Who I am
I’m Joshua Bussell, founder of Hearth & Compass. A lot of this started with Scotland.
In 2024, I led a 12 adult trip through Edinburgh, the Highlands, Skye, and Raasay. The first question was usually, "Where are we eating?" and the second, "What are we doing between meals?" Whisky became part of that answer.
Now, I help others enjoy scenery, cafés, and small towns at a pace that avoids the checklist. We are based in Nashville.
Coffee. Food. Whiskey.
Nashville is home, and I spend a lot of time exploring the places that make this part of Tennessee interesting: coffee shops, restaurants, distilleries, whiskey bars, small towns, and the places people often miss when they only see Broadway.
That research feeds the Nashville side of Hearth & Compass, including practical recommendations, Whiskey Buzz experiences, and routes built around the places I actually know and enjoy.
And now, the ride itself is part of it.
Hearth & Compass also provides private transportation around Nashville and Middle Tennessee in the Buzz, my black Volkswagen ID. Buzz. That can be as simple as an airport transfer or point-to-point ride, or it can become part of a full day built around distilleries, food, events, or places worth the drive. The goal is the same either way: make the logistics easier and help people spend more time enjoying where they are.
Why I built Hearth & Compass this way
Before Hearth & Compass, I spent years in education, operations, project management, and program leadership.
That background taught me how to take a lot of moving parts and make them easier to understand and manage.
Travel and transportation use the same skill set:
realistic timing, clear communication, good logistics, and knowing when not to cram one more thing into the day.
Experience, education, and credentials
Edinburgh Whisky Academy
Formal whisky education with continued study and distillery research.
Firsthand Scotland experience
Experience planning and traveling through Edinburgh, the Highlands, Speyside, Skye, Raasay, and other regions.
Travel industry affiliation
Hearth & Compass is affiliated with WorldVia and Travel Leaders Network.
Nashville field research
Ongoing firsthand research into local coffee, food, whiskey, distilleries, neighborhoods, and day-trip routes.
Licensed private transportation
Hearth & Compass operates licensed private transportation in Nashville and Middle Tennessee.
Whisk(e)y-focused trip planning
Practical trip planning built around distilleries, food, transportation, realistic timing, and the places between reservations.