The former Mackmyra master blender has joined renowned blenders Compass Box as their new creative director.
Angela D’Orazio brings with her over 30 years experience in the whisky industry, including 17 years at the helm of Mackmyra. Before joining Mackmyra, D’Orazio was a brand ambassador for Glenmorangie in Sweden, and also held positions at Morrison Bowmore, William Grant, and Bruichladdich.
D’Orazio is one of the most respected names in whisky today and was one of the key names in helping define and raise the profile of not just Mackmyra, but Nordic whisky as a while. Her accolades are plentiful, most notably being inducted into the Whisky hall of Fame in 2019.
Her reputation as an innovative pioneer in her field make D’Orazio a perfect fit for Compass Box - a whisky company who pride themselves in challenging conventions with their curiosity and creativity.
D’Orazio commented on the company’s ethos: “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.”
She takes over the role from James Saxon, who held the role from 2024. Saxon leaves Compass Box to pursue a career outside the world of whisky.
Speaking on his departure and his successor, 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 both 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.”
Nishat Gupte, CEO of Compass Box, added: “We’re thrilled to welcome Angela D’Orazio to Compass Box as our new creative director of whisky making. With almost three decades of experience and an extraordinary creative vision, Angela brings both depth and daring to the next chapter of our whisky-making journey. As we continue to reimagine what Scotch can be, her leadership will be instrumental in pushing the boundaries of flavour and imagination.”
As well as her contributions to Scandinavian whisky, D’Orazio is considered a boundary-pushing figure for women in the whisky industry. She took the reigns at Mackmyra when women holding such significant positions where few and far between.
These gender-equality credentials only increase with her move to Compass Box. According to the OurWhisky Foundation - a non-profit organisation that supports women in the whisky world and advocates for a more diverse and inclusive industry - have said D’Orazio’s appointment brings the company to an even male/female split across the business.
We’re excited to see what D’Orazio and the Compass Box team produce in the future!
