Frequently Asked Questions

Compass Box is a Scotch whiskymaker, founded in 2000. We source whisky from over 40 distilleries across Scotland and blend it in our Whiskymaking Room in London. Every whisky we make starts with flavour.

It is a word we created back in the early 2000s to describe what we do.

We are not distillers, and we do more than just blend. We choose the component whiskies, select the casks we want to mature them in based on the flavour profile we’re looking for, and then bring these components together to create something greater than the sum of its parts.

No. We work with over 40 distilleries across Scotland, and choose each whisky for the flavour it brings. We also mature many of our whiskies ourselves, in casks we select.

Not quite. An independent bottler usually buys casks of whisky and bottles them as they are. We design each whisky from the start. We choose the components, decide how they mature, and blend them to our own, bespoke recipes.

Our home and Whiskymaking Room are in Richmond, London, in the UK. All of our whisky is distilled and matured in Scotland.

Our whiskymaking team. Together they create every Compass Box whisky, from our Core Collection to our Limited Editions.

Yes. We work with bars, restaurants, artists and other creative people who share our curiosity about flavour.

Every whisky we make comes with its recipe disclosed in full: every component whisky, its distillery, its cask type and its proportion in the blend. We believe you should be able to know exactly what you are drinking.

Scan the QR code on the back label. You can also find the full recipe on each whisky's page on this website.

No. We never add caramel colouring and we never chill-filter. The colour comes from the cask, and the natural flavour and texture stay in the whisky.

By law, an age statement on a Scotch whisky can only show the age of the youngest whisky in it. We would rather show you the full recipe. Age is one part of a whisky's flavour, alongside the distillery, the cask and the blend. Historically, Compass Box has only released age statement whiskies, when we’re making a statement.

In 2015, we were challenged by the rule-makers for sharing the ages of all the component whiskies in our blends. In 2016, we launched a campaign for greater transparency in Scotch. We argued that whiskymakers should have the freedom, but not the obligation, to share the age and proportion of every component.

Many kinds, including American oak, French oak, ex-bourbon barrels, sherry casks, wine casks and casks we design ourselves. We choose each cask for the flavour it gives the whisky.

Blending lets us bring together whiskies from different distilleries and casks. This creates flavours that no single distillery can make alone. One whisky may bring fruit, another smoke, another spice.

We work with component whiskies that are good on their own, but exceptional when blended together by our whiskymakers.

No. Quality comes from the whiskies you choose and how you put them together. We use exceptional single malts, and grain whiskies chosen for their flavour.

Four whiskies, available all year round. Start with Orchard House, our Signature Blend.

Explore further into the flavour territories of Scotch with Nectarosity, The Peat Monster and Crimson Casks, as one explores a different style of Scotch.

Our Signature Blend. A blended malt Scotch whisky, fragrant, crisp and bright, full of orchard fruit. It is made from fruit-forward single malts, and we mature most of its components ourselves. Bottled at 46% ABV.

A juicy blended Scotch whisky with soft toffee and toasted oak. It was inspired by the creativity of pastry chefs. The sweetness comes from first-fill bourbon barrels and our own custom casks, made from American oak and seasoned in Scotland. Bottled at 46% ABV.

An aromatic blend of peated malt whiskies, with sweet smoke and layers of peat. Bold, but balanced. It was the original smoky float in the Penicillin cocktail. Bottled at 46% ABV.

An intense, sherried blended malt with red fruit, chocolate fudge and spice. It brings together four cask types: sherry, red wine, custom French oak and ex-bourbon. Rich, but never heavy. Bottled at 46% ABV.

Hedonism was one of our first whiskies and a blended grain Scotch whisky. Now retired from our Core Collection, you can find Limited Edition releases of Hedonism from over the years, each one exploring the complexity of grain whisky.

Whiskies we release in small quantities throughout the year. Many are made only once. They let us explore new ideas in flavour.

At 46%, the whisky keeps its full flavour and texture, and is still easy to enjoy neat, with ice or in a cocktail.

Start with Orchard House, our Signature Blend. It is bright, fruity and easy to enjoy, neat or in a Highball.

No. Smoke comes from peat, which only some whiskies use. Scotch can be fruity, sweet, rich or smoky. Our Core Collection covers all of these styles.

Try Nectarosity. Its soft toffee, vanilla and toasted oak will feel familiar.

Try Orchard House. It is fresh and bright, with notes of apple, pear and citrus.

Try The Peat Monster. It has sweet smoke and peat, with balance.

Try Crimson Casks. It has red fruit, chocolate fudge and spice.

If you are not sure of their taste, choose Orchard House. For someone who knows what they like, choose The Peat Monster or Crimson Casks. For something rare, look at our Limited Editions.

However you enjoy it. Our whiskies work neat, with a little water, over ice or in cocktails.

Orchard House by Compass Box. It is crisp and fruity with soda water and ice.

Nectarosity. Its toffee and oak notes work well with bitters and sugar.

Yes. The Peat Monster was the original smoky float in the Penicillin, a modern classic created by Sam Ross at Milk & Honey in New York in 2005.

Orchard House goes well with sushi, light dishes and hard cheeses. The Peat Monster goes well with oysters, smoked salmon and grilled food. Nectarosity goes well with desserts. Crimson Casks pairs well with red meat, rich sauces, or ice cream and dark chocolate.

Scotch whisky must be distilled and matured in Scotland. It must be matured in oak casks for at least three years.

There are five categories: single malt, single grain, blended malt, blended grain and blended Scotch whisky.

A single malt is made from malted barley at one distillery. A blended malt combines single malts from more than one distillery. A blended Scotch whisky combines malt and grain whiskies. A blended grain combines grain whiskies from more than one distillery.

No. Age does not equal maturity, and flavour is built by lots of different elements. Time in the cask changes a whisky, but it does not guarantee quality. The distillery, the cask and the blend all shape the flavour.

Peated whisky is made from malted barley dried over a peat fire. This gives the whisky smoky flavours.

Sherried whisky has been matured in casks that once held sherry. These casks give flavours of dried fruit, nuts and spice.

The cask gives whisky much of its flavour and all of its natural colour. Ex-bourbon barrels often give vanilla and sweetness. Sherry and wine casks often give fruit and spice. New oak often gives more oak and toast.

Chill-filtration removes natural oils from whisky so it stays clear when cold. Non-chill filtered whisky keeps these oils, which add flavour and texture.

No colouring has been added. The colour of the whisky comes only from the cask. Some mainstream whiskies use an artificial colorant called E150 (caramel colour) to make their liquid look darker – Compass box will never do this.

ABV means alcohol by volume. It shows the percentage of alcohol in the whisky. It affects the intensity of flavour and texture.

Store the bottle upright, sealed, in a cool, dark place, away from direct sunlight.

We do not have a distillery, but we host tastings and experiences at our Whiskymaking Room in Richmond, London (UK).

Our website is for people of legal drinking age in their country. Please enjoy our whiskies responsibly.

We hope these FAQs answer your questions. For anything else, email hello@compassboxwhisky.com or message us on Instagram.