MacNair's Lum Reek 12 Year Old vs Benriach The Original Ten

Side-by-side comparison — price, ABV, scores, tasting notes, pros & cons.

MacNair's Lum Reek 12 Year OldBenriach The Original Ten
DistilleryMacNair'sBenriach
RegionSpeyside
CountryScotlandScotland
TypeBlended MaltSingle Malt
ABV46%43%
Age12 yr10 yr
Price£47£40.95
Rating5.00/54.50/5

MacNair's Lum Reek 12 Year Old

Smoke64/100
Sweetness38/100
Beginner50/100
Value100/100

Benriach The Original Ten

Smoke64/100
Sweetness61/100
Beginner65/100
Value100/100

MacNair's Lum Reek 12 Year Old

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Benriach The Original Ten

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Quick verdict

MacNair's Lum Reek 12 Year Old is rated higher (5.00 vs 4.50).

Benriach The Original Ten is better value at £41 vs £47.

For beginners: Benriach The Original Ten is more approachable (65/100 beginner score).

MacNair's Lum Reek 12 Year Old

Pros

  • +Balanced smoky character without being overwhelming
  • +Higher community rating (5.0/5)
  • +Longer maturation (12 vs 10 years)

Cons

  • More expensive (£47 vs £40.95)

Benriach The Original Ten

Pros

  • +Balanced smoky character without being overwhelming
  • +More affordable (£40.95 vs £47)
  • +More widely reviewed by the community
  • +Vibrant, fresh fruit character

Cons

  • Lower community rating (4.5 vs 5.0)

Who should buy MacNair's?

MacNair's Lum Reek 12 Year Old suits whisky enthusiasts looking for a well-rounded, complex dram. It rewards those with some experience and an appreciation for Blended Malt character.

Who should buy Benriach?

Benriach The Original Ten suits whisky enthusiasts looking for a well-rounded, complex dram. It rewards those with some experience and an appreciation for Speyside character.

Tasting notes

Both taste of

SmokeyFresh FruitToasted

Only MacNair's Lum Reek 12 Year Old

NuttyMalt Extract

Only Benriach The Original Ten

HoneyVanilla

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