THE DALMORE, LUMINARY NO.3
HIGHLANDS, SCOTLAND
WHY BUY: The Dalmore needs no introduction, of course, but what continues to amaze us about this legacy distillery is how, at a time when it could simply rest on its considerable laurels, it continues to gift us so many extraordinary, mind-expanding expressions. Case in point: the 2025 edition of The Dalmore Luminary No. 3, a gorgeously matured 17 Year Highland Single Malt that brims with rich, rounded notes of dark chocolate, toffee, caramel, and autumnal spices. And, to gild the lily, they’ve housed this exceptional juice in an elegantly designed vessel thanks to a partnership with digital designer Ben Dobbin of Foster + Partners. This is not just a must-have for your collection, folks, this is one for the ages: a peak expression of Highland excellence.
THE BOTTLING: The master craftsmen at The Dalmore have outdone themselves with this release, continuing the legacy of excellence established by legends like Richard Paterson and Gregg Glass. This 2025 edition represents the third installment in the ongoing collaboration between the Highland distillery and the V&A Museum in Dundee, Scotland, a design museum opened in 2018 and conceived by the renowned Japanese architect Kengo Kuma. The partnership has already brought four terrific whiskies to market, each housed in striking packaging.
THE STORY: Since opening its doors in 1839, The Dalmore has been a paragon of steadiness. And persistence. It has refused to bow to fashion, has never rushed its process or wavered in its privileging of quality over quantity, and has made precision its northstar. The results have been impossible to argue with, and given us some of the world's most coveted whiskies. The Luminary series stands as a perfect example of the distillery's dedication to creating expressions that transcend the ordinary. What makes The Dalmore so special is their uncompromising commitment to exceptional cask selection. Their warehouses are a treasure trove of rare sherry butts and port pipes, many of which have been exclusively secured through decades-long relationships with legendary bodegas. Their blending approach, too, sets them apart; they're masterful at creating whiskies that are greater than the sum of their parts, taking their time to craft expressions that reveal themselves gradually rather than all at once. And last, but by no means least, there’s Paterson, the distiller’s distiller, a man who can detect differences most of us would miss entirely.
OUR TASTING NOTES: The nose on this! — to go from breathing in a glass of mulled cider one moment to cupping a mug of hot (dark) chocolate the next. We were hooked right there. But then comes the first sip and that trademark Dalmore richness, so smooth and enveloping. Those toffee and caramel notes don't just make an appearance — they set up camp, and invite subtle oak influences to the party. We were especially taken with the long, complex finish, which keeps evolving on the palate, long after the whisky’s gone. This is a whisky for contemplation, a whisky to sit with and think big thoughts. A whisky to break out when the world, as the poet said, is too much with us.
FUN FACT: The Luminary series represents a unique partnership in the whisky world, with each release consisting of one ultra-rare, high-age statement bottling (The Rare) and one more accessible bottling (The Collectible). The Rare fills just three decanters — one auctioned via Sotheby's to raise money for the V&A Museum, one displayed at the museum itself, and one kept by the distillery. The belief among many whisky world watchers is that, once the series is complete, The Dalmore will hold a vertical of each Rare Luminary release, and anticipation is already building for this.
OUR GUARANTEE: We always buy and source direct, so rest assured – your single malt will arrive in your hands with pristine provenance. Secure yours today!