Latest news with #Luminary
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.
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
You Don't Need The Dalmore's New 52-Year-Old Scotch. Drink This New 17-Year Instead
Scottish whisky maker The Dalmore's new 52-year-old single malt has competition, and it's coming from inside the distillery. For the 2025 Luminary Series, The Dalmore is releasing two calvados-finished single malts, and one is affordable and delicious. First, a word on the unaffordable collector's liquid: Dalmore Luminary 2025 Edition 'The Rare' is a 52-year-old single malt whisky finished in a number of incredible casks: 80s calvados, 40s port, 40-year-old Pedro Ximénez sherry, and tawny port and Châteauneuf-du-Pape wine casks. That's what's inside the decanter. As for the outside, the Dalmore Luminary 'The Rare' is presented in what could loosely be called a showpiece—an architectural work of bronze waves and rods that resembles an art deco serving tray extruded through a Dalí painting. If this sounds more like an art installation than a whisky, your instincts aren't failing you. Luminary is a release in partnership with V&A Dundee—Scotland's design museum—and artist Ben Dobbin, who designed the asymmetric sculpture. This art bottle is meant to bring home big bucks. The Dalmore is among Scotland's most prestigious names, particularly within the world of heavily sherried malts. Its bottles in these extreme age ranges have gone for hundreds of thousands of dollars. It's not necessarily the case that the 2025 Luminary will hit that range when it's auctioned off, but even conservative prices for bottles like this tend to register $50,000 or makes the whisky more likely to bring in huge cash (aside from the charitable context) is that this whisky is one of a kind—well, two of a kind. The Dalmore only created two of these decanters. One is currently in Hong Kong, where an auction will be held by Sotheby's Hong Kong, closing May 16. That auction will determine the worth of the first bottle, but the second will continue to remain nominally 'priceless' because it exists only to be stashed away like Indiana Jones' Ark of the Covenant, interred in Dalmore's archives, being examined by 'top men' and probably never seeing the light of day until another charitable occasion calls for it to be offered why should the average person care? Well, normally we shouldn't if we're trying to avoid FOMO, but with the Luminary series, The Dalmore has created a secondary tier. Dalmore Luminary No. 3 is a 17-year-old single malt 'inspired' by the 2025 Edition of Luminary. While the 52-year-old takes the spotlight in Hong Kong, the 17-year whisky is actually debuting this week in Venice at the Venice Biennale. Luminary No. 3 is a more affordable price point—the liquid is younger, and there are 20,000 bottles of it for the world market—but the price is an approachable $400. The whisky follows a similar aging trajectory, resting in a total of seven cask types, including Calvados, red wine, and sherry. As muddy as you might expect a seven-casked whisky to be on the palate, this whisky really surprises. On the nose, big juicy berry notes jump out. On the palate, honey cake, sticky toffee, and currant linger. It's somehow a text book example of The Dalmore's rich sherry-finished style (mouth coating, lush, syrupy) while being very much unlike any Dalmore I've tried in recent years (restrained on the chocolate and coffee notes and particularly fruit forward). Flavors less common to The Dalmore range—orange candy, black cherry, pie filling— are really pronounced, like broad splashes of bold primary colors over a caramel is, I'm sorry to tell you, illuminated with unexpected flavors, and there's an art-gallery-like joy in just sitting with it for a few moments. I'm very much of the opinion that some whiskeys can be 'over thought,' and distillers the world over will reluctantly admit that not every liquid they sell is meant for poetic tasting notes. But I wish I'd gotten to enjoy more time (and ounces) with this release before it was gone. It's a pleasing and engaging drinking experience that I can't recommend enough for lovers of 'serious whisky.' And if that's what Luminary No. 3 did to my brain, I can only imagine what the 52-year–old liquid would do.
