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The Dalmore
unveils collaboration with Foster +
Partners’ Ben Dobbin on the prestigious
Luminary Series as 2025 edition launches
in Venice.
The Dalmore Single Malt Whisky today
unveiled the third chapter of The
Dalmore Luminary Series, a series which
celebrates the intersection of
whisky-making mastery and visionary
architectural design. For this third
chapter the Highland whisky maker has
teamed up in a unique collaboration with
Ben Dobbin of the acclaimed
architectural firm Foster + Partners.
In partnership with V&A Dundee,
Scotland’s Design Museum, Luminary
Series No.3 presents two new single
malts—each a creative collaboration
between Dobbin, known for iconic
projects such as Apple Park and the
Transamerica Pyramid revitalisation, and
The Dalmore’s celebrated whisky makers,
Gregg Glass and Richard Paterson OBE.
At the heart of this release is The
Dalmore Luminary 2025 Edition – The
Rare: an extraordinarily limited 52 Year
Old Single Malt, the oldest ever in the
Luminary Series. Described as a rich and
complex whisky, it is housed in a
custom-designed decanter, encased in a
striking bespoke sculpture by Dobbin. A
single decanter will be auctioned by
Sotheby's in support of V&A Dundee.
Alongside it is The Dalmore Luminary
No.3 – 2025 Edition – The Collectible, a
17 Year Old Single Malt presented in a
case inspired by The Rare. With only
20,000 bottles available worldwide, this
release will be offered through select
luxury and specialist retailers.
The Dalmore tells me that this edition
is deeply rooted in a shared commitment
to creative flow and precision—values
that define both Dobbin’s architectural
approach and the artistry of Glass and
Paterson. These qualities are reflected
in the whiskies themselves and the
compelling designs that accompany them.
The collaboration was also shaped by a
shared reverence for nature and
landscape. Dobbin drew inspiration from
the dramatic topography, tranquil lochs,
and the elegantly engineered bridges
surrounding The Dalmore’s Highland
distillery—elements that stirred the
creative dialogue at the core of this
exceptional series.
Dobbin’s striking sculpture, which
encases The Dalmore Luminary 2025
Edition – The Rare, creates an illusion
of the whisky suspended in time. A
superb demonstration of tensegrity—a
modern architectural style where
elements appear to be in perfect,
natural balance—this design is both
dynamic and bold. Crafted from bronze,
the asymmetric structure combines
dramatic waves and rods with smooth
curves and straight lines, all arranged
in a state of dynamic equilibrium.
In parallel, The Dalmore tells me that
their whisky makers embraced a similarly
meticulous approach in crafting their
expressions, drawing on Dobbin’s
personal tastes to enrich the creative
process. The Dalmore Luminary 2025
Edition – The Rare is aged for 52 years,
finished in an exceptionally rare
multi-cask system. Its counterpart, The
Dalmore Luminary No.3 – 2025 Edition,
aged for 17 years, also features a
sophisticated multi-cask finish that
subtly mirrors the flavour profile of
‘The Rare’.
Inspired by discussions with Dobbin, The
Dalmore team revisited a special
collection of Calvados casks—selected
long before the French brandy cask
finish was formally approved by Scotch
Whisky authorities in 2019. From this
point, each whisky embarked on a unique
and complex maturation journey while
remaining true to The Dalmore’s
signature style of citrus, chocolate,
and warming spices. The result they tell
me is a pair of whiskies that exemplify
the distillery’s pioneering multi-cask
maturation process and its unwavering
commitment to whisky-making artistry.
The Dalmore Luminary 2025 Edition – The
Rare, aged 52 years, will be offered at
Sotheby’s in Hong Kong, accompanied by
its one-of-a-kind sculpture by Ben
Dobbin. The auction will close on 16th
May, with 100% of proceeds donated to
V&A Dundee, Scotland’s Design Museum.
Only two sets of this remarkable release
exist—one for auction, and the other to
be housed permanently at The Dalmore’s
Highland distillery.
This exceptionally rare Single Malt is a
luxurious, multi-layered expression of
The Dalmore’s whisky-making artistry. It
mirrors the philosophy behind Dobbin’s
sculpture, balancing precision and
creative flow. Reflecting this harmony,
the whisky has been meticulously matured
and finished in a series of the world’s
rarest casks—including Vintage 1980
Calvados, 1940 Colheita Port, rare Tawny
Port, 40-Year-Old Pedro Ximénez Sherry,
and Châteauneuf-du-Pape wine casks. The
interplay of these diverse influences
creates a spirit of profound complexity,
depth, and elegance—an extraordinary
masterpiece and a rare moment of reward.
The Dalmore Luminary No.3 – 2025 Edition
– The Collectible, aged 17 years, draws
inspiration from ‘The Rare’ and is
presented in a bespoke fold-out case
echoing the design of Dobbin’s
sculpture. A strictly limited global
release of just 20,000 bottles will be
available from mid-May through select
luxury retailers.
This whisky begins its journey in
American White Oak ex-Bourbon barrels
and is finished in a daring blend of
seven casks: aged and vintage Calvados,
rare Matusalem and Apostoles Sherries,
and select red wine casks from Bordeaux
and Châteauneuf-du-Pape, alongside fully
matured American White Oak. The result
is a bold and nuanced expression that
echoes the layered complexity of its
counterpart, ‘The Rare.’
