Compass Box

is an independent whisky producer that sources, blends, bottles, and markets scotch whisky. Under the helm of American John Glaser (1964–), a former Johnnie Walker marketing executive, Compass Box does not actually distill its own spirit; rather, it sources a variety of malt whisky from malt distilleries such as Ardmore, Caol Ila, Clynelish, Dailuaine, Glen Elgin, Laphroaig, and Teaninich, as well as various grain whiskies. Glazer blends these at his London headquarters in different combinations to produce an idiosyncratic and dynamic range of whiskies.Glaser’s fans consider him a hero and a maverick for his championing of scotch transparency, energizing the category, and releasing modern, whimsically named blended malts and malt-grain whisky blends such as “Peat Monster,” “Flaming Heart,” and “This Is Not A Luxury Whiskey,” as well as “Hedonism,” a pioneering, and idiosyncratic, blend of grain whiskies. Glazer drew the ire of the Scotch Whiskey Association in 2005 when he took a page from the winemakers’ book by inserting toasted French oak staves into aging barrels. In 2015, after Glazer disclosed all the constituent components that go into two of his whiskies on his website, the Scotch Whiskey Association once again informed him that he was breaking the law, which allows disclosure of only the youngest whisky in a blend—a regulation that Glazer says keeps whisky consumers in the dark.

See also whisky, grain; and whisky, scotch.

Adams, Paul. “Scotch Maverick Reinvents a Once- Conservative Drink.” Wired, October 12, 2007. https://www.wired.com/2007/10/scotch-maverick-reinvents-a-once-conservative-drink/ (accessed February 26, 2021).

By: Heather GreeneSee also whisky, grain;, whisky, scotch.