Our vodka is delicate but it is not neutral at all. And so, the nose has a critical function in understanding our quality. Like any senses, the nose needs training and development. A simple way of doing this is to nose different plants, herbs, flowers, fruits, and vegetables as much as you can. As a child, my father took me to a local market and made me closely experience different produce and spices every single week. I am sure this contributed greatly to the development of my sense. Today I try to express in words what I feel olfactorily almost any time I drink a glass of wine or a spirit. Reflecting on the creation of X MUSE, CEO and Co-founder Robert Wilson remarked, “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.” Delve into the world of vodka to discover a vast array of styles and flavours. Those in search of a classic should try Belvedere, which stands at the pinnacle of the Polish distilling tradition, or Beluga – an exceptional Russian vodka. Something more experimental comes courtesy of Ciroc; the French vodka is made using snap-frost grapes rather than grain, potatoes or corn.

X MUSE, pronounced ‘tenth muse’, is the first blended barley vodka inspired by the spirit making traditions of Scotland. X MUSE draws on that history and experience, employing craft and new methods, blend heritage barley and the purest water to produce a delicious vodka of the richest, deepest character and qualities. This really is a special vodka and it looks great too. We caught up with founders Vadim Grigoryan and Robert Wilson to find out more about X MUSE. On the estate, there is a permanent “temple”, a place to go and have a tasting experience designed by famous designers Formafantasma who have created a bespoke brand experience for X muse. Having designed the central pavilion at this years Biennial in Venice, this is their first work completed in Scotland. A new luxury spirit for the discerning drinker, XMUSE, pronounced ‘tenth muse’, is the brainchild offormer Pernod Ricard Senior Marketer Vadim Grigoryan and co-creator ofEdinburgh’s sculpture park Jupiter Artland, Robert Wilson. X MUSE is the first Scottish blended barley vodka and the first to tread the intersection of Scottish spirit making traditions and art thinking.X MUSE, pronounced ‘tenth 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 ... more These are of course easy references to identify at first glance, and yet we would soon discover the staggering level of detail which has been woven into the very DNA of X MUSE, giving weight to their cryptic credo of ‘‘more is hid than uttered’. Synchronicity was served over dinner. Ideas began to germinate when Wilson and Grigoryan found common ground in philosophy, creative spirit and actual spirits, which often comprise 60 per cent water. Cue serendipity: ‘Bingo,’ says Wilson. ‘I had a use for my precious, energetic water, and the idea of creating a luxury vodka brand with art and art practice at its centre.’ William Lowe, the only known figure in drinks to hold the status of both Master of Wine and Master Distiller, showcased the pinnacle product from Cambridge Distillery (2012) at 67 Pall Mall. Based on his shiso-rich Japanese gin, “Watenshi” is one of the most exclusive distillates in existence. Meaning “the Japanese Angel”, it refers to the seizing of the angel’s share. Coming from a 15-year career at Pernod Ricard, I had long held the desire to create a brand that would be culturally enriching and respectful of its ingredients, so pointed out to Robert that most spirits comprise of 60% water and if using quality water coming from an exceptionally beautiful, natural water source, it could greatly contribute to the taste and perception of the resulting spirit.

After a growing season largely typified by high temperatures, with some incidences of hail causing damage to vines in the region, the harvest began yesterday (24 August) – 10 years ago, it would typically start in September. This year, berry weight is also reportedly 20% lower than usual, but optimism is high for the quality of the wines, as the Asti DOCG Consorzio rigorously and regularly tests the fruit for aroma development (especially regarding Moscato’s all important terpenes) using gas chromatography. The particular load of grapes pictured had been hand harvested and were sent to Cuvage’s facility. Watenshi The two heritage barleys (Plumage Archer and Marris Otter) are distilled separately and blended together in precise quantities. Diluted to bottle strength with pure spring water drawn from the ancient aquifer at Jupiter Artland, the spiritual home of X Muse. In Greek mythology, there are 9 muses who are goddesses of inspiration, arts, science and all creative works. They gave the inspiration for all creative works. There is also a Tenth Muse, unnamed, unknowable and beyond form. She combines and focuses the power of her nine sisters, pushing us towards creating harmony and balance. Robert:It was an epiphanous moment to use the pure water from Jupiter Artland, and as a result, the idea of creating a luxury vodka brand with art and contemporary art practice at its centre was born. And here we find ourselves today.When you think of Scotland, vodka is not a drink that comes to mind. X Muse is about to change that. It is a unique barley-blended vodka (the first from Scotland) which takes inspiration from the spirit-making traditions of Scotland. Why Barley? As a vodka to sip and savour with a multi-layered design and brand identity, X MUSE aims to create moments of connection, where the world pauses and drinkers can experience concentrated emotion known to X MUSE as ‘ambromoments’ (from the Greek word ambrotos, “immortal”). The brand illustration, by sought-after graphic design studio A Practice For Everyday Life, reinterprets an icon by 16th century philosopher and alchemist Dr John Dee and takes inspiration from art by pioneering 20th century artist Marcel Duchamp. Each element of the illustration 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). By only using the finest British ingredients, we are able to produce X MUSE in batches of consistent quality but with subtle differences in organoleptic profile, embracing the variety of nature. Pronounced ‘tenth muse’, this luxury vodka uses a barley blend inspired by the otherworldly surroundings of its ‘spiritual’ home of the Jupiter Artland sculpture park near Edinburgh.

