What they say

Launched in late 2018 by the GlenAllachie Distillers Company, MacNair’s Lum Reek blended malts are a series of peaty treats made with peated Islay and Speyside whiskies, as well as GlenAllachie single malt. This expression was made with whiskies

MacNair’s Lum Reek 12-year-old combines Single Malts from Islay and Speyside – two of the most renowned whisky producing regions in Scotland.  The recipe, created by industry veteran and Master Distiller/Blender of the Year, Billy Walker, includes both peated and unpeated whiskies, including aged GlenAllachie single malt.

The small batch expression was matured at the GlenAllachie distillery in a combination of first fill Bourbon, Pedro Ximénez and red wine casks until the whisky reached its optimum. The consequential bronze spirit, offered without added colouring or chill-filtration, reveals sophisticated notes of sweet peat reek, warming mocha, Scottish heather, and butterscotch.

Our Lum Reek 12-year-old has won some incredible global accolades, including Double Gold (San Francisco World Spirits Competition, 2021), Best Blended Malt under 12 Years (World Whiskies Awards, 2020), and Gold (Scotch Whisky Masters, 2021).

Tasting notes

• COLOUR: Copper Bronze
• NOSE: Sweet peat reek, butterscotch, warming mocha, and gentle nutmeg
• TASTE: Lashings of heather honey, rich toffee, and sweet spices, all with undertones of peat

What I say

A revisit to MacNair’s Lum Reek Peated 12 year old expression now in new packaging. I originally tried this alongside the NAS and 21yo expressions. Here it was received sandwiched amongst 11-14yo Glenallachie wood and wine finished expression so I separated it out for independent analysis.

• ABV 46%
• Age 12 Years Old
• Bottler OB, MacNair’s
• Bottling Peated
• Cask Bourbon, PX & Red wine casks
• Category Blended Scotch Whisky
• Cost £49.95
• Origin n/a
• Outturn n/a
• Region Scotland
• Released 2021
• Vintage n/a

My tasting notes

• Appearance Light golden brown (12/20), medium-large tears and straight legs.
• Nose Initially peaty then vanilla and caramel, barley malt, some gentle and well-cooked or stewed fruits, vanilla custard and festive cinnamon spice.
• Taste Rhubarb and custard sweeties (fruit & vanilla), creamy, then some peat influence, touch mentholic, Murray mints, some wood char and peat smoke, meaty bbq beef or smoked bacon.
• Finish Long, touches of sweet ash and smoke, drying with heathery honey.
• Overall Solid. A touch non-descript in places though I often find with blends it can be hard to discern distinct taste notes. A good mixture of sweet and peat without resorting to too much ‘cask’ influences.

Score 83/100

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