The GlenAllachie Distillers Company, led by noted Master Blender Billy Walker, has played around with some interesting whiskies as their MacNair’s brand is repositioned as a “Boutique House of Spirits.” Walker became “custodian” of the brand, and is said to have of it a “singular, defining purpose [that] has been in step with the spirit of 19th Century founder Harvey MacNair.”
MacNair’s Boutique House of Spirits will comprise both their new-look Lum Reek Blended Malt Scotch Whisky and a brand new small-batch rum line named Exploration Rum.
The multi-award-winning Lum Reek whisky sub-range will continue to feature the 21-year-old (UK RRSP £125, 48% ABV), which scooped World’s Best Blended Malt at the World Whiskies Awards 2020 and Best Blended Malt Scotch at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2021, as well as the 12-year-old (UK RRSP £49.99, 46% ABV), which won Double Gold at the same San Francisco competition.
To create Lum Reek, Walker sourced what’s said to be the finest vintage Speyside and Islay single malts to be blended with aged GlenAllachie in pursuit of the perfect balance between gentle peat and rich, fruity character. Once blended, the whisky underwent a secondary maturation period, highlighting Walker’s passion for innovative wood management.
The 12-year-old was laid to rest for over 12 additional months in premium American oak barrels, sherry casks, and French oak barriques, whilst the 21-year-old enjoyed secondary aging in Spanish sherry casks, French oak, and virgin oak casks. This supplementary maturation period is said to allow the flavors to marry and extract additional depth from the wood.
Both small-batch whiskies are proudly offered at high alcohol strength, and without added colouring or chill filtration. You’ll find official tasting notes below for each.
MacNair’s Lum Reek 12-year-old Blended Malt Scotch Whisky – 46% ABV
- 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.
MacNair’s Lum Reek 21-year-old Blended Malt Scotch Whisky – 48% ABV
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- Colour: Rich Butterscotch.
- Nose: Subtle peat smoke, dark chocolate shavings, runny honey, and vanilla fudge.
- Taste: Old leather, cedar wood and gentle undertones of peat, alongside oodles of cocoa, vanilla pods, and sweet spices.
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