Endless overcast skies, looming castles and warm hospitality, there’s a lot that makes Scotland captivating. Spirit of Scotland, a new series by Wavemaker, makes you experience the culture of Scotland and explore what makes it so remarkable. It features actor Kunal Kapoor as the anchor of show, who explores the diversity of experiences that Scotland has to offer — from the fascinating northern lights, to its indigenous culinary history and luxurious hospitality. Over the five-episode series, he unpacks the charm of Scotland, one iconic distillery at a time. After all, its most significant export — the Scotch whisky — is relished all over the world.

On the spirit trail, Kunal Kapoor starts off by exploring the diverse landscape of Scotland, with a stop at the mystical Glamis Castle with Scottish travel photographer James Wright. Literature lovers will recognise it as the setting for Shakespeare’s Macbeth. He also hikes to Cairngorms National Park, the largest in Britain, where he witnesses the breath-taking beauty of the northern lights. He rounds up his journey with a visit to the home of The Glenlivet — the original single malt — which also has the distinction of being the first legally licensed distillery in Scotland.

Cheers at The Glenlivet distillery

Kunal Kapoor then embarks on a culinary journey of Scotland, guided by the Scottish palate. A standout experience is the haggis of Glasgow, a savoury pudding which is also the national dish of Scotland. On the search for the quintessential Scottish ingredient barley, he makes a stop at the Aberlour village where he partakes in a food and whisky pairing session at the Aberlour distillery, known for its sweet and fruity whiskies. Kunal also gets a taste of Scottish luxury. He stops by the Edinburgh studio of contemporary kiln maker Howie Nicholsby and heads to Cromlix — a luxury hotel owned by the Scottish tennis legend Andy Murray — dressed in a kilt. These steps lead him to Strathisla, the oldest operating distillery in Speyside and Home of the Chivas Regal.

The spirit of Scotland is, of course, incomplete without its people. From golfing champion Gemma Batty to contemporary artist Gordon Wilson, some living icons of Scotland show Kunal the defining traits of the Scottish persona — undaunted, unswayed and untypical. He also gets insight on spirits from none other than Sandy Hyslop, Ballantine’s Master Blender, at his home turf — the Glenburgie Distillery.

Kunal wraps up his journey with the experience of Scottish royalty, from the Duke of Argyll at his Inverary Castle estate to the resplendent Royal Yacht Britannia in Leith. A visit to the Royal Salute vault, an opportunity of a lifetime for collectors and connoisseurs of aged whisky, ends with a sip of the Royal Salute, marking a fitting conclusion to a regal journey.

For Kunal Kapoor, Scotland “has a certain charm which is too tough to escape.” As a host, he has “tried to bring to you the authentic Scotland experience and the charm of this beautiful country.” Watch the trailer of Spirit of Scotland, below.

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Crafted especially for the audience with a discerning taste, Spirit of Scotland is an ode to the country through its legends, culture, landscapes and its scotch whisky. You can catch the series on Times Now and ET Now every Saturday from 14th March onwards, and on YouTube @spiritofscotland_series.

This is a partnered post.