Actor Karen Gillan has been unveiled as The Muse for Scotch whiskymaker Compass Box, gracing the label art for the company’s 2026 Hedonism release.
A fan favourite in blockbuster franchises such as Doctor Who (Amy Pond), Guardians of the Galaxy (Nebula) and Jumanji (Ruby Roundhouse), Gillan has become one of Scotland’s most recognisable international celebrities.
“To be considered a muse for this whisky and to be a part of its story is deeply personal to me. Sharing whisky and stories are some of the best times of my life. There’s no wilder sensation than seeing yourself on a whisky bottle,” says the star.
Launched in 2000, this blended grain Scotch whisky has become an annual tradition, with Compass Box commissioning a different female artist each year to reinterpret the original Hedonism woman.
Artist Emma Hack, best known for her visually arresting body art and her work on Gotye’s ‘Somebody That I Used to Know’ music video, is responsible for the striking art that adorns this year’s release.
With Gillan centre stage, the concept takes on a distinctly modern, celebrity-led edge.
With Gillan at the centre of the artwork, the concept takes on a distinctly modern, celebrity-led edge…
Hedonism 2026: whisky and maturation
For 2026, Compass Box’s Creative Director of Whiskymaking, Angela D’Orazio, has drawn on some of the oldest components ever used in Hedonism.
The blend includes a 30-year-old grain whisky from Strathclyde Distillery, alongside whiskies aged between 20 and 24 years from Port Dundas and Cameronbridge Distillery, as well as historic blended grain parcels.
For the first time, a sherry-matured component has been introduced, adding a new layer of flavour to the profile. This contributes notes of cherry and raisins, complementing a nose described as warm and rich, with clove-spiced fruitcake, dates and toffee. On the palate, the whisky develops into coffee and cocoa-infused cream, before a soft, lingering finish.
Bottled at 46% ABV, Compass Box Hedonism 2026 has an outturn of 13,126 bottles. It is available from Master of Malt, priced at £89.95.
Pictures courtesy Josh Shinner Delightful Media for Compass Box.
Ad Gefrin, the Anglo-Saxon museum and distillery in Wooler, has released what it describes as the first legal Northumbrian single malt whisky of the modern era, ending a two-century absence of local single malt production. The debut bottling arrives as the Crǣft Series, a collection of three single cask whiskies that offer an early glimpse…
If you’re wondering what to give the dad on Father’s Day who claims he wants nothing, allow us to suggest something sincere, sophisticated, and soul-warming: whisky. Not socks, not a novelty mug, not a gadget that’ll sit untouched on a shelf, but a bottle of golden liquid crafted purely to delight the senses. In this…
Mystery Malt has returned for its sixth instalment, and according to its creators at Thompson Brothers, it is the biggest release yet. The concept remains delightfully simple: every whisky bottle looks identical, costs the same £65, and arrives concealed beneath a tamper-proof capsule. Buyers know the full list of whiskies that could be inside, but…
The Luxe Review 
Actor Karen Gillan has been unveiled as The Muse for Scotch whiskymaker Compass Box, gracing the label art for the company’s 2026 Hedonism release.
A fan favourite in blockbuster franchises such as Doctor Who (Amy Pond), Guardians of the Galaxy (Nebula) and Jumanji (Ruby Roundhouse), Gillan has become one of Scotland’s most recognisable international celebrities.
“To be considered a muse for this whisky and to be a part of its story is deeply personal to me. Sharing whisky and stories are some of the best times of my life. There’s no wilder sensation than seeing yourself on a whisky bottle,” says the star.
Launched in 2000, this blended grain Scotch whisky has become an annual tradition, with Compass Box commissioning a different female artist each year to reinterpret the original Hedonism woman.
Artist Emma Hack, best known for her visually arresting body art and her work on Gotye’s ‘Somebody That I Used to Know’ music video, is responsible for the striking art that adorns this year’s release.
With Gillan centre stage, the concept takes on a distinctly modern, celebrity-led edge.
Hedonism 2026: whisky and maturation
For 2026, Compass Box’s Creative Director of Whiskymaking, Angela D’Orazio, has drawn on some of the oldest components ever used in Hedonism.
The blend includes a 30-year-old grain whisky from Strathclyde Distillery, alongside whiskies aged between 20 and 24 years from Port Dundas and Cameronbridge Distillery, as well as historic blended grain parcels.
For the first time, a sherry-matured component has been introduced, adding a new layer of flavour to the profile. This contributes notes of cherry and raisins, complementing a nose described as warm and rich, with clove-spiced fruitcake, dates and toffee. On the palate, the whisky develops into coffee and cocoa-infused cream, before a soft, lingering finish.
Bottled at 46% ABV, Compass Box Hedonism 2026 has an outturn of 13,126 bottles. It is available from Master of Malt, priced at £89.95.
Pictures courtesy Josh Shinner Delightful Media for Compass Box.
Ad Gefrin announces first Northumbrian single malt in 200 years, but there’s mystery in the launch
Ad Gefrin, the Anglo-Saxon museum and distillery in Wooler, has released what it describes as the first legal Northumbrian single malt whisky of the modern era, ending a two-century absence of local single malt production. The debut bottling arrives as the Crǣft Series, a collection of three single cask whiskies that offer an early glimpse…
The Best Father’s Day Whisky Guide 2026: 19 wonderful whiskies from budget to premium
If you’re wondering what to give the dad on Father’s Day who claims he wants nothing, allow us to suggest something sincere, sophisticated, and soul-warming: whisky. Not socks, not a novelty mug, not a gadget that’ll sit untouched on a shelf, but a bottle of golden liquid crafted purely to delight the senses. In this…
Fortune favours the thirsty as Mystery Malt Series 6 lands with 9,960 bottles and 38 hidden whiskies
Mystery Malt has returned for its sixth instalment, and according to its creators at Thompson Brothers, it is the biggest release yet. The concept remains delightfully simple: every whisky bottle looks identical, costs the same £65, and arrives concealed beneath a tamper-proof capsule. Buyers know the full list of whiskies that could be inside, but…
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