Introducing The Dalmore Luminary No.1
Collaborative Project Announcement: Luxurious Scotch Brand The Dalmore Teams Up with V&A Dundee Museum
Kickstarting the 2022 Edition, this remarkable single malt sits at the helm of The Luminary Series. Built in collaboration with the acclaimed architect, Kengo Kuma and his protégé, Maurizio Mucciola, this masterpiece boasts an inspirational design, embodying the elusive particles of nature that define beauty. The rare 48-Year-Old Luminary No.1 takes pride of place in 48 intricate diamond-shaped pieces, meticulously crafted to honor its age.
The collaboration, led by Master Distiller Richard Paterson OBE with over 60 years of experience and Master Whisky Maker Gregg Glass, unites a shared love for natural materials, respect for the creative process, and a commitment to pushing boundaries in search of excellence.
An Ode to Collaboration and Cultural Heritage
It's an honor to join forces with Kengo Kuma once again, and witness the phenomenal realization of our partnership. The Rare stands as a stunning tribute to cultural heritage, and I am immensely proud of this scarce, timeless creation that narrates a captivating story of unity amid disparity.
Partnering with Scotland's Design Museum
This collaboration stretches beyond just whisky-making, as we forge a unique bond with Scotland's Design Museum, showcased in the beautifully crafted Decades in the Makin, a short film documenting our journey together. Kuma and Paterson's striking design sensibilities resonate with my own passion for natural materials and storytelling, making this partnership an exciting celebration of shared values.
The Rare: A Once-in-a-Lifetime Occasion
The Rare is the culmination of a precious collaboration between Kengo Kuma and Richard Paterson OBE, melding culture and craft. The project marks a pivotal point in their ongoing creative journey, which began two years ago during the same time that the four-year partnership with V&A Dundee was announced. An exclusive offering of only three bottles will be brought to life, each meticulously nurtured by the Master Distiller, aged in Scottish Tay Oak and Japanese Oak, and presented in a unique sculpture crafted from Japanese Oak, Scottish Oak, and gleaming steel.
A 48-piece Sculpture Celebrating the Age
The first of these two sculptures will be auctioned off at Sotheby's with proceeds going to support V&A Dundee. The second sculpture will reside at the distillery's Highland home, with the original sculpture currently on display at V&A Dundee, evoking the invisible particles of nature and celebrating the whisky's 48 years of aging. The sculpture elegantly combines metal and wood, drawing inspiration from the ancient Japanese art of Kintsugi, where broken pottery is repaired with gold, creating a unique and meaningful effect. The Scottish and Japanese Oak blend effortlessly with the shimmering metal particles, finding harmony in their delicate balance.
The Collectible: A 15-Year-Old Single Malt
This stunning creation is a joint venture between Glass and Maurizio, blending their passion for wood and design. The Collectible is a 15-Year-Old Single Malt, which has matured in Japanese Mizunara and American white oak casks, before being finished in bespoke 'Kintsugi' Casks crafted specifically for this ultra-rare Limited Edition. These casks are meticulously crafted from Scottish Tay Oak, sourced from an upcycled tree discovered on the banks of the River Tay.
Nature, Location, and Whisky – A Symphony of Connections
"The Dalmore is a relentless pioneer, always pushing the boundaries to explore hidden potential, towards excellence," says Master Whisky Maker Gregg Glass. This exceptional collaboration between Kengo Kuma, Richard Paterson OBE, and the renowned whisky makers at The Dalmore is testament to the beauty of true craftsmanship.
The Quest for Unsurpassed Quality
The four-year association of champions of Scottish culture enables V&A Dundee and The Dalmore to champion and promote exceptional design across the globe. One of the three exceptional bottles and accompanying sculpture of the Luminary No.1 Rare will be made available for acquisition via auction in November. The rest of the approximately 15,000 bottles of the Collectible Edition will be sold around the world at luxury retailers worldwide.
For more details, visit The Dalmore website.
- The Luminary No.1, a 48-Year-Old single malt, is not only a testament to shared love for natural materials and excellent craftsmanship but also a symbol of fusion between fashion-and-beauty (Kengo Kuma's design) and food-and-drink (The Dalmore's whisky).
- The partnership between The Dalmore and the Scotland's Design Museum, as seen in the Decades in the Makin film, highlights the intersection of entertainment (documentary filmmaking) and home-and-garden (museum exhibition).
- The auction of the first sculpture at Sotheby's signals a unique opportunity for travel (auction attendance) and shopping (bidding on exclusive items), contributing to charitable causes such as V&A Dundee.
- The 15-Year-Old Single Malt, The Collectible, is a result of collaboration between craftsmen (Glass and Maurizio) from different parts of the world, blending pop-culture (Kintsugi art) with lifestyle (whisky appreciation).
- The quest for unsurpassed quality in lifestyle products, as demonstrated by The Dalmore's Luminary No.1 and The Collectible, is a reflection of the influence of celebrities (Paterson OBE) and their impact on pop-culture, spanning industries such as food-and-drink, fashion-and-beauty, and home-and-garden.
