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.
A new collaboration pairs Scotland’s national drink with one of its oldest design traditions. Whisky and tartan have long travelled together. Now, Cask Trade and celebrated Scottish designer Siobhan Mackenzie have brought the two together in a limited-edition single cask release that celebrates the country’s enduring craftsmanship through a contemporary lens. The collaboration marks the…
Cù Bòcan has introduced Creation #8, a limited-edition Highland single malt that explores a pioneering maturation using Canadian ice wine and Spanish Verdejo casks. Produced at Tomatin Distillery, Cù Bòcan is the experimental single malt brand created around the distillery’s lightly peated spirit. The name means ‘ghost dog’ in Gaelic, referencing a spirit said to…
Drinks by the Dram has unveiled The Whisky Library, an educational tasting collection created in collaboration with whisky expert Dave Worthington. Presented as a miniature bookshelf, the set contains 36 wax-sealed 30ml drams housed across six themed volumes covering Scotch whisky regions, single malt whisky, Japanese whisky, Irish whiskey, Bourbon and American whiskey, and sherry-cask…
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.
New Nc’nean Cask Trade bottling celebrates Scottish craftsmanship through whisky and tartan
A new collaboration pairs Scotland’s national drink with one of its oldest design traditions. Whisky and tartan have long travelled together. Now, Cask Trade and celebrated Scottish designer Siobhan Mackenzie have brought the two together in a limited-edition single cask release that celebrates the country’s enduring craftsmanship through a contemporary lens. The collaboration marks the…
Cù Bòcan Creation #8 becomes first peated Scotch whisky matured in ice wine casks
Cù Bòcan has introduced Creation #8, a limited-edition Highland single malt that explores a pioneering maturation using Canadian ice wine and Spanish Verdejo casks. Produced at Tomatin Distillery, Cù Bòcan is the experimental single malt brand created around the distillery’s lightly peated spirit. The name means ‘ghost dog’ in Gaelic, referencing a spirit said to…
The ultimate whisky tasting set: The Whisky Library puts 36 premium drams on your bookshelf
Drinks by the Dram has unveiled The Whisky Library, an educational tasting collection created in collaboration with whisky expert Dave Worthington. Presented as a miniature bookshelf, the set contains 36 wax-sealed 30ml drams housed across six themed volumes covering Scotch whisky regions, single malt whisky, Japanese whisky, Irish whiskey, Bourbon and American whiskey, and sherry-cask…
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