We know we’re not supposed to judge a book by its cover, but nevertheless, the cover of a book can still double as part of the visual presentation when it’s just sitting on our shelf. The same can be said about liquor — even more so. Unlike books, whisky is meant to be displayed frontwards so we and our visitors can see the bottles in all their glory. And while a whisky’s presentation won’t always match its flavor, it can very much hint at just how luxurious it is. 185-year-old Scottish distillery The Dalmore has just unveiled the second in its ultra-luxurious The Luminary Series, which is housed in a beautiful glass sculpture.
A joint effort between the Highland distillery and Scottish design museum V&A Dundee, The Luminary Series for 2024 presents an unprecedented 49-year-old single malt named The Rare. Aged in ex-bourbon oak barrels and finished in a combination of 1963 Colheita Port casks, 30-year-old Apostles sherry casks, and bourbon barrels, the whisky then got completed in a 1951 virgin oak hybrid cask that was toasted by Master Whisky Maker Gregg Glass. If the whisky itself isn’t enough, the bottle is displayed within a magnificent glass sculpture that looks like swirling whisky surrounding the decanter. Created by designer Melodie Leung, the glass took more than 500 hours to make. Only one of these will be available for sale while a second will be displayed at the distillery.
Joining The Rare is a second, less-rare expression, dubbed The Collectible, which is a 16-year-old single malt from The Dalmore, consisting of a small portion of the distillery’s peated whisky as well. Limited to just 20,000 bottles, it was also aged in ex-bourbon casks and finished in a combination of tawny port and 30-year-old sherry casks, helping it achieve its palate of fig, orange, passion fruit, lightly roasted coffee, and brioche.
While The Collectible whisky will be available for sale, The Rare is getting auctioned off at Sotheby’s this May, with proceeds going towards V&A Dundee. Head over to The Dalmore’s website to learn more.
