A Look Back at 2025: A Year of Creative Synergy and Whisky Making Artistry

2025 at The Dalmore has been a year defined by bold creativity, rare cask artistry and meaningful cultural collaboration. From the complex maturation of the Cask Curation Series: The Red Wine Cask Edition, to the architectural elegance of Luminary No.3, and the hidden gems of Distillery Select 2025, each release has deepened The Dalmore’s legacy, bringing together the worlds of whisky, art and culture.

Released in May, Luminary No.3 2025 Edition marked the third chapter of The Dalmore Luminary Series in partnership with V&A Dundee - this time, bringing together the visionary architect Ben Dobbin of Foster + Partners with Master Whisky Makers Gregg Glass and Richard Paterson OBE, in a collaboration of artistic synergy.

The cask composition includes vintage Calvados, rare Matusalem and Apostoles sherries, and select red wine casks from the Bordeaux and Châteauneuf-du-Pape regions.

For this release, Ben’s architectural approach informed the conceptual framework of the whisky itself, the packaging design for The Collectible and the sculpture made to house The Rare.

Crafted from bronze, brass and Scottish oak, Ben’s asymmetric design for The Rare was one of striking contrasts - dramatic waves and rods, smooth curves and clean lines - taking inspiration from the rolling topography of the Highlands, the engineered precision of nearby bridges, and the flowing waters that lead down to The Dalmore distillery.

September saw the second release in our Portfolio Series – the 2025 Edition, a travel retail exclusive that pairs our Highland Single Malt - finessed in hand-selected Bordeaux red wine casks - with specially commissioned works of art by up-and-coming Scottish artists.

In partnership with V&A Dundee, for this edition we collaborated with graphic artist Gabriella Marcella, owner and design director of RISOTTO, Scotland’s leading risograph print and design studio. Gabriella’s design for the trio of whiskies in this series reimagined the Mackenzie tartan through striking risograph-inspired graphics.

Gabriella’s creative process was rooted in tactility and storytelling. Drawing inspiration from the production processes at The Dalmore, the layered sensory notes of the whisky, and the visual language of the Mackenzie tartan, she developed artwork that celebrates both heritage and innovation.

October introduced Distillery Select 2025, a new chapter in the Distillery Select series: a three-part annual release of small, rare parcels of Highland Single Malt, hand-selected from our dunnage warehouses for their rarity of character.

To celebrate the release, a select group of The Dalmore Guild members were invited to an exclusive evening at the National Galleries of Scotland, Edinburgh. 

Beneath The Fury of a Stag, the dramatic artwork that tells the origin story of The Dalmore, guests were immersed in the world of rare whisky with our specialist Mateo Ortiz Lima, who unveiled the character and craftsmanship behind this year’s coveted releases.

Their invitation was a reflection of their dedication to The Dalmore: having secured every release in last year’s Distillery Select Series. For those who appreciate the extraordinary, such moments await.

October also welcomed the third chapter in our Cask Curation Series – The Red Wine Cask Edition, comprising three exquisite and exceptionally rare whiskies made in exclusive partnership with Château Mont-Redon, located in the Châteauneuf-du-Pape region of France.

For this release, we collaborated with NBA star and cultural tastemaker, Kyle Kuzma, to explore how red wine, whisky and travel can tell stories of time, place and culture.

This edition showcases a maturation journey from Matusalem Oloroso Sherry to a finishing in fresh 2023 Châteauneuf-du-Pape red wine casks and demonstrates how those same three casks can enhance three whiskies of differing ages.

Limited to just 150 worldwide, the set evokes the spirit of travel and is presented in a case covered in lapis blue Saffiano leather, handcrafted by luggage-makers AB Florence.

As we prepare to reopen our Highland home in 2026, The Dalmore distillery will once again welcome guests to experience the heart of our whisky making artistry. This milestone will mark a new chapter in our story – one that honours our 180 years of heritage and embraces a bold future of innovation and creativity.

Ensure you are the first to hear about when our home reopens in 2026 by signing up to The Dalmore Guild below.

Join The Dalmore Guild today and be the first to hear about rare and limited edition releases, VIP events, and behind the scenes insights from our Master Whisky Makers and world-famous distillery.

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