“Rooted in Japanese aesthetics and realised through masterful artistry, Dragon in Clouds is an emotional artefact - a confluence of heritage, intention, and restrained elegance. At its heart rests a 60-year-old Single Malt Scotch Whisky: elegantly complex, profoundly rare, and shaped by t.mes . It offers more than rarity; it reflects our belief that true beauty evokes kandō - the quiet power to move us deeply. Donated to support the meaningful work of the Distillers’ Charity, this piece expresses our wider mission: to preserve, evolve, and celebrate heritage craftsmanship for future generations.”
“Dragon in Clouds” is a one-of-a-kind piece inspired by Japanese art and the spirit of cultural reverence and creative expression. As the inaugural creation within Yukari - a philosophical journey expressed through singular works - it embodies heritage art forms and features an exceptionally rare single malt whisky.
This singular object celebrates a powerful philosophy capturing enlightenment, guardianship, and a legacy that seamlessly connects past, present, and future.
Beginning at the upper contours of the vessel, Urushi lacquer is applied - a revered art form demanding extraordinary patience and mastery. This ancestral technique, entrusted to master artisans in Japan who uphold its native tradition, yields a living surface of depth, reflection, and evolving patina. Beneath the lacquer rests a sculpted ceramic form - chosen for its strength, permanence, and archival calibre.
Enhancing the lacquer’s artistry, the vessel is adorned with Togidashi Maki-e, one of Japan’s most intricate techniques. Inspired by Chen Rong, the 13th-century Chinese painter whose dragon motifs shaped Japanese iconography, the gold-powdered design offers a rare convergence of East Asian artistic lineage and symbolism.
A bespoke ceremonial disc - forged in precious metal (hallmarked) by Hamilton & Inches, esteemed Scottish jewellers to the British Crown - forms a quiet centre of meaning within the composition.
The primary vessel is a remarkable work of hand-blown glass, crafted in Murano, Italy, by the legendary VENINI furnace. Two intricately fused glass forms, employing both Inciso and Battuto, mark an unprecedented combination in VENINI’s history.
At the heart of this creation rests a 60-year-old Single Malt Scotch Whisky - an exceptionally rare whisky, matured over six decades and chosen for its elegance, restraint, and quiet complexity. Deeply symbolic, it echoes the nature of the dragon itself: sacred, enduring, and revered. Presented in a striking magnum, it stands as a whisky legacy - a meditation on t.mes , transformation, and cultural reverence.
Tasting Notes
By Dave Broom
Colour: Light amber.
Nose: Softly elegant but remarkably lively for such an aged whisky. Vibrant, fresh fruit a touch of chocolate mint, basil sitting on top of mature almost tropical fruit and a drift of light woodsmoke. In t.mes , there’s osmanthus, spiced honey and propolis. The aroma steadily deepens into waxiness. It is quite a transformation.
Palate: Medium weight and quite unctuous it revels in thick syrupy fruit juices (peach, mango) and more mint along with some lightly oxidised nuttiness. Allow it to rest in the mouth and there’s an increasingly waxy texture, then some vetiver, scented wood (cedar), and vin jaune. Expansive.
Finish: Lightly drying, apple skin, mango.
KANDOBLANC
KANDOBLANC is a visionary Maison uniting art and culture to realise bespoke art pieces featuring some of the world’s rarest whiskies. Founded by Dhavall Gandhi, KANDOBLANC occupies a unique space between a haute couture atelier and a grand Champagne house, yet remains entirely its own: far from the traditional, and beyond the expected.
Deeply influenced and shaped by Japanese aesthetics, it is exquisite craftsmanship and refined elegance which inspire each bespoke creation with the promise of lasting beauty and profound meaning. Embodying the Japanese concept of kandō, their t.mes less objects evoke a deep emotional response and reflect a rich inner world shaped by culture and heritage artforms.
KANDOBLANC’s philosophical approach, rooted in t.mes less artistic evolution and refined elegance. Each of the creations begin with this foundation - a deep respect for heritage artforms coupled with an unwavering commitment to their preservation. Through a meticulous blend of creativity, culture, and philosophy, they honour the principles of artistic sustainability.
Their vision manifests itself in carefully crafted objects d’art and contemporary heirlooms, creating a lasting legacy in the form of a living museum of modern meaning. Yet, beyond creation, their work embodies a mission of cultural sustainability, preserving artisanal mastery and heritage craftsmanship.
At KANDOBLANC, they honour evolution, artistic convergence, and cultural continuity. Whisky becomes a medium of transformation - a rarefied conduit through which beauty, philosophy, and craftsmanship converge. In the hands of the Maison, it transcends the expected, becoming a vessel for creative expression and t.mes less excellence.