In the world of rare whisky, few names combine art and a depth of heritage like Kandoblanc. Founded in 2023 by Dhavall Gandhi, Kandoblanc isn’t just about the rare whisky in the vessel, but about cultural resonance, ancient craft, and singular objects that tell stories.
To understand Kandoblanc, you must first understand Dhavall Gandhi. His path to whisky was far from a conventional one — but like much of the project of Kandoblanc, that’s by design.
Growing up, Gandhi possessed pronounced sensorial awareness. He has related how in primary school he could distinguish pencil brands by scent alone, or recall a space simply from its smell, remarkable feats that even Derren Brown would be left scratching his head by, wondering how on Earth he’s accomplished it. These weren’t quirks though — they were seeds that would later fuse with mathematics, science, economics, and craftsmanship.
Academically, he trained in finance and economics; his early professional work was in corporate finance and consulting (notably with Ernst & Young) in the United States. But during a trip to Kentucky, Maker’s Mark to be exact, he is said to have experienced an epiphany. Watching how whisky was made — seeing distillation and craft in action — he realised this was the medium in which he wished to express himself.
Returning to the UK, Gandhi pursued a postgraduate degree in brewing and distilling from Heriot-Watt University. He also worked with Heineken, and then joined the Macallan, where his work deepened his understanding of flavour and blending.
In 2016, he accepted the challenge of defining a house style for the Lakes Distillery, becoming its master blender/whisky director. His time with the Macallan enhanced his understanding of sherry casks, which was going to be essential for this imminent role. It was a brave move from Gandhi, but one that paid off. The distillery has gone on to become an acclaimed English whisky, regularly earning top plaudits at the World Whiskies Awards thanks to the groundwork laid out by Gandhi. In 2022, the Lakes Distillery won the title of World’s Best Single Malt for its Whiskymaker Reserve No 4 expression.
In 2023, Gandhi founded Kandoblanc, a Maison with a mission to produce one-of-one creations — objects that unify rare whisky with cultural meaning and significance. The name itself reveals the harmonies: Kando (Japanese) to describe the moment of profound emotional awe at beauty, and blanc (French) to suggest purity and artistic brilliance. ‘Blanc’ also resonates with the meaning of Gandhi’s first name in Sanskrit.
The Maison is structured as a collaborative platform: bringing together master artisans, designers, glass-makers, and cultural narratives. In each project, the physical object, the liquid, the vessel, and the symbolism all matter equally.
Kandoblanc’s first whisky, AGA, launched at the 2023 Distillers One of One Auction in partnership with Sotheby’s. The name derives from ancient Indian texts of Ayurveda meaning ‘mountain’ and, more personally, the name of Gandhi’s son.
The whisky itself — a blend of two rare Scotch whiskies, one Speyside, one Highland, distilled in 1979 — is impressive in itself, but it’s the decanter presenting the spirit which really announced Kandoblanc’s arrival on
the luxury whisky scene.
Fusing Japanese and Italian artistry, the glass was hand-blown in Murano, then carved using the age-old Italian battuto technique to create texture and reflect light. Around the neck, gold thread evoked kintsugi, the Japanese art of mending with gold. The cap is shaped like a mountain peak — a reference both to Mount Fuji and to sacred mountains in many cultures, while bringing the name of AGA full circle.
When AGA was sold at the auction for £45,000 after a competitive bidding war, it set a record for the most expensive first whisky ever sold from a new brand.
But where AGA introduced Kandoblanc to the world, Dragon in Clouds has now vaulted the brand to a whole new whisky stratosphere.
Inspired by Japanese art and aesthetic, Dragon in Clouds marks the inaugural creation within Yukari — a collection of three one-of-a-kind pieces inspired by Japanese art and cultural icons. The concept of Yukari (roughly translated to ‘connection’ in English) emphasises ties between people, place, craft, and culture.
At the heart of the object is a 60-year-old Speyside single malt Scotch whisky. The choice of maturing in refill sherry casks is a heartfelt callback to Gandhi’s passion in sherry wood, enhanced by his time at the Macallan and the Lakes.
But like AGA, the vessel itself is not an afterthought, but arguably the all-encompassing star of the show. The vessel itself is inspired by traditional Japanese ceramic aesthetics, with the flowing contours reflecting that of a dragon and its fantastical abilities.
The upper contours display the ancient art of urushi lacquerware, which is applied by Japanese artisans in possession of extraordinary patience and mastercraft. This provides the foundation for the Japanese decorative technique known as togidashi maki-e.
Togidashi maki-e, inspired by 13th-century dragon motif creator Chen Rong, is the technique of providing gold powder to create imagery that appears as if it is within the lacquer itself. This is an excruciatingly thorough process (which is where that patience becomes very useful) that requires multiple applications and polishing.
The project’s Italian heritage comes from the foundation of the vessel crafted by glassmaker Venini. Two intricately fused glass forms employ two techniques — inciso (or engraving), and Battuto (hammering) — in tandem. This is a combination used exceedingly rarely, with the desire to create what looks like a union of transparency and opacity. In other words, to create the illusion that light is flowing through the vessel.
Gandhi’s desire for sustainability is also hidden within — quite literally. A sculpted ceramic form lies beneath with the specific purpose of helping the object to maintain its integrity for years and generations to come.
Beside its main mission statement, Kandoblanc is almost equally concerned with preserving heritage craft and artisanal techniques — those almost at risk of fading.
Two years of development, sustaining heritage techniques, preserving artisanal skills, ensuring economic viability for masters of crafts that might otherwise be under threat. This emphasis on sustainability — not just of whisky ageing, but of craft traditions — is central. Many of the materials used in the Kandoblanc projects are those on the cusp of extinction, and Kandoblanc hands them a route to preservation.
Selling for £106,250 at the 2025 Distillers One of One auction, it became the highest lot price ever achieved by an independent boutique company in that event, and the sixth highest of all 39 one-of-a-kind lots. It more than doubled Kandoblanc’s previous auction record. One hundred per cent of hammer proceeds will go to the Distillers’ Charity’s Youth Action Fund, which supports disadvantaged young people in Scotland.
“The mission of Kandoblanc is to promote, preserve, heritage art forms for future generations. We always believe that legacy is not what we create but what we sustain. This is where the Kandoblanc mission and [Distillers One of One] auction have a confluence,” says Gandhi. “We are all doing this for giving and empowering opportunities for the youth of the country.”
What sets Kandoblanc apart isn’t its ability to pick fine whisky or craft beautiful bottles — it’s that each creation is part of a broader story. This is part of a larger trend among certain rare whisky collectors: desire not just for a high age statement, but for objects that carry meaning, that spark conversation, and that reflect provenance — not just of a distillery, but of craft, of people, and of place.
Gandhi has hinted that further unique pieces are in development, and will more than likely continue that symbolism closely related to Japanese art. There will of course be more to come in the Yukari Collection.
“Kandoblanc was founded on the principle of harmony — cultivating an equal creative dialogue between diverse arts and cultures while serving as a beacon for artistic preservation. Following in the footsteps of our icon, AGA, the Yukari Collection embodies our unwavering commitment to this mission,” says Gandhi.
Dhavall Gandhi’s journey — from finance, to the Macallan, to the Lakes, to founding Kandoblanc and uniting art, whisky, craft, and culture — is a remarkable feat. AGA showed what was possible, Dragon in Clouds has raised expectations, and now the whisky world awaits patiently for what’s next. For collectors, artisans, and whisky lovers alike, the excitement and intrigue Kandoblanc brings is endless.
