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Forbes
28-06-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Where Craft Meets Art: A Whisky Of Distinction From Dalmore
The Dalmore Luminary Series No 3 2025 Edition Photo, courtesy The Dalmore Distillery The Dalmore, one of Scotland's most iconic and innovative whisky distilleries, has launched the third edition in its Luminary series. Below is a brief overview of the series, along with a description and tasting notes for the 2025 edition. The Dalmore's Luminary Series is an inspired collaboration between the worlds of fine whisky and innovative design. Created in partnership with V&A Dundee, Scotland's premier design museum, the Series celebrates the fusion of architectural vision and inspired whisky-making. Each edition pairs a Dalmore whisky expert with a leader from the creative arts, showcasing the shared values of legacy, craftsmanship, and forward-thinking innovation. The Dalmore Luminary No. 3, 2025 Edition, continues this tradition through a remarkable collaboration between The Dalmore's Master Whisky Maker, Gregg Glass, his predecessor Richard Paterson, and leading designer and architectural artist Ben Dobbins, co-founder of London-based architecture studio TAKT. Together, they created a whisky and packaging that 'reflects both a reverence for tradition and a bold, modern expression of time, balance, and transformation.' This edition follows two earlier collaborations: firstly, with Kengo Kuma and Maurizio Mucciola, designers of the landmark V&A Dundee, and last year with Melodie Leung, a renowned designer and Director at Zaha Hadid Associates, whose portfolio includes The Henderson Building in Hong Kong. Ben Dobbins' architectural work is renowned for exploring 'the fusion of natural beauty with the utility of materials.' He worked closely with Glass to craft a whisky that reflects the same principles expressed in his physical work. This idea reflects Glass's approach to whisky making. According to the company 'from initial maturation in American White Oak ex-Bourbon barrels, Luminary No. 3 has been finished in a bold combination of seven cask types, including both vintage and aged Calvados, rare Matusalem Sherry, rare Apostoles Sherry, select red wine casks from Bordeaux and Châteauneuf-du-Pape, and fully matured American White Oak.' The Dalmore Luminary Series No3 2025 Edition Photo, courtesy The Dalmore Distillery This Dalmore expression is limited to 20,000 bottles worldwide. The whisky is rich and aromatic on the nose, featuring layered, complex aromas of honey, orchard fruit notes of fresh apple and pear, dried dark fruit, candied citrus zest, vanilla, cinnamon, sandalwood, and delicate floral notes of rose petals. It's creamy and flavorful on the palate, with a viscous, oily texture and a pronounced mouth weight. It showcases flavors of caramel, candied orange, licorice, fig, raisin, almond cookie, and marzipan. The pronounced influences of the assorted casks are highlighted by notes of gingerbread, wood spice, roasted chestnut, and vanilla, adding depth and complexity. The finish is long and complex, with lingering notes of baking spices, dark chocolate, and a hint of oak smoke. The Dalmore Luminary No. 3 is more than just a luxury single malt; it's a Whisky of Distinction, a tribute to the evolving dialogue between two disciplines rooted in patience, precision, and inspiration. With only 20,000 bottles available worldwide, it offers collectors and whisky lovers a chance to experience a whisky that is both a drink, a design story, and a work of art. Please visit the Dalmore website for availability and purchasing information. The recommended list price is $400. More From Forbes Forbes Whisky Of Distinction: Longmorn's 30 Year-Old Scotch Whisky Caps A Remarkable Trilogy By Joseph V Micallef Forbes Whisky Of Distinction: The Incredible Glen Grant Glasshouse Collection By Joseph V Micallef Forbes Whisky Of Distinction: Gordon & MacPhail, Mr George Legacy 1954 Glen Grant By Joseph V Micallef
Forbes
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Can Whisky Foster Creativity? The Dalmore Luminary Series Says Yes
