28-06-2025
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
