The idea that whisky and architecture might share creative DNA isn’t something most people would consider, but The Dalmore has been quietly building that bridge for three years through its Luminary Series. The final chapter in this collaboration fuses heritage, bold innovation, and design theory into one of the most visually and technically ambitious releases the Scotch world has seen in decades. The 2025 Luminary No.3 marks the culmination of this project, with a 52-year-old single malt suspended – quite literally – in a one-of-a-kind bronze sculpture.
This isn’t The Dalmore’s first foray into architectural cross-pollination. In 2022, they brought on Maurizio Mucciola, a protégé of Kengo Kuma, for a 48-year expression. A year later, Melodie Leung of Zaha Hadid Associates shaped the vision behind a 49-year-old release. Now, for the grand finale, the distillery partnered with Ben Dobbin of Foster + Partners, known for massive cultural and technological landmarks like Apple Park and the Transamerica Pyramid. But this wasn’t just about dressing up a whisky. Dobbin’s design language influenced the spirit inside the bottle just as much as the exterior housing. Master blenders Richard Paterson and Gregg Glass worked with Dobbin to incorporate his personal preferences into the final profile. At the same time, Dobbin embedded himself in the Highland terrain around the distillery, drawing creative cues from natural curves and manmade spans alike.
The 52-year-old whisky is a technical marvel. It started in ex-bourbon barrels but finished in five ultra-rare cask types: vintage 1980 Calvados, 1940 Colheita Port, Tawny Port, 40-year Pedro Ximénez Sherry, and Châteauneuf-du-Pape wine casks. The inclusion of Calvados is particularly daring. These barrels were only approved by the Scotch Whisky Association in 2019, but Paterson had placed his bet years earlier, trusting his instinct and a long game on the evolving ruleset. The result is a whisky that leans into The Dalmore’s signature opulence, layering deep fruit and spice with waves of chocolate, orchard fruit, and a long, silky finish. It’s bottled at 40.3% ABV – a nod to elegance over brute strength.
Dobbin’s bronze housing pushes boundaries too. Based on the architectural concept of tensegrity, the sculpture appears to levitate the decanter within an array of curved metal rods and asymmetric tension points. Only two were made. One remains with the distillery and the other heads to Sotheby’s Hong Kong for auction, where it’s expected to fetch between $100,000 and $200,000. Proceeds from the sale benefit the V&A Dundee, Scotland’s leading design museum and a core partner in the Luminary Series.
Still, for every collector with a seven-figure budget, there are thousands of fans who just want a piece of the vision. That’s where The Dalmore’s Luminary No.3 “The Collectible” comes in. A 17-year-old single malt bottled at 49.2% ABV, it mirrors the experimental cask journey of its rarer sibling with seven finishing casks – including multiple Calvados, sherry, and wine influences. Priced at $399 and capped at 20,000 bottles worldwide, it’s not cheap, but it offers a genuine taste of the artistry that went into one of the most ambitious whisky projects in recent memory.
This final Luminary release doesn’t just mark the end of a limited-edition series – it reinforces the idea that great whisky isn’t just about time in the barrel. It’s also about creative risk, interdisciplinary dialogue, and the kind of vision that can connect flavors to form, glass to bronze, and Highlands tradition to global design.
