Scotch whisky house Compass Box is celebrating the release of its latest Hedonism expression with the release of a documentary about grain whisky, From Grain to Gold.
Hedonism was the first blended grain Scotch whisky on the market when it was launched in 2000, composed of liquid from casks of well-aged grain whisky from distilleries around Scotland. It's also believed to have been the first whisky to feature a female form on its bottle label.
From February 2024 Hedonism will no longer be part of Compass Box's core range, due in part to a growing scarcity of older grain whisky, and will instead become an annual limited release.
To celebrate its contribution to the Scotch whisky world so far, Compass Box has created a documentary film, From Grain to Gold, which charts the history of grain whisky and will be premiered in London before being screened online.
The company has also partnered with artist Stephanie Rew, who practises a contemporary painting style alongside traditional Renaissance gilding techniques, to create the label for the 2024 edition of Hedonism. It marks the start of a collaborative series that will invite a different female artist each year to present their creative reimagining the woman in the original Hedonism label design.
Rew said: “My work has always been about female empowerment and so being able to reimagine the Hedonism woman in my own way was a project I could not turn down. I’ve always loved the drama in art, and the strong, powerful stare of my piece on the bottle delivers this.”
Compass Box marketing director Racheal Vaughan Jones said: “From Grain to Gold charts the history of Compass Box, who were innovative from the very start, launching the first blended grain whisky to the market back in 2000. From Leith in Edinburgh to Soho and Richmond in London, we document the groundbreaking collaboration with Stephanie, who might be the only artist today still using ancient water gilding techniques. The film is a feast for the eyes and signals a new era for the iconic Hedonism.”
The 2024 release of Hedonism comprises old and rare grain whiskies mostly matured in first-fill bourbon barrels. It will be limited to just under 8,000 bottles. The documentary film From Grain to Gold premieres on 15 February and will be released online on 22 February. For more details or to purchase the Hedonism 2024 bottling, go to compassboxwhisky.com.