THE FOREST SIDE IS VOTED IN THE TOP 100 GLOBAL RESTAURANTS AND 4TH IN THE UK AT THE WE’RE SMART WORLD AWARDS Its name – X Muse Vodka – holds several layers of meaning, first referencing the nine muses of Greek mythology – all of which are known for heavenly art and creativity and are named with inspirational roles specified. The Tenth Muse is unnamed, unknowable and beyond form, representing all that is unseen, uncaptured, undefined and understood. And it is this Tenth Muse that has been chosen as a vehicle for the brand’s philosophy: “More is hidden than uttered”. You have a Gastronomic Muse in Chef Carlo Scotto of Amethyst in Mayfair. Tell us about this partnership. Robert: Yes, we have excitedly just announced Carlo Scotto as our first-ever Gastronomy Muse. Carlo is a fantastically creative chef, and the partnership is very much anchored in our shared passions for pushing boundaries in quality, flavour and refined experiences in both drink and food.We will be working with him design creative food pairings for X MUSE that will be released throughout the year. The first of these, is his Yuba Tartelette, made with Scottish salmon, yuzu jelly and pistachio as a nod to X MUSE’s Scottish roots and his own Italian heritage and international culinary influences. The dish was conceived as a perfect savoury pairing to accompany sipping the vodka neat or with the X MUSE signature martini. Margot and Fergus Henderson, British culinary legends, turn Wallpaper* guest editors. Here, they discuss new ventures, in Somerset and Marylebone, and reflect on their extraordinary careers as creators, respectively, of Rochelle Canteen and St JohnX MUSE, pronounced ‘tenth muse’, is the first blended barley vodka inspired by the spirit making traditions of Scotland. There are two types of barley used to create X Muse’s delicious vodka blend – Maris Otter and Plumage Archer barley. Each distilled individually before being combined in precise amounts, it’s a process that is unique to X MUSE, using barleys carefully selected for their richness of flavour to make for a silky smooth and delicious Scottish barley vodka that is quite unlike any other.

That is the spirit maker’s ultimate challenge. X Muse focuses on its purity and intricate flavours, with strong beliefs that quality vodka can not be bolstered by botanicals or left in oak barrels, but must be recognised for its own values. This is the measure of X Muse.” Robert: I met Vadim serendipitously when he attended an event at Jupiter Artland, and it was very much a meeting of minds. We discussed our shared passion for philosophy, alchemy, creative spirit and actual spirits. X Muse is a blend of two heritage varieties of barley, Plumage Archer and Marris Otter. These both grow in the UK and distilled separately. This mix of flavourful barley is part of the gorgeous taste of X Muse. What is Special About the Water?This part of the process takes inspiration from another artwork at Jupiter Artland, Anya Gallaccio’s “The Light Pours Out of Me”. An enclosed concrete staircase leads to a subterranean grotto, the walls contain beautiful purple amethysts, crystals with healing properties. The Tenth Muse Vadim: X MUSE is the first blended barley vodka inspired by Scottish spirit-making at the intersection of drinks innovation and the art thinking world. Over three years, we worked with specialists at Heriot-Watt University to select two heritage varieties of barley, Plumage Archer and Maris Otter which are prized for their taste. They are distilled separately and blended in precise quantities to create the smooth and complex flavour of X MUSE.