Blending house Compass Box has announced the appointment of Angela D'Orazio as its creative director of whiskymaking. D'Orazio succeeds former lead whiskymaker James Saxon, who Compass Box said is leaving to pursue a career outside of whisky making. 

D'Orazio was master blender for Swedish distillery Mackmyra, during which role she launched Sweden's first smoky whisky and, in what is thought to be a world-first, co-developed a whisky made with the aid of AI. She is a founding member and the chair of the Swedish Spirits Academy, and in 2019 was inducted into the Whisky Magazine Hall of Fame.

D'Orazio commented: “Compass Box has innovation as part of its DNA, which means there’s so much opportunity to let our curiosity and courage explore what more can be created through the art of blending.”

Nishat Gupte, CEO of Compass Box, added: “We’re thrilled to welcome Angela D’Orazio to Compass Box as our new creative director of whiskymaking. With almost three decades of experience and an extraordinary creative vision, Angela brings both depth and daring to the next chapter of our whiskymaking journey. As we continue to reimagine what Scotch can be, her leadership will be instrumental in pushing the boundaries of flavour and imagination.

D'Orazio will lead a team of whiskymakers at Compass Box, which includes Michael Stephenson, Compass Box brand ambassador who became one of its whiskymakers last year, and Samuel Travers, formerly of Muckle Brig. 

The role of director of whiskymaking was taken over by James Saxon in spring 2024, after company founder John Glaser stepped down. Saxon said: “It was my dream to work for this creative powerhouse since I first discovered Compass Box in 2011, and I am incredibly proud of the expressions we have created in that time.

“Angela is a blender and a person I have looked up to for more than a decade and I move on with unshakeable faith in the team who will drive Compass Box into its next chapter.”