visitors are influenced by what they see on-screen and seek out film locations, is popular in Scotland and an enduring travel trend.

VisitScotland’s latest travel trends report recognises the added value that film fans get when they visit on-screen locations in Scotland that are connected to our culture, history and heritage.

Glenrothan follows the story of two estranged brothers. After almost 40 years in Chicago, Donal (Cumming) returns to the Scottish Highlands to make amends with his older brother, Sandy (Cox), only to be asked to take over the family business – the Glen Nairn whisky distillery – and secure the family’s legacy.

Brian Cox describes Glenrothan as a ‘love letter’ to Scotland and says it pays “homage to the elements that make Scotland such an extraordinary country”.

The production took place across Stirling and Falkirk. The village of Gartmore in Stirlingshire was transformed into the fictional town of Glenrothan, while Falkirk Distillery doubles for the fictional Glen Nairn Distillery.

The distillery’s exteriors, warehouses, mash tun and still room all appear in the film. As distillery tours take place in the same locations, it means Falkirk Distillery visitors will literally be following in the footsteps of cast and crew when they take a tour.

Falkirk Distillery started production in 2020 and its first release came out in 2023. It opened its doors to the public in 2025. The distillery offers tours at its premises and, despite only opening last year, already has an international following, welcoming visitors from North and South America, Europe and Asia.

Falkirk Distillery stars as the fictional Glen Nairn Distillery. Credit: Visit Falkirk.

Alan Cumming and Brian Cox star as brothers in Glenrothan. Credit: Brodie Productions / Lionsgate

We can’t wait to see Falkirk Distillery shine in its on-screen debut in Glenrothan. We hope its appearance could lead to a screen tourism boost for not only the distillery but the surrounding area.

Screen tourism is a hugely popular trend and is about more than just visiting a film location. Films such as Glenrothan which are intrinsically Scottish provide a shop window to our landscapes, culture, history and, in this case, our national drink. They inspire fans to explore beyond film locations and immerse themselves in the real Scotland, helping to support local businesses and the wider visitor economy.

Lynsey Eckford, Regional Director, VisitScotland

We were delighted to be chosen as a film location for Brian Cox’s directorial debut. We are, like Brian, fiercely proud of our Scottish roots and the distillery has been built to reflect the traditional distillery design with the striking pagodas and dunnage warehousing.

The location of the distillery, in the heart of Scotland, reflects the changing landscape with a number of new distilleries in the Lowland Region, easily accessible for visitors to Scotland. My dad and I are immensely proud of what we have achieved in bringing the first whisky distillation back to Falkirk and now part of Scotland’s screen tourism trend.

Fiona Stewart, Owner, Falkirk Distillery

Glenrothan is, in many ways, a return – to a place, to a spirit, to something long buried beneath pride, silence, and time. This film is deeply personal to me. It’s rooted in the Scottish soil I come from, in the textures of its people – their humour, their stubbornness, their pain, and their capacity for grace.

Brian Cox, Director, Glenrothan