Dalmore has announced the launch of the third and final release in its highly collectible Luminary series — Luminary No.3 2025 Edition. This exclusive release comes from a creative collaboration with Scotland’s design museum, V&A Dundee.
The release includes two distinct whiskies:
Dalmore Luminary No.3 The Collectable, limited to 20,000 bottles worldwide
Dalmore Luminary No.3 The Rare, with only three bottles available globally
A Unique Aging and Finishing Process
The Collectable whisky is aged for 17 years in American white oak ex-bourbon casks. It is then finished in a bold and complex blend of seven different casks. These include vintage and aged Calvados, rare Matusalem and Apostoles sherry casks, select Bordeaux and Châteauneuf-du-Pape red wine barrels, and fully matured American white oak. This combination draws direct inspiration from the 52-year-old Dalmore Rare whisky.
Each bottle is presented in a custom folding presentation box, highlighting the craftsmanship behind the product.
Collaboration Between Whisky Makers and Designers
The creation of these whiskies was a joint effort by Dalmore’s expert whisky makers, Gregg Glass and Richard Paterson OBE, along with architect Ben Dobbin. Dobbin, known for leading the design team for Apple Park — Apple’s California headquarters — designed two sculptures to house the three ultra-rare bottles, which will be auctioned.
Ben Dobbin shared his experience:
“As an architect, working with Dalmore has been absolutely fascinating. It was a precise yet creative process beyond my expectations. I have loved whisky since childhood thanks to my father, so this collaboration was truly exciting. Working alongside Richard and Greg, two of the greatest whisky tastemakers, felt daunting at first. However, we soon found common ground in our creative approaches, leading to a genuine collaboration I am proud of.”
Honoring the Legacy of the Luminary Series
Richard Paterson, Dalmore’s Chief Distiller, expressed his enthusiasm:
“We are honoured to work on the third edition of the Luminary Series. Sharing this unique whisky with fans of both whisky and design is a delight. We are also proud to support the important work of our friends at V&A Dundee.”
This edition follows two earlier collaborations:
The first with Kengo Kuma and Maurizio Mucciola, architects of the iconic V&A Dundee building
The second with Melodie Leung, renowned designer and Director at Zaha Hadid Associates
Since their partnership began in 2020 and the Luminary Series launched in 2021, Dalmore has donated over £200,000 to V&A Dundee. These funds support the museum’s local and global design and community initiatives.
Leonie Bell, Director of V&A Dundee, commented:
“Working with Dalmore and each Luminary has been a pleasure. It’s inspiring to see how the complex, precise process of crafting fine whisky parallels the meticulous design work by some of the world’s most innovative architects.”
Ongoing Partnership and Upcoming Auction
Ben Dobbin and Foster + Partners continue to work on remarkable projects worldwide, including Apple Park. Dalmore celebrates this partnership by hosting an exhibition of Dobbin’s architectural practice at the 19th Venice Architecture Biennale.
The Dalmore Luminary Series No.3 2025 Edition is expected to be auctioned soon at Sotheby’s in the UK. Meanwhile, Dalmore Luminary No.3 The Collectable is available exclusively at the Australian Whisky Club, priced at $550 per bottle.
Related Topics
