New Arrival of the Week: The Dalmore 16 Year Old Luminary No. 2 – 2024 Edition Whisky

The Dalmore has launched another one-of-a-kind expression this week: The Dalmore 16 Year Old Luminary No. 2 – 2024 Edition Whisky. The second chapter of The Dalmore Luminary Series, curated in partnership with V&A Dundee, marks another smashing together of the worlds of whisky and architectural design.

We ventured to the VA to witness the launch, which was suitably swanky. The event was at night when the museum was completely closed and offered an opportunity to taste The Dalmore Luminary – The Collectible – 2024 Edition and feast our eyes on The Rare.

The Dalmore Luminary – The Rare – 2024 Edition

Yes, there were two new whiskies to take in that night, one our New Arrival, and the second one only of three (3!) bottles of 49-year-old Scotch whisky, finished in a range of casks including 1963 vintage Port colheita, Apostoles sherry, select bourbon and a unique 1951/virgin oak hybrid cask.

The Dalmore Luminary – The Rare – 2024 Edition is showcased in a striking glass sculpture from Melodie Leung, director at Zaha Hadid Architects. She worked alongside Gregg Glass, master whisky maker at The Dalmore, and master distiller Richard Paterson OBE to create The Rare – 2024 Edition, which will be offered at auction with all proceeds donated to Scotland’s design museum, V&A Dundee.

The Dalmore worked closely with Fiaz Elson from the Glass Foundry to deliver this unique amber sculpture. It was in the kiln at The Glass Foundry for 12 weeks, with the initial moulding being made at 890 degrees centigrade and then held at that temperature for 15 hours to ensure all moisture and air bubbles were released. The temperature was then gradually lowered around a degree a day until it was at room temperature. After this proving period, it was lifted carefully from the kiln, weighing in at 80 kilograms In a process that took over 500 hours, the sculpture was then fine-polished by hand across the entire surface area to achieve the liquid texture and gloss finish.

In addition to the set offered at auction at Sotheby’s, a second complete set will be held at the distillery’s Highland home and one further decanter will be saved for a final Luminary Series Compendium Edition No 1, 2 and 3. Two designer proofs will also go on display at V&A Dundee and Zaha Hadid​ Architects. We didn’t get to taste this one (naturally), but we did get tasting notes from the brand and can tell you that it was bottled at 40.6% ABV, natural colour, and non-chill filtered.

The Dalmore Luminary – The Rare – 2024 Edition tasting notes:

Nose: Madagascan vanilla, rich dark berry fruits, cinnamon and dark cacao.

Palate: Freshly roasted chestnuts, blackcurrant, Doyenne pears, and soft patisserie spices.

Finish: Sugared almonds, plums, and roasted Colombian coffee with lifts to subtle sweet wood smoke.

The Dalmore 16 Year Old Luminary No. 2 – 2024 Edition 

Now, back to our new arrival, The Dalmore 16 Year Old Luminary No. 2 – 2024 Edition. This release will intrigue fans of the distillery because it includes a very small amount of exceptionally rare peated Dalmore spirit. This peated element was chosen by Glass because he felt without it, the whisky was in danger of becoming too sweet. So it’s not adding peatiness but bringing more savoury, earthy qualities to the fore. 

This single malt Scotch whisky was initially matured in American white oak bourbon, before being transferred to Graham’s tawny Port pipes (because Melanie nosed these and smelt roasted chestnuts, transporting her back to the streets of Hong Kong in her mind) and Apostoles sherry casks for a secondary maturation. It was bottled at 48.6% ABV, natural colour, and non-chill filtered, and is housed in a presentation case that echoes the glowing, swirling design of The Rare sculpture. Just 20,000 sets have been released today.

The Dalmore 16 Year Old Luminary No. 2 – 2024 Edition tasting notes:

Nose: Savoury earthiness, antique furniture, old leather, Jaffa Cake, burnt toast, red grapes, blackberry, fig rolls, and a touch of camphor.

Palate: Caramel sauce, oak spice, black tea, marmalade, dates, chocolate raspberry, then green Fruit Pastilles, macadamia nuts, black cherry, liquorice, and an oaky weight reminiscent of a big cab franc.

Finish: Dundee cake (or is that the location playing tricks on me?), blackberry, roasted chestnut.

The Dalmore 16 Year Old Luminary No. 2 – 2024 Edition Whisky is now available from Master of Malt.

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