We’ve always thought there was something magical about stepping into an old bookshop.

The dusty, hushed atmosphere. The scent of long-forgotten stories. That feeling of being transported to a secret little corner of the world. This limited edition whisky was made in pursuit of that feeling. It’s an emotion translated into liquid.

The term Vellichor was coined by author and artist John Koenig*, meaning “the wistfulness of a second-hand bookshop”. The search for its whisky equivalent was undertaken by our whiskymaker James Saxon.

The enigmatic character of Vellichor is made from incredibly rare, treasured and highly sought-after parcels of whisky, starting with a 23-year-old whisky from the Macallan Distillery. This has been combined with some prized parcels, ‘first editions’ in our eyes to create the multi-sensory experience of reading printed works. Learn more about the full recipe here.

A complex, bookish perfume. Evokes thoughts of leather, polished furniture, and well-worn pages.

Flavours of heathery smoke, vanilla and caramel give way to waxy notes and sweet, tannic mixed dried fruit.

Whisky and old books are well-suited for a reason: it’s a chemistry they share. According to Nose Dive by Harold McGee**, the chemical compounds vanillin, furfural and guaiacol are part of what creates the distinctive smell of old books. These very same compounds can also be found in aged whiskies, like those in Vellichor.

Vellichor is available from our web shop and select specialist spirit retailers. Head to Wine Searcher or contact us for help locating your nearest stockist.

Share & Enjoy!
The Compass Box Team

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P.S. We want everything you purchase to arrive in perfect condition and unfortunately, some Vellichor boxes are becoming damaged in transit. We are really sorry about this. If this has happened to your purchase, please reach out to us for more information and we can arrange for a newly designed replacement to be sent to you.

For those who wish to learn more about the backstory of Vellichor, here are some recommendations from our whiskymaker James:

*Koenig, J. (2021) The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows, New York: Simon & Schuster, p.163.
**McGee, H. (2020) Nose Dive: A Field Guide to the World’s Smells, London: John Murray Press, p. 601.