Rory McCann-backed Slanj Whisky makes debut
Game of Thrones actor Rory McCann has invested in a new blended Scotch whisky brand, called Slanj.
Slanj whisky is founded by brothers Brian and Craig Halley, who also founded Slanj Kilts, and long-time friend Stuart Montgomerie, an investor and adviser to several Scottish businesses.
The trio are said to have dreamt of launching their own whisky brand for more than a decade and secured the name Slanj nearly 10 years ago.
The name comes from the Scottish toast ‘slàinte’, which means ‘health’. Slainte mhath (pronounced Slanj-a-va in English) was heard as glasses were raised in pubs, ceilidhs and gatherings across Scotland for centuries.
The brand has gained investment from long-time whisky lover McCann, the Scottish actor known for playing Sandor ‘The Hound’ Clegane in HBO TV show Game of Thrones.
In turning the team’s dream into a reality, independent blender and bottler Douglas Laing & Co was enlisted to help develop the whisky.
The aim was to create a whisky that while honouring tradition, also breaks with formality.
The first edition Slanj blend is made up of 70% Speyside single malt matured in Sherry casks and 30% Highland single malt matured in Bourbon casks. It is bottled at 46%, non-chill filtered and has a natural colour.
A decade in the making
Brian Halley said: “Scotch doesn’t need to be sacred to be exceptional. We’ve always loved the craft, but we wanted to create something that felt less like a ritual and more like a moment. Something people could enjoy instinctively, without second-guessing how to drink it.
“We’ve held onto the Slanj name for nearly a decade, waiting for the right time and the right whisky. After years in the making, it feels like the whisky Scotland’s been waiting for.”
The whisky’s notes are described as delivering a ‘smooth and rounded profile with fruit, subtle sweetness and gentle spice – while deliberately holding back on any smoke’.
It has an RRP of £47 (US$63) and will initially launch in the UK, with future ambitions to roll out internationally.
Douglas Laing has also supported the brand with a sustainable and consistent supply of quality malt for future bottlings.
The team is already looking at adding limited edition and special release whiskies to the lineup in the future.
Meanwhile, McCann, who has been called a key investor for the brand, said: “I’ve always loved whisky, but Slanj hits different.
“It’s smooth, no smoke, no fuss – just a bold, easy-going dram anyone can enjoy. I’m proud to back a whisky that’s pure Scottish spirit, without the rules. It’s the ultimate Scottish toast to the world.”
McCann is said to have been closely involved in the final blend and development process.
Whisky writer and co-founder of the Maclean Foundation, Charles MacLean, also added to the new launch with his seal of approval: “Slanj Whisky has been years in the making and it has been especially rewarding to follow its journey and see what the team has achieved. We are all very proud of this moreish blend.”
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