Introducting AGA by Kandoblanc
The creation of a visual marvel for ex-Macallan distiller and blender, Dhavall Gandhi. The result is the first ‘one of one’ bottle for his new luxury 'Kandoblanc' studio. The bottle was sold by Sotheby’s at their most prestigious whisky auction in October of 2023 breaking two world records along the way. AGA, by Kandoblanc is a celebration of duality. Exquisite hand blown Murano glass inspired by a combination of Japanese and Italian aesthetics. This bottle is the first bottle by Kandoblanc and builds upon Dhavall’s personal reputation as creator of ‘The World’s Best Single Malt’ 2022.
Brand Architecture
The Kandoblanc Maison. In the luxury world, every mark and every word must carry deep artistic meaning. We worked with Dhavall to create foundations from which he could build his ultimate vision.
Product Design
A celebration of Italian and Japanese culture, Kandoblanc’s inaugural release draws inspiration from Carlo Scarpa’s Bututto glass and Japanese Kintsugi. We translated this aesthetic duality into AGA.
Production Oversight
Working with our client we identified Carlos Scarpa’s original studio, a world famous glass maker in Murano, and worked with their artisanal and technical teams to deliver a piece of art worthy of 2 world records.
Timelessness & exclusivity
Kandoblanc was inspired by the notion of duality in art, aesthetics and creative influences. ‘Kando’ is the Japanese word for the simultaneous feelings of deep satisfaction and intense excitement that humans experience when encountering something of exceptional beauty. ‘Blanc’ translates from the French as ‘white’ –associated with ideas of purity, brilliance and perfection.
Where art, philosophy & whisky collide
AGA’s shoulder and top are meticulously crafted in the likeness of a mountain peak, evoking images of Fuji-san or even the distinctive hat of a Japanese mendicant Zen monk, with the bottle itself serving as their cloak. Adorning the bottle's neck, a thread of gold pays homage to the revered Japanese art of kintsugi, where gold dust is used to mend cracks in ceramics, accentuating their imperfections, echoing Leonard Cohen's timeless sentiment: "There is a crack in everything, that's how the light gets in." The base of the bottle is inspired by Carlos Scarpa and exhibits intricate patterns resembling scales or feathers, painstakingly crafted through the age-old Italian technique of battuto - hand-blown and then carefully carved by hand on a spinning sanding wheel. This craftsmanship consciously avoids the path of perfection, embracing instead the elements of chance, skill, and the art of craft.
Working with Murano Glass
Nestled on the historic island of Murano, the legendary Venini Glass Studio remains the absolute pinnacle of boundary-pushing glass artistry. During his transformative tenure as artistic director, the visionary architect Carlo Scarpa fundamentally redefined the studio's legacy. He famously championed the Battuto technique - a meticulous, labor-intensive cold-carving method that transforms smooth glass into a faceted, deeply textured surface resembling hand-beaten metal. This rich lineage beautifully culminates in the creation of the inaugural AGA bottle for Kandoblanc. Masterfully hand-blown by Venini in a striking two-tone glass composition, this singular decanter was sculpted by Scarpa’s modern-day counterpart. Ultimately, it stands as a breathtaking tribute to timeless legacy, seamlessly blending historic Venetian craftsmanship with the apex of modern luxury spirits design.
The Kandoblanc art object
The inaugural release, known as AGA, delves into layers of significance. "Aga," not only signifying a mountain but also the namesake of Dhavall's own son. It celebrates the fusion of ideas and cultures though exquisitely crafted objects. Aga was Kadoblanc’s first art piece and marks the debut of Gandhi’s work as a creator who oversees every aspect of an object, from the design of the bespoke decanter to the whisky contained within.
