The first time a female was ever featured on a whisky label was in 2000. We have Compass Box Scotch Whisky to thank for finally getting us there. During that period, the brand was busy creating Hedonism, the first blended grain Scotch whisky on the market, and not just any label would do.
Traditionally, whisky brands have largely favored clean, minimal design elements that speak to heritage. Still, Compass Box has rarely fit the simplistic mold with its reliance on bold and colorful label designs that push boundaries and “keep things interesting.”
The original Hedonism label was inspired by a series of wood prints never before seen on a whisky label. Designed by the team at Stranger & Stranger, the result was a statuesque woman glancing off to the side with various characters seemingly sprouting from her head. The design was unique and interesting, but the power it would hold having the first female on a whisky label was more than anyone could have imagined, not just for the market but the brand itself.