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Luminary Unveils AI Estate Planning Tool to Turn Documents into Dynamic Diagrams in Minutes
Luminary has launched AI-Powered Dispositive Provision Extraction: a new feature that enables estate planners and advisors to transform complex legal documents into dynamic client-ready diagrams in under 15 minutes. NEW YORK, March 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Luminary, an award-winning estate planning technology platform, today announced the launch of its Dispositive Provision Extraction tool. This new AI-powered feature automates the extraction of dispositive provisions from complex legal documents, allowing advisors to create client-ready presentations in minutes. Estate planning professionals have long faced challenges in manually reviewing trust documents, extracting client details, and structuring estate flowcharts in PowerPoint. Traditional processes are time-consuming and prone to human error. Luminary's latest AI innovation streamlines this workflow, enabling advisors to focus on high-value strategic planning rather than administrative tasks. Instead of sifting through complex legal documents to determine beneficiary distributions, Luminary's new tool intelligently identifies recipients and pre-fills key client details to save advisors hours of work per client. The human-in-the-loop technology provides complete visibility throughout the process, with built-in citations that support AI-generated recommendations with direct evidence for advisor review. "This launch sets a new industry standard — combining advanced AI infrastructure with precision data extraction and human validation. By unlocking unprecedented speed and accuracy, we've empowered advisors to transform complex trust documents into actionable estate plans within minutes, not hours." - Ian Lyons, Head of Engineering @ Luminary Key Benefits of Luminary's Dispositive Provision Extraction: Automated Data Extraction – Luminary AI reviews trust documents and identifies dispositive provisions, filling in recipient names, distribution types, and percentages in minutes. Increased Planning Confidence and Transparency – AI-generated recommendations come with supporting evidence that shows exactly where information is found in the original document. Seamless Integration with Luminary's Tools – Extracted data feeds directly into Luminary's estate visualization and scenario modeling capabilities, transforming static documents into client-ready visuals in less than 15 minutes. "Luminary AI does a great job! I was really impressed with the level of beneficiary details it successfully extracted, including ones I hadn't found myself during my manual review." - Associate, Multi-Family Office in San Francisco Client expectations have risen to new levels, demanding a higher degree of personalization and speed from planners, meaning firms need a smarter approach. Luminary continues to enhance its AI capabilities to help RIAs, family offices, CPAs, and attorneys deliver faster, more accurate, and more scalable estate planning services. Ready to experience the next generation of wealth transfer? Reach out to Luminary's sales team today to experience a live, personalized demo. About Luminary Luminary is a data and collaboration platform purpose built for trust & estate services. Our platform uses human-in-the-loop AI assistance to digitize information otherwise trapped in original documents, and connect it with applications for visualization, what-if scenario modeling, and tax value creation tracking. Luminary's customers are leaders in the delivery of tax efficient wealth transfer guidance for complex clients, including investment managers, professional services practices, and family offices. We aim to help our customers increase capability and capacity, reduce cost and risk, and quantify the value planning adds to their clients. The founding team, led by CEO David Barnard, has deep experience in wealth management and software development. Learn more at Media Contactpress@ View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Luminary Platforms, Inc
Boston Globe
10-03-2025
- Business
- Boston Globe
In the early 1800s, Black women ‘luminaries' lit Newport's streets. One woman is looking to rekindle that legacy.
LMNRY, which is pronounced Luminary, crafts candles from coconut soy wax and uses wooden wicks. She offers a candle-making experience class, which dives into the history of the craft and candle-making in Newport. Get Rhode Map A weekday briefing from veteran Rhode Island reporters, focused on the things that matter most in the Ocean State. Enter Email Sign Up Advertisement Q: How does the business rekindle the forgotten legacy of Black women in Newport? Jones: Newport's Black history, like much of Black history in America, was told rather than officially recorded, leaving many stories missing or lost to time. What little we know about the Black women candle-makers of Newport comes from oral history shared by Rev. Alvin Riley of Mt. Zion Church. He recounted how Black women from the church made candles, which were then used to light the city's streets. Any historical records that would have been recorded were tragically lost when the original church burned down. LMNRY helps rekindle that history by honoring the legacy of the Black women who crafted candles to ensure Newport's streets were lit at night. Newport was among the earliest cities in the country to have street lights, and the contributions of Black women were crucial to making that happen. Through candle-making, I am continuing their craft, sharing their story, and making sure their impact is recognized and remembered. Q: How does LMNRY fit into your own personal and professional background? I began my career in retail, transitioned to working at a hotel front desk, moved to casino gaming, and then shifted to conventional banking. Through these experiences, I have always been creative. I had a passion for fashion and went to school for early childhood education. I always wanted to own a boutique, initially envisioning a clothing store. At 27, I was diagnosed with Advertisement Q: Where are you sourcing your ingredients from? My candles are sourced from a select group of small candle supply vendors across the country who prioritize quality and ethical sourcing, I use high-end clean burning materials that are all Prop 65 compliant, phthalate-free, and nontoxic, ensuring a safe and luxurious experience with every candle. Q: What does it mean to you to be the only Black woman to own a business on historic Thames Street? To me, representation is very important. I was born here in Newport, but becoming a business owner has introduced me to an entirely new side of this place that has been here the whole time. It's a different world. I have had the opportunity to sit at tables I never imagined I would, but it hasn't always been easy. I have met resistance, and there has been little to no advocacy or support. That is why I know there is still more work to do. I want to help other women and aspiring business owners not just find a seat at the table but build their own. Advertisement Q: Speaking from your experience opening the business, what changes would you