Exclusive: Karen Gillan revealed as new face of Compass Box’s Hedonism
Scottish actor and filmmaker Karen Gillan has stepped into the role of The Muse for Compass Box’s 2026 release of Hedonism.
Born in Inverness, Gillan, best known for her her roles in Guardians of the Galaxy, Avengers and Jumanji, has been depicted on the new bottle by internationally-renowned artist Emma Hack.
Hedonism changed the narrative when it first launched in 2000, as one of the first Scotch whiskies to feature a woman at the centre of its label. This bold creative decision went even further in 2023, when Hedonism became a limited annual release, and Compass Box began working with a different female artist each year to reimagine the original Hedonism woman in her own eyes. This tradition now continues with Gillan.
Of her new role, Karen Gillan said: “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.
“I have played a lot of strong female roles, I love exploring that side of myself, but this is a completely different adventure. It felt very exciting to step into the shoes of the Hedonism Muse. It is a complete honour and not what I ever saw in my future.
“Whisky is such a huge part of the culture of where I’m from. The best way to have whisky is with friends and family, to share stories, to share whisky, sharing with people that you love and sharing some damn good stories.
“I love the word ‘Hedonism’ - to me, the Hedonism Muse is strong, she’s powerful. As women we can take on a lot of roles of responsibility, so much joy can be found in that, but also we do need to remind ourselves that there are moments of indulgence, just for us."
Compass Box’s creative director of whiskymaking tastes through previous Hedonism releases with its 2026 Muse, Karen Gillan.
Hack, known for her striking fusion of body art, collage and photography, has reimagined the original Hedonism woman through a contemporary, layered lens. With Gillan at the centre, the artwork celebrates grace, strength and individuality.
“Hedonism means to me the power, the beauty, the goddess, the strength within, and that’s what I really wanted to capture,” said Hack of her creative process.
Compass Box chief marketing officer Racheal Vaughan-Jones said of the partnership: “The whisky industry has evolved, but visibility still matters. Hedonism’s commitment to commissioning female artists and centring a female muse is about more than aesthetics; it’s about representation in a category that hasn’t always reflected the diversity of the people who love it.
“Emma Hack has created another iconic portrait, and Karen Gillan is the perfect Muse: a whisky-loving Scot who has portrayed powerful characters throughout her career and embodies that same strength and creativity in her own right. I’m excited to see Hedonism reach an even broader audience this year and to show more women that they absolutely belong in our category.”
For the 2026 edition of Hedonism, Compass Box’s creative director of whiskymaking, Angela D’Orazio, included some of the oldest components ever used in Hedonism to-date, including a 30-year-old from Strathclyde distillery. The recipe also includes whiskies ranging from 20 to 24 years old from Port Dundas and Cameronbridge distillery, alongside some historic blended grain parcels. In addition, a new Sherry component contributes notes of cherry and raisins. The expression has been bottled at 46% abv.
Compass Box’s Hedonism 2026 will be available for pre-order at masterofmalt on 24th February, with general release from 1 March 2026, with a retail price of £90.
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