According to Compass Box CEO Nishat Gupte, Hedonism has been discontinued so his whisky makers can devote efforts to other projects.
The End of the Road for Hedonism
Compass Box retires its founding whisky, which defined the company's offbeat, non-conformist identity from the start
November 12, 2026 –––––– Jonny McCormick
Compass Box has announced that Hedonism 2026, released in February, will be the final in the annual series. Only two years ago, Compass Box described Hedonism as “the embodiment of the Compass Box ethos.” Now, it’s bringing down the curtain on one of the most recognizable and influential whiskies of the modern era.
Compass Box founder John Glaser launched the company in 2000 with Hedonism, making a compelling case for blended grain whisky at a time when single malt dominated the conversation. Its celebration of sweetness, texture, and complexity helped change perceptions of a category traditionally overshadowed by malt whisky. Over more than two decades, it transitioned from being a core range staple to a much-anticipated annual release, attracting a loyal following. When Glaser parted ways with Compass Box in 2024, he singled out Hedonism as the proudest achievement of his career at the company.
Below, we chart the chronology of Hedonism releases from 2000 to 2026. While Compass Box was eager to celebrate Hedonism’s legacy when it announced the news, it offered little explanation for why it’s ending or what might take its place. Whisky Advocate spoke to Nishat Gupte, CEO of Compass Box Whisky, about the decision.
Whisky Advocate: Why is Hedonism ending?
Gupte: Hedonism achieved what it was created to do. In 2000, few people believed that a blended grain whisky could stand alongside the finest scotch. Hedonism helped to change that perception, and grain whisky is now increasingly respected. Over the years, each edition has reinterpreted that same founding idea within a well-established format. Concluding the series frees our whisky makers to devote their time and expertise to new challenges: pushing technical boundaries, experimenting without constraint, and creating whiskies that are not bound by a single concept or calendar. It is a genuinely exciting moment for the team, and drinkers will see the result in new releases throughout the years to come.
Whisky Advocate: But grain whisky still struggles for recognition among most scotch drinkers. Does ending Hedonism send the wrong message?
Gupte: I do not believe so. Hedonism played an important part in making the case for grain whisky, and the industry has now broadly accepted it. We’re about to release Gagga, an exclusive limited-edition blended scotch, co-created with Asia’s most decorated chef, Gaggan Anand, widely celebrated for his ultra-creative cuisine. So, clearly grain whisky continues to have a role in our whisky making wherever the flavor calls for it. The conclusion of one series does not change that.
Whisky Advocate: Is the plan to simplify and focus on higher-volume core whiskies?
Gupte: We are concentrating our expertise on fewer whiskies and setting the highest standard for each one. Flavor is the heart of that standard. Brûlée Royale illustrates what this requires. Our ambition was to recreate crème brûlée in the glass. To achieve it, we worked directly with Independent Stave Co. in Missouri on casks toasted and charred specifically to encourage notes of sugar brittle, peaches in custard, and tarte tatin in the component whiskies from Clynelish Distillery. The same philosophy underpins the whiskies drinkers enjoy every day, including Orchard House and Nectarosity.
Whisky Advocate: What comes next?
Gupte: One of the whiskies in our pipeline is arguably the most technically demanding project we have ever undertaken. When the ambition is to create a specific sensory experience, every element has to work in harmony: the aroma as the glass is raised, the texture on the palate, and the character of the finish. Getting that balance right takes extraordinary precision, and that is the standard we set ourselves. It is also why I am confident that more and more drinkers across the U.S., Europe, and Asia will come to see Compass Box as the defining name in modern scotch whisky.
A Compass Box Hedonism Chronology
2000 – Hedonism First Release, 43%
The inaugural Compass Box whisky, released on 23 October 2000, was a blended grain expression combining mature whiskies from just two distilleries: Cambus and Caledonian. Subsequent batches were blends of 2–4 casks of the best grain whiskies Compass Box could find.
Fun fact: In the early 2000s, as Compass Box was beginning to get established, Hedonism was bottled on Gordon & MacPhail’s bottling line.
2007/2008 – 90 points Hedonism Maximus, 46%
Described as a reserve version of Hedonism, John Glaser chose older and rarer grain whisky components, including a 42-year-old Invergordon and 29-year-old Cameronbridge. The label was inspired by Andrew Usher & Co.’s Old Vatted Glenlivet Whisky.
