Whyte & Mackay-owned The Dalmore has unveiled The Portfolio Series 2025, the second release of its travel retail-exclusive Portfolio Series.
It will debut in global travel retail on 1 September at Singapore Changi Airport – the prestige Scotch whisky single malt brand’s first ever pop-up at the airport – in partnership with Lotte Duty Free.
This exclusive one-month activation will be followed by a roll-out to additional international hub airports from October.
The Portfolio Series is an annual three-part collection of Highland single malt Scotch whiskies finished in Bordeaux casks from the region’s Châteaux vineyards.
Curated by The Dalmore’s Master Whisky Makers, the limited-edition range is interpreted every year by an artist chosen in collaboration with Scotland’s design museum V&A Dundee. Drawing inspiration from The Dalmore distillery, each artist uses distinctive design techniques to create specially commissioned packaging art.
For The Portfolio Series 2025, The Dalmore has partnered with graphic artist Gabriella Marcella – Founder and Director of RISOTTO, a leading risograph print and design studio in Scotland.
In designing the packaging, Marcella was inspired by “elements such as motion, process and time” at The Dalmore distillery, as well as the brand’s heritage and the whiskies themselves.
“My aim was to translate the smooth, flowing characteristics of these whiskies into visual elements – ones that evoke movement and tactility,” she explained.
Marcella paid homage to The Dalmore’s heritage in the form of the tartan of the Mackenzies, the clan of the distillery’s founders. “My approach was to honour the Mackenzie tartan’s heritage while reimagining it in ways that felt contemporary and in alignment with The Dalmore’s innovative spirit,” she said.
Marcella studied the tartan’s patterns and thread counts and took inspiration from ancient weaving practices in her striking reinterpretation of the tartan using risograph printing.
Created by layering each colour separately using a drum filled with soy-based inks, the result is a vibrant print that is said to capture the tactility of risograph with its characteristically ‘perfectly imperfect’ alignments and handcrafted appearance.
“My designs were rooted in a deep appreciation for The Dalmore’s heritage, the whisky-making craft, and the unique attributes of The Dalmore itself,” Marcella said. “And just as whisky follows a carefully honed recipe, my designs began with strict parameters – thread count and tartan grids, etc. – before I introduced elements of play and abstraction.”
Whyte & Mackay Marketing Director GTR Janice McIntosh said: “We are proud to build on the success of the inaugural launch with The Portfolio Series 2025 and the limited-edition release of this exceptional whisky collection, which is celebrated visually in the standout packaging created by the bold creative vision of Gabriella Marcella.
“Last year, through our pioneering airport art gallery concept, we really pushed the boundaries to introduce this special concept, which was exceptionally well received. We are excited to partner with Singapore Changi Airport and Lotte Duty Free to offer global travellers yet more distinctive and immersive moments of discovery from The Dalmore.” ✈
The Dalmore Portfolio Series whiskies are non-aged statements, of natural colour and non-chill filtered.
- Portfolio Series No.1 (3,595 bottles, £500/US$635) – finished in Bordeaux wine casks, 46.8% AVB
- Portfolio Series No.2 (1,596 bottles, £750/US$952.50) – finished in Châteauneuf du-Pape casks, 46% AVB
- Portfolio Series No.3 (1,014 bottles, £1,000/US$1,270) – finished in select Bordeaux Cabernet Sauvignon casks, 49.7% ABV
