Role out the barrel as whisky expert lands acting job in The Angel’s Share

AS ONE of Scotland’s leading authorities on whisky, it is not unusual for Charles MacLean to be called upon by film makers making movies involving malt to give them the benefit of his expertise.

However, when he was asked to be a consultant on renowned director Ken Loach’s latest film The Angels’ Share, MacLean’s knowledge and experience propelled him from behind the scenes to an acting role.

A bittersweet comedy set in Scotland, The Angels’ Share tells the story of Robbie, a Glasgow boy locked in a family feud who has become a father for the first time and is looking for a way out. While serving a community service order, he meets three other lost souls who turn to an extremely rare and expensive malt whisky as a way to escape a life of poverty.

MacLean, 60, is cast in the role for which he has had many years’ preparation: that of a whisky expert, dispensing advice and wisdom on the Water of Life.

The film is the creation of Scottish screenwriter Paul Laverty, whose credits include My Name Is Joe, The Wind That Shakes The Barley and Looking For Eric.

Loach is one of Britain’s most influential directors, whose work includes such influential films as: Kes, Up The Junction, Cathy Come Home and My Name Is Joe.

Based in Edinburgh, Mac Lean has written numerous books on the subject and acted as a consultant to the whisky industry who elected him Master of the Quaich, its highest accolade, in 2009.

Approached in 2010 to help Laverty with his research, during the first year MacLean’s involvement with the film was purely advisory.

However, it was when he took the production team, including Loach, to a whisky sale at Bonhams the auctioneers, for whom he is a consultant, that MacLean inadvertently landed the role of Rory McAllister.

“On the day, I was asked to speak for 10 to 15 minutes before the auction, just to set up the provenance of the bottle, and they phoned up the next and said: ‘Thanks very much, it was very useful, and by the way Ken would like you to have the role of the whisky expert in the film’.”

Even before its general release next month, The Angels’ Share is gathering critical acclaim, having been accepted for the Cannes Film Festival next month, and being in the running for its Palme d’Or Award. However, MacLean hopes that, however the film performs, it will boost appreciation of whisky in the same way the 2004 US comedy Sideways did for Californian pinot noir wine.

“It’s a charming film and it emphasises the appreciation of malt whisky, and that’s a good message in these absurd times with all this concern about binge drinking. People don’t go binge drinking on malt whisky,” he said. “Just as they don’t binge on fine wine.”