MacNair’s Lum Reek Peated 21 Year Old (48%, OB, 2018)

• ABV: 48%
• Age: 21 Years Old
• Bottling: OB, MacNair’s
• Category: Blended malt scotch whisky
• Cost: £125
• Origin: Unnamed Islay / Speyside
• Vintage: Undeclared

What they say

A 21 year old blended malt from the MacNair’s Lum Reek range, produced by the GlenAllachie Distillers Company. Built around a blend created by Billy Walker of peated Islay and Speyside whiskies, alongside with GlenAllachie single malt, this expression packs a satisfying peaty punch. It features whisky drawn from a combination of Oloroso, virgin oak and red wine casks. The name come from the Victorian distiller Harvey McNair, and the Scottish toast “Long may your lum reek!”.

What I say

Sampled during the #MacNairsWhisky Twitter tasting on Wednesday 13th February 2019.

Similar to the no age statement blended malt, however this time minimum component age is 21 years,  comprises a mixture of Islay and Speyside single malts, most likely some from parent company Glenallachie. Natural colour and non chillfiltered.

My tasting notes:

• Appearance:  Old Sauternes gold (11/20), quick, medium-sized tears and tapered to fine legs.
• Nose: Old oak wood and sherry butts in a dunnage warehouse, raisin, plum, cherry, cherry lips sweeties, sherry balsamic vinegar, cinnamon, nutmeg and clove spice feature too.
• Taste: Spiced oak wood, tobacco leaf, sandalwood, clove, mace, nutmeg, sweetens into honey, raisin, red cherry, a hint of orange zest and some mint dark chocolate.
• Finish: Long, more dark chocolate both with raisin and some with mint, a hint of ashen smoke.

Overall

A deliciously well-aged blend, just enough peat smoke to make me think of older style single malts and also robust but subtle or rather soft sherry influences too – well integrated and comfortable. I suspect this blend has been constructed to reminisce some older Speyside examples when peat smoke and sherry maturation were the norm. Works beautifully.

Score 89/100

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