22 June 2018— Eau De Musc (“Water of Musk”), a new limited-edition beaver castoreum whiskey from the branding mastermind of Hendrick’s Gin, will be available exclusively at Art in the Age (116 N 3rd St, Philadelphia, PA 19106) for a limited time for $65/bottle starting Saturday, June 16th, 2018.
Well-regarded in the spirits world for pushing boundaries with his bold choice of flavors and exotic ingredients, Steven Grasse and his talented team at Tamworth Distilling and Mercantile are pleased to introduce one of the most thought-provoking spirit releases of the year. Eau de Musc is an 88-proof straight bourbon whiskey infused with the oil found in the beaver castor sacs below the tail. Sold in an elegant, 200ml vintage-style perfume bottle, Eau De Musc is surprisingly pleasant and will be one of the most drinkable spirits you’ll experience this summer.
Grasse’s singular Eau de Musc proudly features an old-world flavoring technique that uses the oil extract from the castor gland of the North American beaver, which exudes a leathery, raspberry taste, and acts to fortify the whiskey flavors. The full-bodied, two-year aged bourbon whiskey has a bolstered mouthfeel with a vanillin nose and notes of spice. The addition of birch oil, raspberry and Canadian snakeroot, a woody spice akin to ginger, comingle with the natural fruitiness of the castorerum, making the finish warm, crisp, and incredibly palatable.
“I’ve always been passionate about American history, which shines through everything I create. For the brands I develop, the way forward is often articulated by the past. Whether it’s researching the earliest cocktail recipes recorded for a book, designing a brand inspired by a historical figure, or distilling a new spirit – there has to be a thread that connects it to the past or it doesn’t feel authentic,” explains Grasse.
“I have always been intrigued by the use of castoreum in food and luxury products. There was a time when it was ubiquitous, and used widely as a flavoring agent and in perfume. In fact, it’s still used in a number of products today and considered by the F.D.A. to be a ‘Natural Flavoring.’ I was curious what would it taste like in our Chocorua 88 Proof Straight Bourbon Whiskey – so we tried it, and it worked beautifully.”
Eau De Musc (88 proof) will be available exclusively on-premise at Art in the Age (116 N 3rd St, Philadelphia, PA 19106) while supplies last for $65/bottle.
— Abigail Weaver