Born from Scottish spirit-making traditions, mythology and the artistic landscape of Jupiter Artland, X MUSE, pronounced 'tenth muse', is a luxury blended vodka, combining two heritage barleys and the purest aquifer waters drawn from the Estate. Here, time moves differently; art and nature intertwine, and visitors are invited to slow down, harmonise and find energised balance.
Wandering through the estate is all-engaging; art sporadically appears at spots specifically chosen by the maker, and each step opens up a new
world of sorts. This sensory journey is mirrored in
the vodka, a spirit designed to sip and savour, with creators Vadim Grigoryan and Robert Wilson drawing inspiration from various works on the grounds. The brand's namesake piece, Ian Hamilton Finlay's "X Muse" sculpture, depicts the head of 'Sappho', an Archaic Greek poet from the Island of Lesbos, who in ancient times was believed to be named "Tenth Muse", in reference to the nine muses of Greek mythology.
Meanwhile, Charles Jencks' "Cells of Life" landforms celebrate the 'cell' as the basis of all life and shaped the bottle design, while Anya Gallaccio's amethyst grotto "Light Pours Out of Me" sparked the process of energising the water via an amethyst vortex.
On the creation of X MUSE, 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.’
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.’
X MUSE aims to create 'ambromoments' - experiences of concentrated emotion for discerning drinkers.
The X MUSE Temple ‘Helicon Tasting’ workshop achieves this perfectly, which isn't difficult when the product tastes this good, or when the Temple is designed by Milan's renowned Formafantasma studio.
The space is impossibly chic, housing individually designed glassware, tables, bottles - and the most beautiful water presentation - equipped with a bronze ladle. On the Temple's doorstep is the glorious art-encased, heated swimming pool, which is social media's best friend and something visitors can book to swim in. Paddling in art is something I highly recommend. The experience is now taking bookings via the Jupiter Artland website.
In collaboration with the 20th Birthday celebration of Edinburgh Art Festival 2024, X MUSE has crafted two feature cocktails. The X Muse 'Arma' is the official birthday serve and beats to the drum of this year's theme "CONNECT TO RESISTANCE, PEOPLE PERSIST". Garnished with gold dust and featuring Scotland's hardy blackberry, spicy ginger and lemon tang, 'Arma' brings joy and beauty into the glass.
The X MUSE 'Save', meanwhile, is a creation honouring artist Mele Broome, who gave an opening performance for the festival. 'Save' celebrates Scotland's ancient druidic herbal traditions and with lime, meadowsweet and verbena, this is one for those who like a grounding drink. Happy Birthday, EAF!
EAF24 runs until 25 August.
As of 2024, X MUSE is available in over 100 bars across London and Edinburgh, with French expansion plans underway.
X MUSE (70 CL Bottle) is priced at £55 and is available to purchase on X MUSE website and at Harvey Nichols, Selfridges, Hedonism, Petersham Cellar, Master of Malt, Amazon UK and The Whisky Exchange
Follow X MUSE on Instagram @tenthmusevodka #tenthmusevodka #creativesource #xmuse
EAF24 20th Birthday Cocktails by Scottish Blended Barley Vodka, X MUSE
The X MUSE ‘Arma’
The official EAF24 20th Birthday Serve created by X Muse responds to the theme of the festival “CONNECT TO RESISTANCE, PEOPLE PERSIST”.
Ingredients selected resist adversary environmental conditions and also bring us joy and beauty. The key ingredient is the
blackberry – as the hardy fruit thrives in the Scottish climate.
Ingredients List:
• 40ml X MUSE
• 20ml Lemon Juice
• 35ml Blackberry and ginger syrup*
• 5ml Ginger liqueur
• Chickpea water (Aquafaba)
Method:
1. Add all ingredients into a shaker and shake well, dry shake if needed for foam.
2. Serve in coupette.
3. BlackBerry on skewer garnish + gold dust.
*BlackBerry and ginger syrup:
• 300g blackberries
• 60g ginger root
• 200g caster sugar
• 200ml water
*Method:
1. Add all ingredients into a pot and bring to boil, let blackberries cook and then mash them. 2. Simmer for 10 minutes and strain.
3. Add ginger root back in and let sit for 24 hours and then remove
The X MUSE ‘Save’
‘Save’ is a X MUSE cocktail creation honouring artist Mele Broomes. Mele Broomes is an award-winning choreographer and performance artist. They co-founded Project X in Scotland.
Mele’s work often celebrates their, and our, ancestral heritage through contemporary means of body movement and dance.
For the EAF24 Mele Broomes has created an Opening Performance “through warm temperatures”, whose genesis refers to past beliefs in natural remedies and elixirs.
X MUSE’s ‘Save’ celebrates ancient druidic herbal traditions prevalent in Scotland and other parts of the UK. The name is taken from the druidic drink mentioned by Geoffrey Chaucer in
his "A Knight's Tale” and uses ancient plants such as meadowsweet, Vervain, and water mint - all of which are grown at X MUSE’s spiritual home, sculpture park Jupiter Artland.
Ingredient List:
• 50ml X MUSE
• 25ml meadowsweet syrup**
• 30ml verbena and water mint tea***
• 20ml lemon juice
• Top up with Fever Tree Mexican lime soda
Method:
1. Build in a highball and stir well, top with soda.
2. Meadowsweet flower garnish.
Meadowsweet syrup** :
• 50g meadowsweet
• 250ml cup water
• 200g caster sugar
Method:
1. Bring water and meadowsweet to boil and then simmer for 10 minutes.
2. Add in sugar and dissolve, then strain out meadow sweet immediately.
3. Strain a second time.
***Verbena and Watermint tea:
1. 50g dried verbenna
2. 50g fresh mint
3. 250g water
Method:
1. Boil water and add verbena and fresh mint.
2. Let it infuse for 15 minutes then strain.
X MUSE (70 cl) is priced at approximately £55 and available for purchase on the X MUSE website and at Harvey Nichols, Selfridges, Hedonism, Petersham Cellar, Master of Malt, Amazon UK, The Whisky Exchange and Zapp.
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