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MacNair’s brand ‘revived’ with new peated range
GlenAllachie master blender Billy Walker has “revived” the MacNair’s brand with the launch of a new line of peated blended malts.
The new MacNair’s range is said to “revive a traditional brand with a contemporary twist”.
Walker acquired Speyside’s GlenAllachie Distillery from Pernod Ricard in October last year as part of a consortium that also included Graham Stevenson and Trisha Savage.
The consortium also purchased the MacNair’s and White Heather blends under the deal.
The new MacNair’s Lum Rum range – which includes a no-age-statement, 12-year-old and 21-year-old bottling – is said to “revive a traditional brand with a contemporary twist”.
All three whiskies are 46% abv blended malts containing peated Islay and peated Speyside whisky, along with older GlenAllachie liquid. The whiskies have been matured at the GlenAllachie Distillery near Aberlour in Speyside and vatted by Walker.
“It’s been an amazing year and journey so far and we wanted to mark the anniversary with something truly special,” said Walker. “With the MacNair’s range, we’ve re-created the peated whiskies of 100 years ago for the modern-day palate.
“I’m a passionate believer in the qualities of blended malt Scotch whisky; if you have high quality component whiskies, as we fortunately do, and combine them with a first-class wood management policy and a creative spirit, you can produce a dram to rival the very best single malts.”
The range’s name is inspired by the famous Scottish toast ‘lang may yer lum reek’, which translates as ‘long may your chimney smoke’ and is used to wish someone a long life and prosperity.
Harvey MacNair, the Glaswegian who founded the original company in 1837, is said to have discovered a love of smoky whisky after enjoying a dram in a room with a blocked chimney, which he said had a “transformative effect” on his whisky.
The new range combines whiskies matured first-fill Bourbon, oloroso, virgin oak and red wine casks.
The prices for each expression are: MacNair’s Lum Reek no-age-statement £41.99 (US$55), MacNair’s Lum Reek 12 Years Old £49.99 (US$66), and MacNair’s Lum Reek 21 Years Old £125 (US$165).
In July this year, GlenAllachie launched its first core range of single malt whiskies, following a limited-edition range launched in April.