Fun fact: A cask strength version of Hedonism Maximus was bottled for La Maison du Whisky store, Paris at 50.1% was a blend of 42 year old Invergordon and 28 year old Carsebridge grain whiskies.
2010 – Hedonism (Invergordon) 10th Anniversary Edition 1971 38 year old, 46%
A departure from the blended grain formula, this was a single cask of Invergordon 1971 single grain whisky matured in American white oak casks with an outturn of 144 bottles.
Fun fact: This expression is seriously collectible. Along with the first release, this is typically the most expensive Hedonism release to buy at auction.
2014 – 87 points Hedonism Limited Release Core Range, 43%
Multiple batches of Hedonism were produced for the core range releases until it was discontinued in 2024. Recipes drew on stocks of Cameronbridge, North British, Carsebridge, Cambus, Port Dundas, and Dumbarton, plus the occasional mystery parcel of pre-blended grain whisky. American oak was the defining influence, using first-fill bourbon barrels and rejuvenated American oak hogsheads.
Fun fact: The core range releases had significant batch variations, but guided by their quest for greater transparency, Compass Box shared every detail on their website.
2015 – 92 points Hedonism Quindecimus, 46%
Marking the company’s 15th anniversary, Quindecimus was a blend of five grain whisky components, including two parcels from Port Dundas, with grain whisky from North British, Dumbarton, and a mystery parcel of pre-blended grain whiskies. The whiskies were matured between 20 and 32 years old, and matured in a combination of first-fill American oak barrels and rejuvenated hogsheads.
Fun fact: The pre-blended grain was sourced from Loch Lomond, though they did not produce it.
2018 – 93 points Hedonism The Muse, 53.3%
A limited edition of 3,060 bottles built around an exceptional old grain whisky cask of unknown distillery provenance, combined with parcels of other rare grain whiskies from Invergordon, North British, Strathclyde, and Port Dundas distilleries. Created by John Glaser and Jill Boyd, the release marked Compass Box’s celebration of women in whisky, highlighting the female figure on the Hedonism label.
Fun fact: Hedonism The Muse was bottled at the same ABV as the percentage of women working at Compass Box at the time.
2020 – 95 points Hedonism Felicitas 20th Anniversary, 53%
Marking two decades since the first Hedonism, whisky maker James Saxon brought together three grain whiskies, each distilled in different decades: 1980s Strathclyde, two parcels of 1990s North British, and 2001 Port Dundas in a release of 2,226 bottles.
Fun fact: The Port Dundas was matured in a refill sherry butt, a break from the typical American oak casks used for grain whisky. Compass Box would return to this sherry cask influence for the final release in 2026.
2023 - Compass Box Hedonism2, 49%
A small batch of 600 bottles created by James Saxon for the 10th anniversary of Hedonism Wines, a specialist wine and spirits store in London. It contained rare grain whiskies including North British, Port Dundas, and Girvan aged for 20 years or more.
Fun fact: Hedonism Wines was founded by Russian entrepreneur Yevgeny Chichvarkin, formerly behind one of Russia's largest mobile phone retailers, who decided to create the world’s best wine store after he couldn’t find fine wines in London’s existing stores.
2024 – 91 points Hedonism 2024 Release, 43%
Acknowledging the difficulty of sourcing grain whiskies of the caliber they were looking for, Compass Box announced that Hedonism would become a limited annual release. The recipe used older and rare grain whiskies, matured almost entirely in first-fill bourbon barrels.
Fun fact: This Hedonism included some of the company’s last remaining stocks of grain whisky distilled in the 1990s, including whiskies made from maize.
2025 – 92 points Hedonism 2025 Release, 46%
The recipe brought together a Girvan single grain and two Cameronbridge single grains, one of which was finished for 2 years in a first-fill marsala barrique, adding red fruit and sweet wine influences.
Fun fact: The grains were blended with stocks retained from previous Hedonism releases, aged for 16 and 19 years respectively.
2026 – 93 points Hedonism 2026 Release, 46%
This final edition brought The Muse to life in the form of “Jumanji” actor and director Karen Gillan, in an empowering image of strength, confidence, and femininity that pushed the brand into new creative territory. Blended by former Mackmyra master blender, Angela D’Orazio, this included a 30-year-old parcel from Strathclyde, Port Dundas matured in a refill sherry butt, and small proportions of the 2024 and 2025 vattings.
Fun fact: Over 60% of the blend came from closed distillery stocks.
