Compass Box Hedonism 2026: Recharting the Course of Grain Whisky

Compass Box Hedonism 2026 exists because in 2000, John Glaser decided grain whisky was good enough.

At the turn of the millennium, he launched Hedonism as the first blended grain Scotch whisky on the market.

There was no established category or shelf space waiting for it. But Glaser felt that aged grain, long treated as the silent spine of blends, could stand on its own.

The story of Hedonism, the story of Compass Box

The hierarchy was clear: single malt is king, blends and grain are at best dukes or something. Some people still think this way today, but there’s more #discourse these days about judging what’s in the bottle, not the label.

Back in 2000… less so. Launching a blended grain Scotch in that context was, frankly, a bit unhinged. It was taking two categories many dismissed, and doubling down on them.

What Glaser saw when he looked at parcels of well-aged grain whisky resting in warehouses across Scotland was what you should see when you look at them. Flavour. Silky, creamy, rich in vanilla and old oak sweetness flavour. 

That, alongside a simple Compass Box principle, led to Hedonism. Exceptional whiskies are tasty on their own, yes. But you can blend them to create something greater than the sum of its parts. And that is a very worthy pursuit. 

Going with the grain

Hedonism was made to be delicious, not as an exercise in disruption. It redrew the map anyway. The whisky drinker Compass Box had in mind was the curious one. If sceptics followed, fine. If they did not, so be it. But as soon as people tasted Hedonism, it changed perceptions.

Ironically, partly thanks to this, the demand for old and rare grain whiskies is greater. They’re not as readily available now, and that sequence of events eventually led to Hedonism becoming a limited annual release in 2024. 

That does not mean that Compass Box wants to recreate the original Hedonism year after year. The point was always to showcase what exceptional grain can be at that moment in time. That remains the guiding principle. 

Selecting grain whisky for Hedonism is not about age for its own sake. It is about texture and balance first. Every parcel is sampled and assessed for the relationship between spirit character and oak influence. Too much wood and you lose the silk. Too little and it lacks depth.

Creaminess is non-negotiable. Proper Hedonism grain carries layers of caramel, butterscotch, soft toffee and polished oak, with that distinctive, almost satin-like mouthfeel that only well-aged grain can deliver. Gliding where bourbon tends to roar.

Transparency, iconography and the frontier question

Hedonism also represents Compass Box in another of its defining traits: transparency.

Long before detailed recipe breakdowns became fashionable, Compass Box was publishing proportions, cask types and component ages. At the time, that was not standard practice. Today, you look down on those who don’t meet these standards. Whisky drinkers are within their rights to ask, “If they can do it, why can’t you?” 

It’s not always that simple. But the genie is out of the bottle now. If you release a whisky, people want to know every last detail about it. Blogs like this exist because of that. Compass Box Hedonism 2026 continues that approach, laying out its blend in forensic detail rather than hiding behind romance. 

Then there is the label.

Karen Gillan, LA, and labels

The original Hedonism woman was drawn from an old woodcut. Whisky marketing in 2000 did not look like that. The point was that whisky was for everyone, and the imagery reflected that. Over time, the Hedonism woman became inseparable from the whisky itself.

Since 2024, when Hedonism became a limited annual release, that iconography has evolved further. Each year, a different female artist reinterprets the figure, reinforcing the idea that Hedonism is not static. 

This year, the Hedonism muse is Karen Gillan. Now seems a good time to remind you all that you can win a chance to meet her in LA. Take that opportunity. 

Compass Box Hedonism 2026

As for this year’s bottle, Compass Box Hedonism 2026 comes at 46% ABV, natural colour. It’s also given a light 5-micron filtration. A total of 13,218 bottles were filled in November 2025. Lead whiskymaker Angela D’Orazio, known for her earlier work at Mackmyra in Sweden, oversees the composition.

Single grain from the closed Port Dundas Distillery forms the core, with 31% from a 24-year-old refill sherry butt. This first appearance of an antique sherry butt in the series brings its own signature depth of flavour. Another 28% is 20-year-old grain matured in a recharred American oak hogshead.

Hedonism 2026 also incorporates 17% from Hedonism 2025 and 4% from the 2024 edition, both 15-year-old parcels matured primarily in first-fill bourbon barrels. A 21-year-old blended grain parcel making up 12% of the composition, matured in first-fill bourbon barrels with a one-year finishing period. The remaining elements include 5% 20-year-old Cameronbridge single grain from a first-fill bourbon barrel and 3% 30-year-old Strathclyde single grain matured in refill bourbon. 

Pair with silky Parma ham and fresh pear, or sweet and salted popcorn. Or pour slightly chilled into a large wine glass and pair with coffee & walnut cake.

Where the compass points now

Hedonism did change things in Scotch whisky. But the compass was only ever going to swing so far. It’s not as if today you can’t move for high-quality blended grain. The shelves are not crowded. But Hedonism remains the most Compass Box of the Compass Box expressions because it represents the brand’s core instincts.

It scratched the surface of what is possible. And there is still ground to explore. An antique sherry butt here, a Hollywood actor there. What comes next? We’ll see, but you can bet Compass Box will be there at the frontier as always.

The really radical act happened over 25 years ago. Now, an annual release format acknowledges reality. Old grain stocks are finite. The category remains a relatively small corner of Scotch whisky. But it exists. And it tastes bloody great.