With the release of a new batch of Hedonism, Compass Box announced that its signature blended grain scotch will no longer be available year-round. Starting this year, it will become a limited annual release. Compass Box has cited difficulties in maintaining a sufficient supply of high-quality casks of aged grain whiskies as the main reason for the change. Notably, Hedonism 2024 Limited Annual Release uses the company’s last stocks of Cameronbridge from the 1990s, a period when the giant Diageo-owned grain distillery in Fife was producing high-corn content grain spirit.
When John Glaser launched Compass Box in 2000, Hedonism was the first whisky released. Since then, there have been more than a dozen different editions over the years. The 90 point Hedonism Maximus was a reserve edition released in 2007, made with 42 year old Invergordon and 28 year old grain whisky from northern Highlands grain distillery Carsebridge, which closed in 1983. The longevity of Hedonism was celebrated with anniversary releases at 10, 15, and 20 years, such as the 92 point Hedonism Quindecimus in 2015, and the spectacular Hedonism Felicitas in 2020, which our tasting panel rated 95 points. Compass Box claims that Hedonism was the first scotch whisky to feature a woman on the label, a tradition they have maintained throughout every update, including commissioning Scottish artist Stephanie Rew to create the artwork on for the 2024 release. Compass Box celebrated women in whisky with the release of the 93 point Hedonism The Muse in 2018, when it announced that its team comprised more women than men.
Grain whisky remains a very much niche among bottled scotch whiskies, despite being produced in enormous quantities. It’s mainly used in blends and is rarely released as single grain or blended grain expressions. Premium blended grain whiskies, like collectibles from House of Hazelwood, The Last Drop Distillers, and Royal Salute, join Compass Box Hedonism as exemplars of the style. Hedonism’s legacy might just be laying the groundwork that helped embolden other whisky companies to release limited edition blended grain whiskies of their own.
Compass Box has upped the age of the constituent grain whiskies in this batch, which is bottled at 43% and priced at $150.
What Does Compass Box Hedonism 2024 Taste Like?
The nose is sweet and dry, with honey, candied lemon, graham cracker, nutmeg, burlap, and seasoned oak. The texture is syrupy, with a rush of honey, vanilla, and banana over the tongue, pursued closely by light spices. A wave of ripe fruitiness washes in, accented by apricot, peach, and macadamia nut; the mouthfeel becomes creamier with flavors of caramel, vanilla, hints of green banana, and light cocoa, leaving a mouth-coating finish. Recognizably Hedonism, this is quite a gorgeous whisky. (91 points)
