Compass Box supports the English Whisky Guild’s quest for GI Status
Compass Box Scot-Free, English Vatted Malt
Scotch Whiskymakers, Compass Box, To Giveaway 61 Bottles As They Support the English Whisky Guild’s Quest for GI Status
This St George’s Day, Compass Box – the London-based Scotch Whiskymakers are giving away 61 bottles of Scot-Free, the world’s first English vatted malt whisky in support of the English Whisky Guild’s push for GI status.
The move comes after the Scotch Whisky Association pushed back on the English Whisky Guild’s proposal, taking issue with their desire to use ‘Single Malt’ as a product descriptor.
This is not the first time Compass Box has caused a stir with the SWA, having previously got into hot water over their use of French oak stave inserts in the casks used for their since-retired Spice Tree blend in 2005. They also ruffled feathers ten years later with their Campaign for Transparency in 2015.
Now in 2025, Scot-Free has been created in collaboration with six like-minded English distilleries: Copper Rivet Distillery, Cotswolds Distillery, East London Liquor Co., Spirit of Yorkshire Distillery, The English Distillery, and White Peak Distillery.
As Scotch whiskymakers who are outsiders to the SWA, Compass Box is known for challenging the establishment and is set to stand in solidarity with the 61 distilleries currently producing whisky in England today. Available from Wednesday 23 April, Scot-Free is a full-throttle celebration of English whisky’s rising stars.
One bottle, 6 distilleries and a true celebration of English whisky, Scot-Free is blended in true Compass Box fashion with creativity, charm and the courage to do things differently.
“St George didn’t ask permission to engage the dragon – and neither do we,” says Lead Whiskymaker James Saxon. “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!”
Compass Box has built its reputation on breaking the mould and bottling brilliance. With an artist’s eye and a flavour-first philosophy, it’s become the darling of whisky rebels and rule-benders alike.
