Free whisky, anyone? Compass Box gives away 61 bottles

Never one to play it safe, Compass Box is making waves again. This time, by giving away 61 bottles of whisky. For FREE!

The brand is releasing Scot-Free, the world’s first English vatted malt whisky. It’s a celebration of St George’s Day (23 April) and a show of solidarity with England’s growing whisky scene, amid a bit of a bureaucratic bunfight between the English Whisky Guild and the Scotch Whisky Association. You can read all about that dispute on our blog.

Compass Box gives away 61 bottles

The desire for GI recognition for English whisky and the right to use ‘single malt’ as a descriptor irked the SWA, and Compass Box has come out swinging. The Scotch whisky creator and bottler has positioned itself as a brand against gatekeeping, hence Scot-Free

And he would know. Compass Box has a track record of ruffling feathers, from its French oak controversy back in 2005 with Spice Tree, to the 2015 Campaign for Transparency. It’s a company that uses its compass to go outside the box. Now it’s giving away 61 bottles to the public – one for every English distillery in operation today.

“St George didn’t ask permission to engage the dragon – and neither do we,” summarises Compass Box lead whiskymaker James Saxon.

The story of Scot-Free

Compass Box Scot-Free was created in collaboration with six English whisky distilleries – Copper Rivet, Cotswolds, East London Liquor Co., Spirit of Yorkshire, The English Distillery, and White Peak – and stands as a rebellious toast to the bold and brilliant rise of English whisky.

Blended with Compass Box’s signature creative flair, Scot-Free is a punchy, full-bodied dram designed to defy expectations and delight palates. And you won’t find it on shop shelves – the only way to get your hands on a bottle is through the public ballot, which runs from Wednesday 23 April to Wednesday 30 April.

To help spread the word, TV personality Tom Skinner lent his everyman vibes and catchphrase, “Bosh!”. You can watch him do his thing below.

The Last Drop: Compass Box gives away 61 Bottles 

Compass Box marks St George’s Day with Scot-Free, a limited English vatted malt made with six English distilleries. Only 61 bottles exist – all being given away. English whisky’s on the rise, and Compass Box is once again gleefully poking the establishment.

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