To use this website you must be of legal drinking age
Please select your date of birth and location
7 May, 2025
The making of The Dalmore Luminary 2025 Edition - part two
The third chapter of The Dalmore Luminary Series reflects the harmony of tradition and creative innovation.
The third chapter of The Dalmore Luminary Series, The Dalmore Luminary 2025 Edition, continues to explore the synergies between the world of whisky making and architectural design.
This chapter of The Dalmore Luminary Series comprises two exceptional Single Malt whiskies: Luminary 2025 Edition – The Rare, a 52-year-old masterpiece of unparalleled depth and complexity, and Luminary No.3 2025 Edition – The Collectible, a 17-year-old Single Malt whisky, inspired by The Rare.
The Dalmore whisky makers - Gregg Glass, Master Whisky Maker, and Richard Paterson OBE, Master Distiller – partnered once again with V&A Dundee, Scotland’s Design Museum, this time to form a creative collaboration with architect and digital designer Ben Dobbin, of Foster + Partners.
A graduate of Edinburgh University, Ben has worked alongside Sir Norman Foster since 2001 on iconic projects such as The Gherkin building in London, and Ben led the design of Apple Park and the rejuvenation of the Transamerica Pyramid in San Francisco Apple Park, Apple’s corporate headquarters in California.
At its inception, The Dalmore Luminary 2025 Edition began at The Dalmore distillery on shores of the Cromarty Firth. “Ben, Richard and I really delved into the whisky, reviewing the personality and the multi-layers of flavours we have within the casks,” says Gregg. “For The Dalmore Luminary 2025 Edition, we wanted to take it to the next level, so the three of us came together, combining our creative perspectives to explore all of the holistic sensory elements, and began translating them into forms, textures and colours.”
Ben too is reflective of the creative collaboration between the Luminaries. “It’s great having the opportunity to work with Gregg and Richard. Both really are at the pinnacle of their craft within the industry,” he says. “They have an enthusiasm to share. They’re not secretive about what they do – they really want to engage you.”
Ben reflects on how whisky seems to have always held a significant position in his life, particularly in after-dinner conversations with his father. “We’d sit down, drink whisky and talk about the world - everything from art and history to literature,” he reflects, “so, when I think of The Luminary No.3 - 2025 Edition, I envisage this as a whisky that people are going to want to share in really special moments, with great music and a great setting, hopefully evoking a deeper set of conversations about the world.”
When I think of The Luminary No.3 - 2025 Edition, I envisage this as a whisky that people are going to want to share in really special moments, with great music and a great setting, hopefully evoking a deeper set of conversations about the world.
For The Luminary No.3 – 2025 Edition, Gregg and Richard drew inspiration from Ben’s reflection on flavour, colour and aroma, carefully selecting seven rare and distinctive cask styles to introduce flavours such as forest fruits, toasted brioche, blackcurrants and cedarwood.
These exceptional casks, sourced from world-renowned wineries and bodegas, work together layering complementary and contrasting flavours to produce an exemplary single malt whisky that captures Ben’s creative curiosity and reflects The Dalmore’s pursuit of technical artistry.
The Rare is offered at auction by Sotheby's, closing 16 May, open worldwide, with select events in London and Hong Kong. with all proceeds going to V&A Dundee, Scotland’s Design Museum.
Members of The Dalmore Guild will have exclusive early access to purchase The Luminary No.3 - 2025 Edition - The Collectible on 12th May 2025 ahead of general release on 14th May. Be amongst the first to own this special release by joining The Dalmore Guild today.