The Dalmore Luminary 2025 Edition – The Rare and a sculpture created by Ben Dobbins of Foster + Partners Patience is a virtue, especially when it comes to whisky. Time is a necessary ingredient to make liquid gold — a minimum of three years in oak casks is legally required to make Scotch whisky, and the best ones are often matured for longer periods. The secret to crafting world-class whisky doesn't solely rely on high-tech equipment or time-honored techniques; the unique perspectives of its expert makers also come into play. That's the case at The Dalmore — a revered Scottish whisky brand led by Master Distiller Richard Paterson OBE and Master Whisky Maker Gregg Glass. The Dalmore Luminary No.3 – 2025 Edition was a collaboration between Ben Dobbin and master whisky makers Richard Paterson OBE and Gregg Glass, and is limited to 20,000 bottles globally With an illustrious history dating back to 1839, The Dalmore's superior expression stems from its multi-cask maturation, a precise movement of whisky from one cask to another to build its distinct flavor. The luxury spirit also has a reputation for creative collaboration showcased by the Luminary Series, an effort dreamt up during the pandemic doldrums of 2020. Meet the Luminaries In partnership with the V&A Dundee, Scotland's premier design institution, the Luminary Series brings together top minds from the art, architecture, design and whisky worlds to create something fresh. It's not only about designing striking decanters and objets d'art, but also working with The Dalmore's master makers to craft a limited-edition whisky. What do these two disciplines have in common, you ask? Apart from the fact that humans have been making alcohol and buildings for as long as we've existed, both architecture and whisky-making need equal parts technical expertise and creative flair. Maurizio Mucciola, Lesley Lokko, Melodie Leung, Ben Dobbin at the Venice Biennale of Architecture Luminary No. 1 was a collaboration with Kengo Kuma and his protégé, Maurizio Mucciola, who personally worked on the V&A Dundee. He learned that old oak casks that once housed port and sherry are given a second lease on life as a place for maturing whisky. As an architect committed to sustainability, Mucciola latched onto this idea and made a kintsugi-inspired sculpture featuring 48 pieces of wood (the same age of the rare whisky released). The second edition was a partnership with Melodie Leung of Zaha Hadid Architects, who was inspired by the unending movement and unseen magic that happens when a whisky ages inside casks. She created a rich-hued, unique glass sculpture that looks like in perpetual swirling motion — a visual expression of the maturation process. Ben Dobbin of Foster + Partners created a unique sculpture and also worked with The Dalmore master whisky makers to create a limited-edition whisky The third and final chapter of the Luminary Series features Ben Dobbin of Foster + Partners. During his visit to the distillery, the San Francisco-based British architect was struck by the snow-capped mountains that feed into Averon river and Loch Morie, which supplies the water used to craft The Dalmore's Highland single malts. He also drew inspiration from Scotland's magnificent steel bridges and his personal connection with music, specifically his mother's love for the harp. The result? An undulating bronze sculpture that was unveiled alongside The Dalmore Luminary 2025 Edition – The Rare, during the opening day of the Venice Biennale of Architecture. Common ground The Luminary Series isn't just art for arts sake; it's a long-term partnership with the V&A Dundee, with 100% proceeds from the various initiatives donated to this notable museum. The Dalmore Luminary 2025 Edition – The Rare is aged 52 years; only one set goes on auction at Sotheby's This includes the auction of The Dalmore Luminary 2025 Edition – The Rare, a Single Malt whisky aged for over half a century, 52 years to be exact. Cradled by Dobbin's bespoke sculpture, one of the two sets produced is currently offered for auction at Sotheby's Hong Kong. Apart from the one that will end up in the hands of a savvy collector, the other set will be held at The Dalmore distillery in the Scottish Highlands. The arresting sculpture aside, Dobbin also co-created The Dalmore Luminary No.3 – 2025 Edition. Working together with Richard Paterson and Gregg Glass, the potent yet extremely layered whisky used 7 casks during its creation. The limited-edition whisky is presented within a bespoke case and available globally in just 20,000 bottles. The worlds of whisky and architecture seem to have little in common at first glance, but well thought out initiatives like this show that there are more parallels in both creative endeavors. Surely, that's something to raise a glass to.
