Our Mission
Our goal is to search the world for extraordinary spirits that have for too long been “best kept secrets” in their region, and share them with you.
Our Pledge
We will not only add to, but enhance your drinking experience by finding and importing the finest distilled spirits from all points of the globe, and make them readily available to you.
Voyages of Discovery
Marco Polo, James Cook, Charles Darwin, Ernest Shackleton, James T. Kirk - a small sampling of visionaries who undertook voyages to points beyond their known world to push the boundaries of knowledge and enhance the human experience.
With their achievements as our inspiration, the founders of Compass Rose Imports will set out on a series of voyages of discovery. We will go far and wide to find spirits made with unique local ingredients, impacted by widely different regional climates and topography, and distilled using time-honored methods and closely-held recipes. In many cases, although these spirits may be unfamiliar to us, they have been enjoyed by generations over centuries, deeply rooted in the cultures that produce them.
While these voyages of discovery are of course only the first phase of our plan for Compass Rose Imports, they are arguably the most exciting aspect. For that reason, we will be sharing our adventures with you, via Facebook and Instagram, and future additions to this website. And we look forward to your comments and suggestions.
Founders
STEVE COLEMAN (CEO)
Steve got his taste for international voyages of discovery as a teenager by hitch-hiking through Europe and Scandinavia. He later spent college semesters in Hawaii, Ireland, and Tunisia. So it was no surprise that he built the first company he founded, an international distribution firm, by traveling the world for the better part of 20 years, establishing partnerships with local companies and government agencies in 50 countries on all six inhabited continents. Aside from the rewards of building relationships with people from an amazing array of backgrounds and life experiences, Steve especially enjoyed the food, wine, and spirits each culture had to offer. He is eagerly anticipating applying his global business experience to this venture, and will be leaning on his son’s expertise in selecting the best spirits to bring home to you.
MAX OVERSTROM-COLEMAN (PRESIDENT)
Max’s first international traveling was as a seaman aboard tall-masted sailing ships, as a naturalist for eco-tours of the islands in the North and Norwegian seas, and as dive master for scientific expeditions to the waters off the Galapagos and Greek islands. Wanting to make brandy from the apples on his Vermont homestead, Max then took a job at Vermont’s first micro-distillery. From building distilling pots to pouring cocktails, Max brings over a decade of experience in all aspects of the spirits industry. He’s crafted award winning locally-sourced gins, whiskeys, and vodkas and been brand steward for innovative micro-distilleries; and he’s created distinctive cocktail menus and managed the bar programs at the best farm-to-table restaurants. Max’s energy and expertise are driven by his passion for discovering the finest quality spirits and introducing them to the discerning drinking community.
Contact Us
Please contact us if you have sampled an amazing spirit while on your travels and can’t find it here in the States.
Or reach out to our Founders directly:
Steve Coleman: steven.coleman@compassroseimports.com or 516.729.4923
Max Overstrom-Coleman: max@compassroseimports.com or 802.685.1330