Earlier this spring, The Dalmore unveiled the second edition in its Luminary series. The collection features two stunning whiskies: The Dalmore Luminary "The Rare" and The Dalmore Luminary "The Collectible."
The Rare is not just a luxury whisky, but a design piece—and unsurprisingly basically impossible to find, as only three are produced. As such, The Collectible is cast in the shadow of its ultra-luxury big brother. And while it might not be a three-of-a-kind 49-year-old single malt, it has plenty of excellent qualities, as well as some of the rare peaty spirit that goes into the six-figure release—and you can actually get your hands on it.
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Matured in bourbon casks and finished in a blend of Graham’s Tawny Port pipes and Apostoles sherry casks, 16-year-old The Collectible offers aromas of wood smoke, honey, crème brûlée, antique leather, and delicate tropical fruits. The palate, meanwhile, delivers ripe figs, oranges, forest fruits, and brioche. The finish features freshly roasted chestnuts, sweet wood spices, dark cacao, and mangoes with another delicate whisper of wood smoke.
For those interested in the design behind The Rare, The Collectible arrives in an aesthetically pleasing orange and gold presentation case, which showcases the ethos of the borderline unattainable. But luckily, 20,000 bottles of The Collectible are available. Bottled at 48.6 percent ABV, the Scotch retails for £275 (about $350 USD).
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Few whisky brands push the envelope when it comes to both liquid and vessel, and none with as much passion and creativity as The Dalmore. Curated in partnership with Scottish design museum V&A Dundee, the collection brings together “luminaries” from the worlds of whisky and architectural design. The first edition was co-conceived by globally acclaimed architect Kengo Kuma–designer of V&A Dundee–and his protégé Maurizio Mucciola. This year's was created with Melodie Leung, director at Zaha Hadid Architects.
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