The Dalmore Single Malt Whisky is proud to present its collaboration with Ben Dobbin of the renowned architectural firm Foster + Partners – a visionary new chapter in the third edition of The Dalmore Luminary Series, uniting the artistry of whiskymaking with the aesthetics of architectural design.
Curated in partnership with the V&A Dundee, Scotland’s design museum, The Dalmore Luminary Series No. 3 features two exceptional new single malt whiskies. They are the result of a close creative collaboration between British architect Ben Dobbin, whose work includes the iconic Apple Park (USA) and the revitalization of the Transamerica Pyramid (USA), and The Dalmore’s acclaimed whisky creators, Gregg Glass and Richard Paterson OBE.
At the heart of the collection is The Dalmore Luminary 2025 Edition – The Rare: an exceptionally rare, 52-year-old single malt – the oldest ever released in The Luminary Series. This perfect whisky is presented in a specially designed crystal decanter, encased in a masterpiece bronze sculpture by Ben Dobbin. This unique piece is being auctioned by Sotheby’s, benefiting its partner, V&A Dundee.
Also part of this edition is The Dalmore Luminary No. 3 – 2025 Edition – The Collectible: a 17-year-old single malt inspired by „The Rare“ and presented in a custom-made case. This strictly limited edition is limited to just 20,000 bottles worldwide and will be available exclusively from select specialist retailers and high-end retailers.
This third edition of the Luminary Series is all about creative flow and artisanal precision – qualities that both Ben Dobbin and The Dalmore’s Master Whisky Makers, Gregg Glass and Richard Paterson OBE, share in their philosophy and creative process. This convergence is impressively reflected both in the whiskies themselves and in the design of their unique presentations.
A central aspect of the creative collaboration was inspiration from nature: Dobbin was particularly impressed by the dynamic landscape surrounding The Dalmore’s Highland distillery—from its topography to the masterful engineering of its bridges and lochs. These impressions flowed directly into his sculptural design—a harmonious interplay between man, craftsmanship, and nature.
Dobbin’s extraordinary sculpture, which houses The Dalmore Luminary 2025 Edition – The Rare, makes the whisky appear to float almost timelessly and is a superb example of tensegrity – a contemporary architectural style in which structures appear to be naturally constructed in a precisely balanced state of tension. Using this architectural approach, Dobbin has designed an art sculpture that is dynamic, expressive, and perfectly balanced. The asymmetrical bronze sculpture features dramatic waves and rods, gentle curves, and straight lines – all balanced in precise tension to create a dynamic equilibrium.
The Dalmore whiskymakers took an equally precise approach to creating their whiskies. They, too, were inspired by Dobbin’s personal taste preferences, which were incorporated into the creative process. The Dalmore Luminary 2025 Edition – The Rare was matured for over 52 years and received a multiple finish in extremely rare casks, while The Dalmore Luminary No. 3 – 2025 Edition The Collectible was matured for over 17 years and also features a complex multi-cask finish, with subtle flavor hints of The Rare.
Inspired by discussions with Dobbin, the Dalmore whiskymakers utilised a special set of Calvados casks, which they foresightedly filled even before Calvados was recognized as a permissible cask type by the Scotch Whisky Authority in 2019. From this point, both whiskies embarked on independent and complex maturation journeys, while remaining true to the signature house style for which The Dalmore is known and appreciated: subtle citrus notes and rich chocolate. The resulting whiskies are a striking testament to The Dalmore’s pioneering approach to multi-cask maturation and masterful whiskymaking.
The Dalmore Luminary 2025 Edition – The Rare is 52 years old and will be auctioned at the renowned auction house Sotheby’s, along with its accompanying sculpture. The auction will be held through Sotheby’s Hong Kong and ends on May 16. All proceeds will once again be donated 100% to the V&A Dundee, Scotland’s design museum.
This auction is one of only two sets in existence – the second is permanently housed at the Dalmore distillery in the Scottish Highlands.
This exceptional single malt is a complex, refined whisky of the utmost finesse. It embodies the essence of The Dalmore’s whiskymaking craftsmanship and reflects the design philosophy underlying Ben Dobbin’s sculpture. Just as Dobbin’s work strikes a balance between precision and creative flow, The Dalmore’s whiskymakers refine the whisky’s maturation experience by moving individual batches through some of the world’s rarest casks. These include vintage Calvados from 1980, Colheita Port from 1940, rare Tawny Port, 40-year-old Pedro Ximénez Sherry, and wine casks from Châteauneuf-du-Pape.
Through the tension between these sometimes contrasting, sometimes complementary cask characteristics, The Dalmore has created a whisky of extraordinary depth, complexity, and lasting elegance – a true masterpiece of whiskymaking!
The Dalmore Luminary No. 3 – 2025 Edition – The Collectible is 17 years old, inspired by „The Rare“ edition, and presented in an elegant, custom-made presentation case with a hinged mechanism, itself inspired by the sculpture. This strictly limited edition comprises only 20,000 bottles worldwide and will be available in Germany from mid-June.
