From probably the most famous fictional scotch whisky brand, Glencallan, to others such as Glengoolie scotch whisky from the FX TV series ‘Archer’, these are just some of the many fake brands that have appeared on screen over the years. On Movies and TV shows they tend to be usually difficult to spot and generally only the region or the age is highlighted without mentioning a brand…here is a sample of the top fictional brands found – I started by using the Scotch Cinema blog as the original source of material (its founder, Curtis MacEachern, has been logging every dram appearance since 2011) and since then I have continued to add new fake brands or appearances….if you see any out there, please contact me!

‘The term for the use of a fake product in the film industry is “Greek”. For example, a company will Greek a box of cereal so that they don’t feature a real brand in the scene, thus avoiding royalty disputes or the impression that they are promoting a particular product.’ Curtis MacEachern

An actual Glengoolie bottle

Swaford Single Malt Whisky (TV: Star Trek Picard; MacGyver)

Swaford Single Malt Whisky Star Trek Picard

Glenbarney Malt Scotch Whisky Single Barrel (TV: Mythic Quest ‘Peter’ episode)

Glenbarney Malt Scotch Whisky Single Barrel

Old Elk whiskey (Film: His Dark Materials)

Old Elk whiskey of Ireland His Dark Materials season 3 episode 4

Glen Edmonds scotch whisky (Film: Boss Level)

Glencallan scotch whisky (TV series: Chicago P.D.; Sons of Anarchy; Burn Notice; Nip/ Tuck; Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.; Community; Heart of Dixie; Grey’s Anatomy; Breakout Kings; The Mindy Project; Space Force)

“We’re trained to see brands, so when you don’t it’s almost jarring, but the network won’t use a brand if it interferes with an advertising deal they have or if it’s not used for its intended use. So instead of covering it with tape or running into a legal nightmare, we create these brands that are fictional.” Michael Bertolina, ISS’s former vice president of Entertainment Marketing and Acquisition

Balmoor scotch whisky (TV series: Chicago Med; The Grinder; Lipstick Jungle; The Defenders, Boston Legal, The Originals; Cloak & Dagger)

An actual Balmoor 21yo prop bottle

Glen McKenna scotch whisky (TV: How I Met Your Mother/ HIMYM)

This fictional scotch whisky has appeared a number of times on HIMYM – click here for more info if interested.

Clyburn scotch whisky (Film: The Dark Knight; Rock of Ages; The Place beyond the Pines/ TV: HIMYM)

Ron Burgundy’s Gret Odin’s Raven blended scotch whisky (Film: Anchorman)

“I love Scotch. Scotchy Scotch Scotch. Here it goes down. Down into my belly.” – Ron Burgundy

Note that this originally ‘fictional’ whisky in the first Anchorman film, was actually released in time for the sequel Anchorman 2, and is now available to purchase.  It’s apparently a classy blend, featuring grain and malt whiskies from the Highlands, Speyside and Islay – click here.

Premium Darkly Machiever scotch whisky (Film: I, Robot)

The Makallan 12yo scotch whisky (TV: South Park)

** NEW addition** The Makalaxx 12yo scotch whisky (TV: South Park)

makalaxx south park

McCleary scotch whisky (Film: Pulp Fiction, Barfly)

Glen Dochart scotch whisky (TV: Blacklist)

GlenKnolls scotch whisky (TV: Scandal; Modern Family; The People vs. OJ Simpson)

“This particular sighting marks the fourth appearance of mystery malt known as GlenKnolls. It has appeared in an episode of “The People V. O.J. Simpson” as well as two episodes of “Modern Family“. In each scene the label on the actual bottle itself is barely visible but after enlarging a few screenshots it no longer completely indecipherable.”Curtis MacEachern, Scotch Cinema blog

An actual Glen Knolls 30yo prop bottle

MacCutcheon scotch whisky (TV: Lost, Once Upon a Time)

This fictional scotch whisky brand appears numerous times during Lost – click here for more information.

Stafford Twin Wood scotch whisky (TV: Ray Donovan; Californication; MONK; How I Met Your Mother; Brooklyn Nine-Nine)

An actual Stafford Twin Wood 21yo prop bottle

J. Darby scotch whisky (TV: Lost; Life; NCIS; Film: Ava)

Miniatures of J. Darby 15yo as seen on American thriller film Ava

Hennigan’s scotch whisky (TV: Seinfeld)

To Jerry and Kramer, Hennigan’s has the advantage, unlike other brands of Scotch, of not leaving the imbiber smelling of alcohol.

“That’s right, folks. I just had three shots of Hennigan’s, and I don’t smell. Imagine, you can walk around drunk all day. That’s Hennigan’s, the no-smell, no-tell Scotch.”

