Compass Box releases Scot-Free in support of English whisky
London-based Compass Box has created the ‘world’s first English vatted malt whisky’ – and will give away all 61 bottles for free for St George's Day.
Compass Box used whiskies from six English distilleries to create the expression, which it has named Scot-Free. The six distilleries are: Copper Rivet Distillery, Cotswolds Distillery, East London Liquor Co, Spirit of Yorkshire Distillery, The English Distillery, and White Peak Distillery. Just 61 bottles of Scot-Free are available for a reason – the number 61 represents how many English whisky distilleries there are in production today. The release went to ballot yesterday (April 22), which will run until 30 April when the winners will then be randomly selected. Created in celebration of St George's Day (28 April), it has an ABV 48.7%. Compass Box’s lead whisky maker, James Saxon, said: “St George didn’t ask permission to engage the dragon – and neither do we. “Scot-Free is our tribute to the bold, brilliant rise of English whisky. It’s proof that deliciousness is not dictated by geography and that we are all better off as friends.” Support for English whisky GI The whisky also comes as a show of support for the English Whisky Guild (EWG), which revealed in February that an approval for an English Whisky geographical indication (GI) was in the consultation phase. The news, however, drew the ire of the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA), centred around the application’s definition of the term ‘English single malt’, as well as the GI’s limitation of double distillation in only copper pot stills. Compass Box, which views itself as a whisky rebel that challenges the establishment, sits outside of the SWA’s sphere as a London-based Scotch whisky maker. The brand has previously fallen foul of the SWA for using French oak stave inserts in the casks used in its Spice Tree blend, which has since been retired. Compass Box has also rung in changes in its leadership this year, appointing Nishat Gupte as new CEO after Maurice Doyle stepped down in February, while Dr Alan Rutherford OBE also retired as chairman after 18 years. Brockmans Gin founder Neil Everitt was named as Rutherford’s successor. To support the Scot-Free launch, and English whisky further, the brand has called on the help of television personality Tom Skinner. Starring for the brand in a skit on Instagram, Skinner is seen walking into a bar and asking for Scottish, Irish and Welsh single malts. These are accepted by the barman, but Skinner receives a shake of the head and a ‘no’ after requesting an English single malt. Instead, Skinner is given a glass of Scot-Free, to which he says 'here’s to great whisky, no matter what it's called', signing off with his signature catchphrase ‘bosh!' The skit is available to watch below.View this post on Instagram
