V&A Dundee Partnership
The story of The Luminary Series begins not with a person, but with a place – V&A Dundee, Scotland’s museum of design – a place where nature and architecture come together on the banks of the River Tay, in the heart of the UK’s only UNESCO City of Design.
The Dalmore and V&A Dundee have worked in collaboration since 2020, showcasing excellence in design and craftsmanship on a global stage.
Luminary No.1 - 2022 Edition
A shared passion for natural materials, rarity and collective artistry is at the heart of the first limited edition release of The Luminary Series.
Co-conceived by globally-acclaimed architect Kengo Kuma, designer of V&A Dundee and his protégé Maurizio Mucciola, in hand with Master Distiller, Richard Paterson OBE and Master Whisky Maker, Gregg Glass.
With a collective ambition to push boundaries to realise their potential, inspired by the interplay of light and nature, and the potential which lies within natural materials and ingredients. Together they have created two very special single malts, The Rare & The Collectible.
Meet The Luminaries
Kengo Kuma
Internationally acclaimed Japanese architect Kengo Kuma was the visionary architect of V&A Dundee and the Olympic stadium in Tokyo. In 2021 he was celebrated by Time Magazine as the most influential architect of the year. His striking designs seek to blend their cultural and environmental surroundings.
"I try to capture the spirit in what I do using natural materials and the forces we cannot see to release the potential within."
Maurizio Mucciola
Italian-born architect Maurizio Mucciola, considered Kuma’s protégé, credits his mentor for inspiring his architecture and design practice today. Mucciola led, as project architect, the realisation of Kuma’s design Scotland’s Design Museum, V&A Dundee.
“Harmony between architecture and nature is my drive.”
Gregg Glass
The Dalmore Master Whisky Maker, Gregg Glass, has worked alongside Paterson for six years. He credits Richard with sparking his interest in whisky and cementing his ambition to become a whisky maker.
"It’s all about crafting with those natural materials something that is completely unique."
Richard Paterson OBE
Considered the greatest whisky maker of his generation, The Dalmore Master Distiller, Richard Paterson OBE is admired across the globe for his passion and innovative flair when it comes to whisky making.
"Making a single malt is an artistic process."
The Philosophy
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. Together the Luminaires established 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 them together.
The Artistry
Artistic exploration continues throughout every facet of The Rare and The Collectible whiskies; from a unique sculpture designed by Kengo Kuma to house The Rare, to the elegant design that holds the Collectible. Each is presented as piece of art to exalt the rare precious whisky within.
The Rare
48 Years Old
Non-chill filtered
Natural colour
40.8% ABV
Co-conceived by Kengo Kuma and Richard Paterson OBE, The Rare is a once-in-a-lifetime creative collaboration that unites culture and craft. This seminal and rare 48 Year Old Single Malt, of which only three bottles will be created, begins it’s journey in American white oak ex-bourbon casks, the whisky has also been influenced by aged Matusalem and Apostle Oloroso sherry casks and vintage Port pipes. The assemblage of spirit from these various casks is then finished in both Scottish Tay and Japanese oak, bringing the whisky to the peak of its potential.
The first of three bottles will be will be sold within its sculpture at Sotheby’s London with a portion of the proceeds donated to V&A Dundee, the second sculpture and bottle will be held at the distillery’s Highland Home, while the designers proof of the sculpture and replica bottle will be held in a display at V&A Dundee.
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 – The Rare. The sculpture is inspired by how invisible natural forces inspire the visible and the delicate use of wood and light confidently frame The Rare decanter at its centre. The Scottish Oak wood chosen celebrates The Dalmore and V&A Dundee Partnership – as before being upcycled for this project the tree had fallen on the banks of the River Tay.
The Rare Flavour Profile
The Collectible
15 Year Old
Non-chill filtered
Natural colour
46.8% ABV
Created by Mucciola and Glass, The Collectible, of which there are 15,000 bottles, begins its journey in American white oak and is finished in hand selected Italian Amarone red wine casks and bespoke ‘Kintsugi’ casks. Crafted specifically for this Limited Edition and made from Scottish Tay Oak, Japanese Mizunara Oak and American White Oak – as a nod to the heritage of each Luminary.
Our innovative 15 Year Old Single Malt echoes its Rare partner in design, spotlighting Glass’s passion for wood and flavour, and held in a presentation box designed by Kuma-san’s protégé Maurizio Mucciola. Using a palette of strong earth tones, Mucciola’s beautiful contemporary casing with geometric design celebrates the relationship between whisky and nature and the importance of channelling potential with material components.