The Design Concept

The design of The Dalmore Luminary Series No.1 originates from the quest to discover a point of convergence between the complex skills of design and whisky-making. As Kuma is world-renowned for his innate ability and consistent approach to marry architecture with nature, understanding location is integral in making each project exceptional.

The importance placed on the extensive use of natural materials, especially wood, is Kuma-san’s signature and is reflected in his design of V&A Dundee’s interior. At The Dalmore, the location’s fundamental elements of soil and timber play an intrinsic role in the whisky-making process and in giving its distinctive flavour. Kuma and Mucciola establish a poetic connection between design and whisky-making: highlighting mutually utilised materials, taking inspiration from the power and natural surroundings of each destination, and honouring their friendship with V&A Dundee that brought together the project.

The sculpture of the Rare is made of 48 hand crafted diamonds of Scottish Oak, Japanese Oak and polished metal to represent the 48 years of the whisky of Luminary No.1 Rare. The sculpture’s delicate use of wood and light confidently frame the Rare decanter at its centre. The Scottish Oak wood chosen is the same used for the ‘Kintsugi’ casks of the Collectible and further celebrates The Dalmore and V&A Dundee Partnership – as before being upcycled for this project the tree had fallen along the banks of the River Tay where both The Dalmore and V&A Dundee sit. It is inspired by how invisible natural forces inspire the visible.

The Scottish and Japanese Oak mingle with light reflected from the shiny metal particles to achieve balance and harmony, drawing parallels to the art of the Master Distillers that create perfectly harmonious whisky-flavours.

For the packaging of the Collectible, the design for the Glorifier was reimagined and transformed into a graphic pattern and applied to the packaging. Soft earth tones were chosen to echo the strong connections between nature, the location, and the whisky.

The Dalmore x V&A Dundee Partnership

In a world-first, four-year partnership, The Dalmore, the fastest growing luxury single malt whisky and V&A Dundee, Scotland’s design museum, seek to champion and nurture exceptional creative talent. Together, they pledge to cultivate a global platform for contemporary artisans and designers and inspire the next generation of creative thinkers to pursue their potential.

The relationship is embedded in a relentless pursuit of excellence as champions of Scottish culture, and in exporting shared purpose, talent, and stories. The four-year collaboration allows V&A Dundee and The Dalmore to curate and advocate for exceptional design on a global scale and offers crucial support for the design museum. In 2021, The Dalmore donated £100,000 from the record sale of the one-of-one, exceedingly rare Decades No.6 Collection at Sotheby’s Hong Kong in honour of the partnership.

One of the three exquisite bottles and accompanying sculpture of the Luminary No.1 Rare will be available to acquire at auction in November this year, with a portion of the proceeds donated to V&A Dundee. Approximately 15,000 bottles of the Collectible Edition will be made available for purchase from the finest luxury retailers worldwide. The bottles will be on shelf in the UK from October in Harrods, Selfridges and Harvey Nichols at the RRP of £250.

Quotes From The Luminaries

Kengo Kuma shares, “My relationship with The Dalmore, and with Scotland, is one born from a love of natural materials and the unfolding of stories over a lifetime. In my work with Richard Paterson and The Dalmore, I see a same respect for the environment, and the same careful attention to the way great design must continue to evolve over time. The glorifier design echoes this sensibility, inviting all who see it to consider the elements, seen and unseen, that have gone into its conception.”

Richard Paterson, OBE, says of the release: “It is a pleasure and a privilege to collaborate with Kengo Kuma once again, and to draw inspiration from his rich experience in bringing this new release to life. The Rare is a wonderful celebration of cultural heritage. I am exceedingly proud of this exceptionally scarce single malt which tells a beautiful story of the coming together of disparate parts into a greater whole.”

Maurizio Mucciola adds, “Working with and learning from Gregg Glass, sharing our passion for materials and respect for the natural world, shines a light on the importance of craft. This release is inspired by the work we have undertaken with our mentors, and the work we have yet to do – the embodiment of potential realised over a time.”

Master Whisky Maker Gregg Glass says, “The Dalmore is constantly innovating, working to unlock the hidden potential in every component of its whisky-making process in order to achieve excellence. The opportunity to create something entirely new has resulted in a masterful liquid that balances tradition with innovation. It beautifully expresses the personal and professional journeys of Maurizio Mucciola and myself, and shows what is so special about true craftsmanship.”