The Dalmore Luminary Series No.3 follows
two acclaimed collaborations: with Kengo
Kuma and Maurizio Mucciola, the
architects of V&A Dundee, and with
Melodie Leung, Director at Zaha Hadid
Architects, known for projects like The
Henderson Building in Hong Kong.
Through The Luminary Series, The Dalmore
proudly supports its partner, V&A
Dundee. Since the partnership began in
2020, over £200,000 has been donated to
support the museum’s mission in design
and community engagement, both in
Scotland and worldwide.
Every element of this third chapter—from
whisky to sculpture—was conceived
through close collaboration between
Gregg Glass, Richard Paterson OBE, and
Ben Dobbin, each a luminary in their
field, uniting their creative visions to
bring these extraordinary releases to
life.
Ben Dobbin, Luminary No.3 and Senior
Partner at Foster + Partners said: "As
an architect, collaborating with The
Dalmore has been absolutely fascinating.
Technically, it has been a much more
precise - yet creative process than I
imagined. The Dalmore’s whisky makers
think about flavour the way I think
about art and design. Spending time at
The Dalmore Distillery really shaped my
design process and with the sculpture, I
wanted to bring to life our shared sense
of place, materiality, and how our
worlds bridge."
"I have grown up with a love of whisky,
thanks to my father, so was of course
excited by the prospect of working with
The Dalmore, though admittedly at the
same time, it was a bit daunting at
first to be working with some of
whisky’s greatest taste makers in
Richard and Gregg. However, we quickly
understood that we experience and
articulate in similar ways which made
for an authentic and true partnership
and resulting creations, which I am
immensely proud of."
Richard Paterson OBE, Master Distiller
of The Dalmore adds: "This collaboration
with Ben perfectly adds to and
strengthens The Luminary Series,
demonstrating a totally different and
new dimension of what can be achieved
when creative talents from different,
yet complementary fields, unite."
"It has been a pleasure to work together
on this third edition of The Luminary
Series and we are thrilled to be able to
share the results for whisky and design
lovers alike to enjoy, all whilst
supporting our friends V&A Dundee in the
great work that they do."
Gregg Glass, Master Whisky Maker of The
Dalmore adds: "Meeting Ben was a true
meeting of minds. There are actually
many similarities between whisky making
and architecture, both being a very
iterative process but also striving to
create something that stands the test of
time."
"We constantly endeavour to make
masterpieces of malt and once again I am
proud to say that The Dalmore Luminary
Series showcases our commitment, whilst
staying true to our shared vision and
our overarching theme of creative flow
and precision, elements important to
both of us."
Leonie Bell, Director of V&A Dundee,
said: "Working with The Dalmore and each
of the Luminaries has been a joy, to see
how the complex and precise process of
creating the very best whisky links so
closely to the meticulous approaches of
some of the most innovative architects
designing in the world today."
"Ben Dobbin and Foster + Partners work
on extraordinary projects around the
world and we are delighted to be working
alongside them, co-curating and staging
an exhibition of his architectural
practice, in celebration of our
partnership with The Dalmore."
Jonny Fowle, Sotheby’s Global Head of
Whisky & Spirits, said: "The Dalmore is
synonymous with exceptional Single Malt
Whisky and everything that entails – the
people, the geography, the history and
the flavour. They have perfected their
craft over many decades, most recently
with unique limited offerings.
"Celebrating the worlds of whisky
artistry and architectural design, The
Dalmore Luminary Series is the ultimate
showcase of the skills of all those who
have worked together so brilliantly on
this long-term project. Speaking on
behalf of Sotheby’s, it has been a real
pleasure to be a part of this journey,
alongside V&A Dundee, from the very
beginning and as we now offer
exclusively the third iteration in the
series."
The Global Launch in Venice
The Dalmore Luminary Series No.3 was
officially unveiled today, Wednesday, 7th
May 2025 in Venice, in celebration of
the upcoming Venice Architecture
Biennale—the world’s foremost exhibition
of architectural innovation. The global
launch featured a compelling panel
discussion with The Dalmore’s Luminary
collaborators—Ben Dobbin, Melodie Leung,
and Maurizio Mucciola—moderated by
Professor Lesley Lokko OBE, curator of
the 2023 Venice Architecture Biennale.
The event echoed the Biennale’s spirit
of dialogue, exploring the evolving role
of architecture in shaping the world.
Attendees were granted an exclusive
first look at The Dalmore Luminary 2025
Edition—its exquisite sculpture and
decanter showcased in a special
exhibition co-curated by V&A Dundee and
Foster + Partners. This unique
installation will also be available to
view digitally via The Dalmore website
from 8th May. Guests also experienced a
world-first tasting of The Dalmore
Luminary No.3 – 2025 Edition.
The Rare, part of The Dalmore Luminary
2025 Edition, will be offered at
Sotheby’s Hong Kong, with the sculpture
and decanter on display from 9th to 16th
May. The auction concludes on 16th May,
with 100% of proceeds donated to V&A
Dundee, continuing the legacy of
charitable support established by the
2024 edition.
A designer’s proof of The Dalmore
Luminary 2025 Edition sculpture and
decanter will be added to the existing
display of the Luminary 2022 and 2024
Editions at V&A Dundee from 14th May
2025, ahead of the museum’s upcoming
‘Garden Futures’ exhibition, which opens
to the public on 17th May.
The Dalmore Luminary No.3 – 2025 Edition
– The Collectible with a recommended
retail price of $399 / £299 / €340 will
be released globally through specialist online whisky
shops such as
The Whisky Exchange
and
Master of Malt
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