Dhavall Gandhi reveals 60YO single malt
Dhavall Gandhi’s luxury whisky brand, Kandoblanc, has shared details of its 60-year-old ‘Dragon in Clouds’ whisky, donated to the Distillers One of One auction.
The one-of-a-kind bottling will be auctioned at the Distillers’ Charity and Sotheby’s Distillers One of One 2025 auction on 10 October at Hopetoun House near Edinburgh.
Dragon in Clouds is the inaugural release of Kandoblanc’s Yukari collection, which is described as ‘a philosophical design journey that explores emotional depth through singular objects d’art’.
Gandhi, former whisky maker for The Macallan and Lakes Distillery, explained: “Kandoblanc offers a blank canvas. That’s what excites me most: the freedom to explore, to combine, and to create something entirely new. There is no template to work from, and that makes it both challenging and exhilarating.
“Our work is about creating singular objects that speak across time, bridging traditional mastery with a contemporary point of view.”
Dragon in Clouds is a 60-year-old single malt Scotch whisky aged in refill Sherry casks, sourced from an undisclosed Speyside distillery.
The whisky displays notes of dried and tropical fruits, with hints of lapsang-like smoke, marmalade, and cocoa nibs, along with a subtle waxy texture. The Sherry influence contributes additional notes of dates, chocolate, and ‘a gentle peppery finish’.
Dragon in Clouds’ design
Kandoblanc Dragon in Clouds is a blend of Japanese craftsmanship and Italian glassmaking expertise. Developed over two years, the project involved collaborations with artisans from Japan, including the Hikoju Makie collective, and Murano glass maker Venini.
The vessel’s design is inspired by traditional Japanese ceramic aesthetics, featuring flowing contours that suggest both movement and stillness. This is said to serve as a physical representation of the dragon’s mythical ability to exist in both earthly and celestial realms.
The upper contours of the vessel highlight the ancient art of Urushi lacquerware, applied by Japanese artisans using the Togidashi maki-e decorative technique.
Inspired by the dragon motifs of Chen Rong, a 13th-century Chinese master whose work significantly influenced East Asian artistic traditions, gold powder is carefully applied to create imagery that appears to emerge from within the lacquer itself. This technique involves multiple applications and polishing.
The whisky is housed in a 1.5-litre magnum vessel designed by Venini.
The piece features two intricately fused glass forms that utilise both Inciso (engraving) and Battuto (hammering) techniques, described as a combination ‘never attempted before’. The innovative glass structure creates an interplay between transparency and opacity, allowing light to dance through the vessel.
A custom ceremonial disc, crafted from precious metal, serves as a contemplative centre within the composition, acting both as a functional element and a symbolic anchor.
Gandhi continued: “Dragon in Clouds is an emotional artefact. It reflects our belief that true beauty evokes kandō – the quiet power to move us. Donated in support of the Distillers’ Charity, it embodies our mission to preserve and celebrate heritage craftsmanship.”
In addition to Dragon in Clouds, the Yukari collection will feature two further one-of-a-kind pieces inspired by Japanese cultural icons, each exploring different facets of the relationship between tradition and innovation that shapes Kandoblanc’s creative vision.
Founded in 2023 by Gandhi, Kandoblanc’s whisky releases combine traditional methods with contemporary artistic vision. Its debut creation, Aga, was unveiled at Distillers One of One in 2023.
The brand’s philosophy centres on kandō, described as the “Japanese concept of quiet beauty that moves the soul”.
Earlier this month, Diageo unveiled a 46-year-old Port Ellen Prism for the Distillers One of One 2025 auction.
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