X Muse is the first blended barley vodka inspired by the spirit-making traditions of Scotland. Drawn from the history and experience of Scottish spirit-making, heritage barleys and the purest water combine to produce a remarkable vodka of the richest, deepest character and qualities creating a new luxury spirit for the discerning drinker,
X MUSE is designed to create moments of connection, where the world pauses and drinkers can experience concentrated emotion known as ‘ambromoments’ (from the Greek word ambrotos, “immortal”).
Tenth Muse
The vodka’s name is pronounced ‘tenth muse’ and takes its cue from artwork by Scottish poet, artist and gardener Ian Hamilton Finlay. Relating to the muses of Greek mythology, the tenth symbolises harmony and perfection but is never seen or defined. This is an appropriate reference point for pure and perfect vodka – ‘more is hid than uttered’ has been embossed on every bottle’s cap.
Vadim Grigoryan, X MUSE Co-founder, Artistic and Brand Director comments ‘We look at spirits as cultural products deeply rooted in human history. X MUSE’s creation is informed by this history and our understanding of the meaning of spirits.’
Heritage barleys
As the first blended barley vodka, it’s drawn on the history and experience of Scottish spirit-making. Heritage barleys and the purest water combine to produce a beverage with rich, deep character and qualities. X Muse has been created by the Artistic Director of Creativity and Luxury Vadim Grigoryan, a renowned drinks industry expert, in collaboration with CEO Robert Wilson, co-creator of Jupiter Artland and co-owner of Nelsons, the leading Natural Medicine manufacturer.
Two heritage varieties of barley, Plumage Archer and Maris Otter are used as the foundation for the vodka, chosen for their smooth and complex flavours. Each is distilled separately and then combined with the purest water from an ancient aquifer within the Jupiter Artland estate. It contains fine Scottish ingredients and is produced in high-quality batches that display their own organoleptic profiles.
Read our guide to our favourite vodka
Jupiter Artland
Influenced by art and ideas that transcend time, the bottle – by Stranger & Stranger – reflects one of Jupiter Artland’s commissions. By American theorist, architect and landscape artist Charles Jencks, the piece sits above the ancient water aquifer. The liquid from the distillation process rests on amethyst crystals – another link to Jupiter Artland, where British artist Anya Gallaccio’s amethyst grotto is on view.
Milan-based design studio Formafantasma, have developed an X MUSE Helicon tasting workshop with bespoke items including glassware, bottles, tableware, and containers for presenting the ingredients. These can be seen at Jupiter Artland’s permanent pavilion, where pre-bookable tasting workshops are held.
Four
The brand illustration is by the sought-after graphic design studio A Practice For Everyday Life, and reinterprets an icon by the 16th-century philosopher and alchemist Dr John Dee, with inspiration from art by pioneering 20th-century artist Marcel Duchamp. Each section is made up of four strokes, referencing the four elements in nature, the four stages of distillation and the four dimensions (three spatial and one temporal).
CEO and Co-founder Robert Wilson says ‘Creating a vodka that invites sipping and savouring is the spirit maker’s supreme challenge. It cannot be bolstered by botanicals or aged in oak barrels. It must stand on its own merits. This is the measure of X Muse.’
Drink it straight, on the rocks or as part of an exciting cocktail. X MUSE (70 CL Bottle) is priced at £55 and is available to purchase on the X MUSE website.
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