The 8 Best Movies That Feature Whisky (Because Bourbon Deserves Screen Time Too)

Let’s be honest—whisky isn’t just a drink. It’s a mood. A vibe. A ritual. It’s what you sip when you’re celebrating, sulking, or sitting alone in a leather armchair contemplating the meaning of life (or whether to text your ex). And in cinema? Whisky’s basically a supporting actor in a tailored suit.

So, grab your favorite glass, pour two fingers (maybe three—no judgment), and settle in. Here are the 8 best movies that feature whisky—where the dram does more than just sit pretty.

1. Lost in Translation (2003) – Suntory Time, Baby

Bill Murray. A Japanese hotel bar. A glass of Hibiki 17. It’s iconic. The scene where Murray’s character films a hilariously awkward commercial for Suntory whisky has become legend—and single-handedly boosted Japanese whisky sales for a decade. The film itself is quiet, thoughtful, and slightly tipsy. Just like a good night with a bottle of the good stuff.

2. Skyfall (2012) – Shaken? Stirred? Nah. Straight.

James Bond usually orders a martini, but in Skyfall, he trades in the olive for something bolder. When villain Silva pours Bond a Macallan 1962 (yes, a real and rare Scotch), it becomes more than a drink—it’s a psychological chess piece. Also, if Bond drinks it, so can you. Just don’t try the hand-to-hand combat afterward.

3. The Shining (1980) – Whisky and Ghosts

Nothing says “I’m slowly losing my mind in a haunted hotel” like talking to a ghost bartender while sipping Jack Daniel’s. Jack Nicholson’s descent into madness is made all the more chilling with a glass of American whiskey in hand. It’s not exactly a cozy vibe, but hey—neither is isolation in Colorado with cabin fever.

4. John Wick (2014) – Bourbon and Bloodshed

John Wick doesn’t say much. But when he pours himself a glass of Blanton’s bourbon between eliminating waves of hitmen, you know it’s his version of meditation. He drinks it neat, just like his kills. Stylish, efficient, and smooth—but with a kick.

5. Kingsman: The Golden Circle (2017) – Whisky with Explosions

This one’s a double treat. Not only does it feature loads of action and style, but whisky is basically a plot device. Enter the Statesman—an American version of the Kingsman spy agency, disguised as a bourbon distillery. With stars like Channing Tatum and Pedro Pascal slinging bottles of “Statesman” whiskey and six-shooters, it’s Bond meets barrel-aged brilliance.

6. Casablanca (1942) – Scotch with Sass

Humphrey Bogart’s Rick Blaine owns a bar in Morocco, smokes like a chimney, and always has a drink nearby. Sure, they don’t zoom in on the bottle, but let’s be real—that’s whisky in that glass. The man oozes noir sophistication, and whisky fits him like a fedora.

7. The Untouchables (1987) – Bootleggers and Booze

You can’t make a movie about Prohibition-era Chicago without whisky flowing under the table. Kevin Costner and Sean Connery square off against Al Capone’s empire of illegal booze. There’s drama, shootouts, and more suits than a courtroom. A whisky-soaked salute to rebellion, really.

8. Inglourious Basterds (2009) – Whisky as a Weapon

Leave it to Tarantino to turn a glass of Scotch into a tension grenade. When Michael Fassbender orders whisky in a basement bar filled with Nazis, things go south faster than you can say “prost.” The drink becomes the fuse in one of the tensest scenes in modern film—and it’s glorious.

The Final Sip

Whisky in film isn’t just background noise—it’s character development. It tells you who’s tough, who’s tortured, and who knows how to hold their liquor when the world is burning around them. Whether it’s a smoky Scotch in a noir thriller or a Kentucky bourbon in a cowboy shootout, one thing’s clear: whisky always finds its moment on screen.

So next time you hit play on a film and reach for a drink, skip the soda. Go with something aged, complex, and full of character.

Just like your movie taste. Cheers, gentlemen. 🥃