From Hollywood to Scotch whisky: Karen Gillan fronts Compass Box Hedonism 2026
Scotch whisky brand Compass Box has chosen Scottish actress Karen Gillan as the latest “Muse” for the 2026 release of Hedonism, the company’s iconic blended grain Scotch whisky. The annual edition continues a creative project that merges whisky-making with contemporary visual art, placing a different female figure at the centre of the label each year.
Gillan, born in Inverness, Scotland, is widely known for her roles in the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise, the Jumanji films and the television series Doctor Who. For the Hedonism 2026 edition she collaborated with Australian artist Emma Hack, whose body-painting work gained international recognition after appearing in Gotye’s music video Somebody That I Used to Know.
Hack created the new artwork inspired by Gillan, transforming the actress into the visual embodiment of Hedonism for this year’s bottling. The project is part of Compass Box’s effort to reinterpret the whisky’s original label concept through different artistic perspectives.
A whisky with an unusual history in Scotch design
When Hedonism first appeared in 2000, it stood out in the Scotch whisky landscape because of its label: a stylised female figure representing the spirit itself. At the time it was unusual for a Scotch whisky to use a female iconography, particularly in a category traditionally marketed with masculine imagery.
Since 2023, Compass Box has turned the concept into an annual limited edition, commissioning a different female artist each year to reinterpret the Hedonism muse. Emma Hack follows illustrators Sofia Bonati and Stephanie Rew, who designed the labels for the previous releases.
Gillan described her involvement as a personal milestone, noting that whisky and storytelling often intersect in her life. “Being considered a muse for this whisky is incredibly meaningful to me,” she said in a statement released alongside the launch.
A new chapter for the blend
The 2026 edition also marks the first Hedonism release overseen by Angela D’Orazio, who was appointed Creative Director of Whiskymaking at Compass Box in 2025. For this bottling, D’Orazio assembled one of the most mature component selections ever used in the blend.
Among the key elements are a 30-year-old grain whisky distilled at Strathclyde, alongside parcels aged between 20 and 24 years from the now-closed Port Dundas distillery and long-aged stocks from Cameronbridge, Scotland’s largest grain distillery. Historic blended grain reserves were also incorporated.
For the first time in Hedonism’s history, the blend includes an old sherry-cask component, a decision intended to add depth and a darker aromatic dimension to the whisky’s traditionally creamy profile.
According to D’Orazio, the goal was to maintain the recognizable Hedonism style while pushing the flavour profile further: richer, more layered and slightly more intense than previous editions.
Tasting profile and release details
Compass Box describes the whisky as opening with aromas of clove, fruitcake, dates and toffee, followed by a palate that moves toward coffee, cocoa and cream, typical markers of mature grain whisky enhanced by sherry influence.
The Hedonism 2026 release will be bottled at 46% ABV and carries a recommended retail price of £90. Pre-orders begin 24 February 2026 through specialist retailer Master of Malt, with wider international availability starting 1 March 2026.
With the new label artwork and the shift in blending direction, the 2026 edition continues Compass Box’s approach of treating whisky not just as a spirit but as a meeting point between craft, narrative and visual culture.