After initial maturation in American white oak casks (ex-bourbon), this whisky was refined in a daring combination of seven different cask types, including vintage and mature Calvados, rare Matusalem Sherry, rare Apostoles Sherry, select red wine casks from Bordeaux and Châteauneuf-du-Pape, and fully aged American white oak.
The Dalmore Luminary Series No. 3 follows two highly acclaimed luminary collaborations: first with Kengo Kuma and Maurizio Mucciola, architects of the iconic V&A Dundee, and last year with Melodie Leung, renowned designer and director at Zaha Hadid Associates, whose portfolio includes the Henderson Building in Hong Kong.
The Luminary Series proudly supports The Dalmore’s partner, the V&A Dundee, Scotland’s design museum. Since the partnership began in 2020 and the launch of the Luminary Series in 2021, The Dalmore has already provided the museum with over £200,000 to support its design and collaborative work, both locally and globally.
All elements of this third chapter of the Luminary Series were developed in close collaboration: Gregg Glass, Richard Paterson, and Ben Dobbin worked together to bring both the whiskies and the designs to life.
Ben Dobbin, Luminary No. 3 and Senior Partner at Foster + Partners: „As an architect, collaborating with The Dalmore was absolutely fascinating. Technically, the process was significantly more precise—and at the same time more creative—than I expected. The whiskymakers at The Dalmore think about taste in 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 express our shared connection to place, materiality, and the bridges between our worlds.“ „I grew up with a passion for whisky, which I inherited from my father, so I was naturally excited by the prospect of working with The Dalmore. At the same time, I was initially a little intimidated by the prospect of collaborating with whisky greats like Richard and Gregg. However, we quickly discovered that we experienced and expressed ourselves in similar ways—this led to an authentic, genuine partnership and results I’m very proud of.“
Richard Paterson OBE, Master Distiller of The Dalmore: „This collaboration with Ben perfectly complements and strengthens the Luminary Series. It demonstrates the new dimensions that can emerge when creative talents from different yet complementary fields come together.“ „It has been a pleasure working together on this third edition of the Luminary Series. We are delighted to share the results with whisky and design lovers worldwide – while also supporting our friends at the V&A Dundee in their amazing work.“
Gregg Glass, Master Whisky Maker of The Dalmore: „Meeting Ben was like a true meeting of minds. There are indeed many parallels between whiskymaking and architecture – both are iterative processes that strive to create something that will stand the test of time.“ „We always strive to create malt masterpieces – and I’m once again proud to say that the Luminary Series impressively demonstrates our commitment. In doing so, we remain true to our shared vision and the overarching theme of creative flow and precision – values that are important to both of us.“
Leonie Bell, Director of V&A Dundee: „Working with The Dalmore and each of the luminaries has been a great pleasure. It’s fascinating to see how closely the precise and complex process of crafting world-class whisky is intertwined with the meticulous approaches of some of today’s most innovative architects.“
„Ben Dobbin and Foster + Partners work on extraordinary projects around the world. We are delighted to be working with them to curate and create an exhibition of his architectural work – as part of our partnership with The Dalmore.“ — Jonny Fowle, Global Head of Whisky & Spirits at Sotheby’s, said: „The Dalmore represents outstanding single malt whisky – and everything that goes with it: the people, the provenance, the history, and the taste. Over decades, they have perfected their craft, most recently with unique, limited editions.“ „With the Luminary Series, The Dalmore celebrates the world of whisky art and architectural design. It is the perfect showcase for the talent of all those who have brilliantly collaborated on this long-term project. On behalf of Sotheby’s, I can say: It has been a true pleasure to be part of this journey from the very beginning—together with the V&A Dundee—to the exclusive presentation of the third edition of the series.“
World Premiere in Venice
The Dalmore Luminary Series No. 3 was officially unveiled in Venice on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, ahead of the world’s most prestigious architecture exhibition, the Venice Biennale. The global launch included a lively panel discussion with The Dalmore’s Luminary collaborators: Ben Dobbin, Melodie Leung, and Maurizio Mucciola, moderated by the curator of the Venice Architecture Biennale 2023, Professor Lesley Lokko OBE. The Architecture Biennale invites dialogue about the role of architecture in the world. Guests at The Dalmore were given an exclusive first look at the sculpture and decanter from The Dalmore Luminary 2025 Edition, presented as part of a special exhibition – co-curated by V&A Dundee and Foster + Partners – and also accessible digitally via The Dalmore’s website from May 8. In addition, a world premiere tasting of The Dalmore Luminary No.3 – 2025 Edition took place.
Sotheby’s Auction in Hong Kong
The Dalmore Luminary 2025 Edition – The Rare will be auctioned at Sotheby’s in Hong Kong in May 2025. The sculpture and a copy of The Rare will be exhibited there from May 9 to 16. The auction ends on May 16. As with the 2024 edition, 100% of the proceeds will be donated to the V&A Dundee. Availability and Exhibition: The Dalmore Luminary No. 3 – 2025 Edition will be available from mid-May 2025 at select luxury and specialty retailers worldwide, as well as global travel retailers.