“Say you got a big job interview and you’re a little nervous. Well, throw back a couple of shots of Hennigan’s, and you’ll be as loose as a goose and ready to roll in no time. And because it’s odorless, why, it’ll be our little secret.” (singing) “H, E, double-N, I…” Kramer

 

Mantia scotch whisky (TV: Westworld)


MacAskill Single Malt scotch whisky (Film: Local Hero)

MacFarland’s Single Malt scotch whisky (Film: Doctor Sleep)

An actual MacFarland 21yo prop bottle

Glenholme Single Malt Scotch whisky (TV: Vegas; Blindspot)

An actual Glenholme 18yo prop bottle

Halpenny Premium Malt Whiskey (TV: The Expanse)

The bottle used as the prop bottle for Halpenny Whiskey is actually the bottle for Khortytsa Vodka.

Glen Eyre Scotch Whisky (TV: The Expanse)

The bottle used as the prop bottle for Glen Eyre Scotch is actually the bottle for St. Germain elderflower liqueur.

McGlenton’s Scotch Whisky (TV: The Expanse)

The bottle used as the prop bottle for McGlenton’s Scotch whisky is actually the bottle for Zirkova Together Vodka.

SG Ceres Whiskey (TV: The Expanse)

The bottle used as the prop bottle for SG Ceres Whiskey is The Square stainless steel bottle by Clean Bottle.

Galglennie Irish whiskey (TV: Peaky Blinders)

This is another fictional whiskey brand and although not a Scotch whisky, I thought it would be worth adding it to the list.

galglennie irish whiskey whisky peaky blinders shelby whiskey

O’Gorman’s Irish whiskey (TV: Ted Lasso)

O'Gorman's IRish whiskey TED LASSO

House of Lords (Film: Bride of Frankenstein)

The Bride of Frankenstein is a 1935 American sci-fi horror film and this House of Lords scotch whisky can be seen on the footage. W Whiteley & Company Ltd used to produce a House of Lords blended scotch whisky and also owned Edradour Distillery in Scotland from 1933 (they also had another blended Scotch whisky brand called King’s Ransom). The House of Lords scotch whisky stopped being produced in 1966 even though it had only been available in export markets, due to protests at its naming by the upper house of the British parliament. Therefore, I have included this footage as it could be a fictional or a ‘real life’ brand created under a name which its producer did not have the authority to use. One to be investigated further…

 

For reference – Inside the Cask blog post ‘Whisky in Comics

For reference – Inside the Cask blog post ‘Do you recognise these ‘Fictional’ Drinks brands from Hollywood films and TV?’

 

19 Comments
  • Just wanted to say I found Balmoor in Boston Legal as well.

    https://ibb.co/r0V2dY8

  • Balmoor also appears in “The Originals” S03E16.

    • Also in The Originals, season 2 episode 8. Balmoor Twin (Wood)

  • How about real whiskey brands in TV shows? For example, there was an episode of “The West Wing” where the British Ambassador and one of the president’s senior advisors are at a state function, and the ambassador asks if they serve Lagavulin in the White House. The advisor responds in the negative, but suggests a nearby bar where they “keep a bottle” of Lavagulin for him. We never actually see the bottle or the label, but the Lagavulin figures prominently in the scene nonetheless. There is another episode in which a bottle of Johnnie Walker Blue Label is pivotal to the plot. I don’t know for sure whether these were instances of commercial product placement, or simply prop details that were used to give the episodes more of a ring of truth. Does anyone have any thoughts on these two episodes, or other examples of real whiskey brands that appear in TV or movies?

  • Not sure if real anyone know whiskey featured on Randall and Hopkirk deceased was only saw label from a distance but back label was diamond shape

  • Purely FYI, I first saw the J. Darby label in an episode of ‘Quincy’, then later in one or more episodes of ‘Murder, She Wrote’. 🙂

  • In the Originals, they drink Balmore example S2 E17, 34 minutes in. It’s on Netflix

  • Stafford – King of Queens – S8 E23 “Acting Out” – May 22, 2006

  • Macfarland is actually an Irish name, actual spelling McPharland and the Glenhomie box looks like it came from an older Midelton Very Rare.

  • Blacklist S7: E14 at 39:45 mins titled “Twamie Ullulaq (No. 126)” has FBI Deputy Director Cooper sharing a pour of “Fitchens” with Agent Park.

  • The Balmoor 21 yr single malt scotch appears in Grays Anatomy as well.

  • Balmoor shows up in the Apple TV+ series the Last Days of Ptolemy Gray. The bottle is an important element of a scene in the final episode.

  • Something called Conlaoch on this British Detective show called Vera. They/she is always drinking it.

  • Balmoor 12 in “The originals” season 4 ep 4 minute 35

    • Balmoor 21 in Mayor Of Kingstown Season 2 EP 8 @ 13 minutes in.

      • You got it..my friend!I’m at the 13:33 spot right now in episode 8 looking to find this somewhere and found this site..wow who knew!I’m glad I saw your reply b 4 I posted it because it wasent listed in the list above.

  • Balmoor 21 is in Cloak&Dagger episode 8, 22:25. Was curious about the brand and found this site. The plastic lid tho, lol

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