The Dalmore Luminary Series is an initiative by whisky brand Dalmore that combines innovations in the realm of design and gastronomy. The three-part series, now out with its sophomore edition, is curated in partnership with Scotland’s V&A Dundee Museum. Each chapter of the series is a collaborative effort undertaken by stalwarts from the world of whisky-making and architectural design. The first edition of The Luminary Series, unveiled in 2022, was co-conceived by Japanese architect Kengo Kuma and his protege Maurizio Mucciola, in collaboration with master distiller Richard Paterson OBE and master whisky maker, Gregg Glass.

The 2024 edition in the series, Luminary No. 2, is conceptualised by Melodie Leung, Director of London-based Zaha Hadid Architects and Dalmore’s Glass, with support from Paterson. The collaborators came together to create The Rare, which is an amber cast glass sculpture spaciously shaped to house the 49-year-old Dalmore Highland Single Malt Whisky; and The Collectible, which holds the 16-year-old Dalmore Highland Single Malt. The second edition of The Dalmore Luminary series was unveiled at the V&A Dundee on March 21, 2024.

Much like the buildings conceptualised and fashioned by the late Iraqi-British architect Zaha Hadid and her eponymous architectural practice in London, UK, the sculpture and the presentation case conceived by Leung, too, are characterised by bold expressive curves. The absence of a clearly visible closure of these curves manages to further kindle a lack of finality, ergo, evoking a sense of perpetual movement. Added to this is the tucked-in base that manages to keep the sculpture steady, while the curves projecting outward appear to levitate.

When asked about her experience conceptualising the form and design of the sculpture and collectible, Leung shares with STIR, “The sculpture is intended to make manifest a hidden process, the creation of spirit within the stills at The Dalmore, and to depict the flow and combination of flavour elements. In that respect, it is very different from a building or a space. Rather than creating sensation or emotion for people moving through or inhabiting a space, it instead has to create those feelings in an observer of an object. The observer cannot move through the object as they might a building, and so the object itself had to be infused with a sense of dynamism and motion.”

The Dalmore Luminary - The Rare - 2024 Edition, housing the 49-year-old whisky, will be auctioned at Sotheby’s on World Whisky Day, which is May 18, 2024, with all proceeds to be donated to V&A Dundee. The Dalmore Luminary - The Collectible - 2024 Edition, on the other hand, holds a 16-year-old Dalmore Highland Single Malt and has been made available at leading luxury and specialist retailers globally. The design of the sculptural piece and the collectible, undertaken by Leung in close collaboration with The Dalmore whisky makers, embodies the convergence of disparate skills and knowledge of the makers’ crafts.

The importance of design may not be emphatically discernible in the case of alcoholic beverages. However, the curves and form of the cask and case often add to the anticipation and enhance the overall experience of the serving and tasting ritual. “After seeing the sculpture and contemplating its form, the drinker will find more depth within the whiskies. It’s the same as the creative process we went through – when you drink whisky, the flavour can inform your appreciation of the form it takes or is presented in, and likewise, a particular form or shape can influence your perception of flavour. It’s a fascinating interplay,” Glass shares.

To house the 49-year-old single malt from The Dalmore, only three decanters and two sculptures of The Rare will ever be made. The glass amber sculpture, designed by Leung and her team at Zaha Hadid Architects, was worked on closely by Fiaz Elson from The Glass Foundry. Elson combined modern techniques with the centuries-old craft of glassmaking to deliver a unique form. The sculpture took nearly 12 weeks to perfect in a kiln and more than 500 hours to polish. The initial moulding was made at 890 degrees centigrade and was held in place for nearly 15 hours in order to ensure that all moisture was released. Following this, the temperature was gradually lowered, by a degree or so each day, until reaching room temperature. Following this process which took nearly three months, the 80-kilogram sculpture was lifted from the kiln and hand-polished, which resulted in the fluid texture and glossy finish of the final piece.

The 49-year-old single malt, which is the product of a comprehensive maturation and blending process, offers layers of intense vanilla, dark berry fruit and cacao aromas, along with a palate of freshly roasted chestnuts, blackcurrant, Doyenne pears and soft patisserie spices, hence, leading to a subtle and sweet smoky finish and taste. When asked about the impact of the flavour notes of the whisky on the design of The Rare, Leung shares, “The Rare sculpture features multiple layers of translucent material intertwined in a continuous cascade, depicting layers of age and the interaction of flavour. The sculpture takes the form of a never-ending loop, evoking the sensorial warmth of The Dalmore. I was struck by the sculptural shapes and glowing copper of the stills, and the concept of channelling nature over time. I interpreted this alchemy using the distinctive flowing style of Zaha Hadid Architects.”

The bend and shape of the cask as well as the materials used to make it are also in direct response to the conversations that took place amongst the collaborators. Glass, explaining his experience collaborating with Leung, shares, “Spending time with Melodie and exploring her personal journey through flavour helped us elevate The Dalmore to a new level. For example, her memories of the aroma of roasted chestnuts on the streets of Hong Kong inspired me to finish the 49-year-old Single Malt in a hybrid cask, which I hand-toasted myself. This adds subtle notes of sweet wood smoke and enhances the floral and herbal qualities of the rare whisky.​”

The Collectible, designed to hold the 16-year-old whisky, is inspired by The Rare’s swirling glass sculpture, which is emulated in its warm tone and the embossed swirls decorated on the presentation case. The Dalmore has put out 20,000 sets of The Collectible on sale across luxury retailers worldwide. This whisky comes with a hint of herbal wood smoke over a nose of Manuka honey, crème brûlée, antique leather and delicate tropical notes, complemented by a rich palate of ripe figs, oranges, forest fruits and brioche. Enunciating upon the influence of Leung in the design of the cask, Glass shares, “The Collectible is a 16-Year-Old Highland Single Malt, and here Melodie’s aromatic memories are brought to life with a whisper of herbal wood smoke using the lightest touch of exceptionally rare peated Dalmore.”

At a time when the importance of carbon-conscious design is being aggressively deliberated upon across forums of international repute, we, at STIR, were curious to understand the value that luxury designs such as The Dalmore Luminary Series add to the larger design (and architecture) industry. In response to our inquiry, Leung shares, “Whisky making is an energy-intensive process, but The Dalmore and its owning company are at the forefront of efforts to reduce the emissions arising from production. The Rare Sculpture and Decanter will be sold at Sotheby’s London via an online sale, opening on May 17th and closing on May 31st. We are hopeful of The Rare achieving a six-figure amount and all proceeds from the sale will be donated to V&A Dundee in support of its mission to inspire and empower through design.”