Compass Box whisky continues female empowerment cues
Scotch whisky maker Compass Box has revealed its second limited release of Hedonism, featuring artwork by Argentinian artist Sofia Bonati. The post Compass Box whisky continues female empowerment cues appeared first on The Drinks Business.
Scotch whisky maker Compass Box has revealed its second limited release of Hedonism, featuring artwork by Argentinian artist Sofia Bonati.
Speaking to the drinks business, Bonati said: “This was a dream project for me, I loved working with a team as passionate as I am about the creative process."
Bonati told db: "I wanted to capture the sense of exploration and discovery in the artwork because, for me, art is all about trial and error. It’s the same in the process of whisky making, where experimentation is key to getting it just right.”
Last year, Hedonism became a limited annual release, marking the start of a new chapter for one of Compass Box’s most iconic whiskies. With its second release, Compass Box continues the tradition of collaborating with female artists.
The collaborative series invites a different female artist each year to reimagine the grace and strength of the original Hedonism woman for the label design.
For the 2025 release, Bonati’s artwork draws inspiration from the magnetic fields that are integral to the workings of a compass and marries it with her skill for female portraiture.
This year’s blend offers up caramel notes that give way to peach puree, cocoa, pear, chocolate and with a finish of white grape, Fuji apple and vanilla which pairs well with Pastel de Nata.
The first annual release of Hedonism in 2024 saw award-winning Scottish artist Stephanie Rew inspired by female empowerment to reimagine the Hedonism woman with traditional early renaissance gilding techniques combined with a contemporary painting style.
The new Hedonism takes on greater power and velvet at 46% ABV, featuring single grain from the Cameronbridge Distillery, further matured for two years in a first-fill Marsala barrique for added red fruit and sweet notes.
Describing the 2025 release, Compass Box’s whisky-making director James Saxon explained: "One of the exciting things about Hedonism becoming a limited annual release is that we not only get to collaborate with a different artist each year to put a new stamp on the label, but it also gives us the opportunity to explore a twist on the whisky itself. The 2025 release is unmistakably Hedonism in style and texture, but with the addition of one ex-Marsala barrique and some casks of previous batches, we push the flavours into new territories."
Compass Box’s assistant whisky maker Michael Stephenson added: "The way that Sofia has captured the essence of the original Hedonism woman in her own style is incredible. She represented the unique elements of this editions' recipe and taste profile through colour that really draws the eye. I can't wait to see this out in the world and for people to taste it."
Speaking to the drinks business, Bonati said: “This was a dream project for me, I loved working with a team as passionate as I am about the creative process."
Bonati told db: "I wanted to capture the sense of exploration and discovery in the artwork because, for me, art is all about trial and error. It’s the same in the process of whisky making, where experimentation is key to getting it just right.”
Last year, Hedonism became a limited annual release, marking the start of a new chapter for one of Compass Box’s most iconic whiskies. With its second release, Compass Box continues the tradition of collaborating with female artists.
The collaborative series invites a different female artist each year to reimagine the grace and strength of the original Hedonism woman for the label design.
For the 2025 release, Bonati’s artwork draws inspiration from the magnetic fields that are integral to the workings of a compass and marries it with her skill for female portraiture.
This year’s blend offers up caramel notes that give way to peach puree, cocoa, pear, chocolate and with a finish of white grape, Fuji apple and vanilla which pairs well with Pastel de Nata.
The first annual release of Hedonism in 2024 saw award-winning Scottish artist Stephanie Rew inspired by female empowerment to reimagine the Hedonism woman with traditional early renaissance gilding techniques combined with a contemporary painting style.
The new Hedonism takes on greater power and velvet at 46% ABV, featuring single grain from the Cameronbridge Distillery, further matured for two years in a first-fill Marsala barrique for added red fruit and sweet notes.
Describing the 2025 release, Compass Box’s whisky-making director James Saxon explained: "One of the exciting things about Hedonism becoming a limited annual release is that we not only get to collaborate with a different artist each year to put a new stamp on the label, but it also gives us the opportunity to explore a twist on the whisky itself. The 2025 release is unmistakably Hedonism in style and texture, but with the addition of one ex-Marsala barrique and some casks of previous batches, we push the flavours into new territories."
Compass Box’s assistant whisky maker Michael Stephenson added: "The way that Sofia has captured the essence of the original Hedonism woman in her own style is incredible. She represented the unique elements of this editions' recipe and taste profile through colour that really draws the eye. I can't wait to see this out in the world and for people to taste it." 