like to see in Newport's small business community to make it more diverse and inclusive? It's a common misconception that Newport residents don't need resources. Through organizations like Q: What goals do you have for the next year? What about the next five years? I plan to ramp up production and marketing to position LMNRY to be in stores and one day amongst the likes of Jo Malone, Harlem Candle Co,. and Diptyque. I also aim to create more local jobs by hiring employees to host candle-making experiences at our shop. Q: What challenges are you facing, and how do you plan on overcoming them? Building LMNRY from the ground up from nothing comes with imposter syndrome, especially as a nontraditional business owner on Thames. I combat this by owning my space and proving that there's room at the table for everyone here. Lack of access to capital, inventory management, and staffing are ongoing challenges, but I'm handling that with strategic reinvestment, refining operations and building a passionate team. I also face competition from non-local franchises, making it crucial to highlight the authenticity and essence of Newport and the importance of shopping local. Advertisement With limited representation in this space, I'm committed to not only growing my business, but inspiring and supporting others to do the same. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. The Boston Globe's weekly Ocean State Innovators column features a Q&A with Rhode Island innovators who are starting new businesses and nonprofits, conducting groundbreaking research, and reshaping the state's economy. Send tips and suggestions to reporter Alexa Gagosz at . Alexa Gagosz can be reached at
Yahoo
18-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
EXL's LDS platform recognized as ‘Luminary' in Celent New Business and Underwriting Systems: North America Life Insurance Edition report
NEW YORK, Feb. 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- EXL [NASDAQ: EXLS], a global data and AI company, announced it has been recognized as a Luminary in the Celent New Business and Underwriting Systems: North America Life Insurance Edition report. The recognition marks the third consecutive year that EXL's Life Digital Suite™ (LDS) solution, has been honored for its innovation and functionality. In 2022, EXL's LDS also earned the Luminary honor, and in 2023, EXL won Celent's XCelent Breadth of Functionality Award for its LifePRO™ platform. This Celent report evaluated 20 different technology platforms supporting the automation and digitization of the new business and underwriting processes to lower operating costs and improve customer experience. The focus was on new business and underwriting systems currently offered in North America. The Celent evaluation is based on detailed analysis of product offerings and capabilities along with client references and surveys. 'As a modern, low-code, highly configurable system with six new clients in the U.S. and U.K., EXL's LDS has become a top contender in the new business and underwriting solution market,' states Karen Monks, principal analyst in Celent's Life Insurance Practice and author of the recent report. 'EXL's continued investment in the product, like Underwriter Assist, a summarization and query tool using GenAI, helps them make insurers' shortlists.' EXL's LDS is a comprehensive digital platform that automates the entire new business and underwriting process from receipt of insurance application through policy issue. Fully interoperable with existing client technologies and pricing systems, the cloud-based solution is built a with simple no code configuration and includes pre-built product templates supporting fully customized agent landing and quote pages, personalized quotes and detailed management dashboards. 'The landscape of the life insurance industry favors fast decisioning and efficient workflows,' said Ajmal Malik, EXL's vice president and LDS product manager. 'At EXL, we empower insurers with fully automated, AI enhanced processes that help underwriters organize and search through unstructured data, streamline decision-making, and allowing them to thrive in this fast-paced environment.' To read more about the report and to see how EXL compares to its competition, visit here. For more information on EXL's Life Digital Suite, click here. About EXL EXL (NASDAQ: EXLS) is a global data and AI company that offers services and solutions to reinvent client business models, drive better outcomes and unlock growth with speed. EXL harnesses the power of data, AI, and deep industry knowledge to transform businesses, including the world's leading corporations in industries including insurance, healthcare, banking and capital markets, retail, communications and media, and energy and infrastructure, among others. EXL was founded in 1999 with the core values of innovation, collaboration, excellence, integrity and respect. We are headquartered in New York and have approximately 57,000 employees spanning six continents. For more information, visit Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You should not place undue reliance on those statements because they are subject to numerous uncertainties and factors relating to EXL's operations and business environment, all of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond EXL's control. Forward-looking statements include information concerning EXL's possible or assumed future results of operations, including descriptions of its business strategy. These statements may include words such as 'may,' 'will,' 'should,' 'believe,' 'expect,' 'anticipate,' 'intend,' 'plan,' 'estimate' or similar expressions. These statements are based on assumptions that we have made in light of management's experience in the industry as well as its perceptions of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors it believes are appropriate under the circumstances. You should understand that these statements are not guarantees of performance or results. They involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Although EXL believes that these forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, you should be aware that many factors could affect EXL's actual financial results or results of operations and could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. These factors, which include our ability to maintain and grow client demand, our ability to hire and retain sufficiently trained employees, and our ability to accurately estimate and/or manage costs, rising interest rates, rising inflation and recessionary economic trends, are discussed in more detail in EXL's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including EXL's Annual Report on Form 10-K. You should keep in mind that any forward-looking statement made herein, or elsewhere, speaks only as of the date on which it is made. New risks and uncertainties come up from time to time, and it is impossible to predict these events or how they may affect EXL. EXL has no obligation to update any forward-looking statements after the date hereof, except as required by federal securities laws. ContactsMedia Keith Little+1 703-598-0980 Investor RelationsJohn Kristoff+1 212 209 4613IR@ in to access your portfolio
