An Incredibly Rare Scotch Whisky From The Dalmore and a Glass Sculpture That Took More Than 500 Hours to Make Are Heading to Auction
Dalmore released two whiskies as part of its Luminaries Series. (Photo: The Dalmore)
Whisky Magazine reported on Monday about the unveiling of the second installment within The Luminary Series from the Highland scotch whisky distillery The Dalmore.
The Luminary Series is a collaboration between the whisky brand and Scotland’s V&A Dundee design museum. The series is intended to celebrate the “poetic connection between design and whisky-making,” according to the whisky brand.
The latest installment features two new whiskies: “The Rare” and “The Collectible,” in addition to two labor-intensive glass sculptures created by designer Melodie Leung in conjunction with The Glass Foundry.
The Rare is a 49-year-old single malt, and just three decanters of the whisky are available. The Collectible is a 16-year-old single malt bottled at 48.6% ABV. It has a suggested retail price of £275 ($350), and 20,000 bottles are available via specialized retailers starting April 2.
The Collectible was matured in bourbon casks before it was finished in a mixture of Graham’s Tawny Port and Apostoles Sherry casks. A small percentage of the whisky was finished in peated, ex-refill bourbon barrels.
The Dalmore shares that The Rare was matured in ex-bourbon American white oak casks and finished in Port Colheita 1963, 30-year-old Apostoles sherry and select bourbon casks before it was “completed” in a 1951 virgin oak hybrid cask that was dried and toasted by The Dalmore Master Whisky Maker Greg Glass. It hosts an ABV of 40.8%.
Leung created two sculptures to house The Rare, which Whisky Magazine reports took over 500 hours to create.
“We had an anxiety-filled four months while it was in the kiln, turning it down one degree each day,” Leung said, according to Whisky Magazine. “Would it crack? It was about taking the glass beyond what it is used to do. The tension. It was about working with complex curvature and I’m really excited about the sculpture we created. A lot of hands went into making it.”
Whisky Magazine reports that a bottle of The Rare 2024 Edition, complete with the sculpture, is set to be auctioned at Sotheby’s in May. The proceeds will be donated to V&A Dundee.
“This was a true meeting of minds, and the new releases beautifully express the shared journey we’ve all been on,” Greg Glass said according to Whisky Magazine. “While crafting our two new whiskies, we used the technique of time — nurtured carefully to transform through blending — to elevate The Dalmore to a new level. Flavor, color and form meet together in a holistic sensory experience with swirls of texture, depth, complexity and nuance.”
The Dalmore Luminary 2024 Edition Whiskies Tasting Notes, Via Dalmore
The Collectible: On the nose, the whisky possesses manuka honey and crème brûlée, with floral cherry blossom components and tropical guava fruit. The palate gives way to Seville oranges, passion fruit, Colombian coffee and fades to a finish of dark cacao and herbaceous woodsmoke.
The Rare: The Rare possesses aromas of roast chestnuts, pears and baking spice. The pour is generous with vanilla, cinnamon and berries. The whisky finishes with Colombian coffee, sweet wood smoke and sugared almonds.
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