It's not a new product, but for the first time Art in The Age of Mechanical Reproduction's signature liquor, Root, is available outside of creator Steve Grasse's home state of Pennsylvania. Art in The Age, which hosts a retail store in Philadelphia, is a brand named after Walter Benjamin's landmark 1936 essay, "Art In The Age Of Mechanical Reproduction," the themes of which Grasse tried to incorporate into everything he produces, "Emphasizing a pre-industrial ethos, before mass production turned everything crappy", he says.

Last Friday, Jen and I went to check out the Federal Donuts event at Art in the Age (creator of Root, Snap and Rhuby). If you’ve read much on this site, you’ll know that not only are these two of our favorite things in Philly, but we love combining them too! Needless to say, we were pretty excited to see what they came up with.

A sweet collaboration between two Philadelphia favorites.
Art in the Age are known for their craft spirits, Snap, Root and Rhuby while Federal Donuts have become nationally acclaimed for their ever changing line-up of fancy and sugar coated donuts. These two Philadelphia locals themed up for a super delicious and sweet collaboration that yielded three spectacular limited edition donut flavors:

Root and Soda

What and soda? Root and soda. Oh. Have you not heard of Root before? I hadn’t. But a few weeks ago, I was chatting with one of the ladies who works at the front desk of my apartment building and we were discussing the spirits we enjoy sipping. She asked me if I ever had Root and then went on to describe it to me. Well, let’s just say every ingredient in it sounded like heaven and also that I went out and searched for it that very night. It was easier to find than I expected and I just hope I’m not the last to hear about this magical spirit.

Art in the Age and Federal Donuts launch limited-edition 'nut line

Art in the Age, the nattily attired makers of ROOT, SNAP and RHUBY, are in snacky cahoots with the ever-popular Federal Donuts (1219 S. Second St.), joining forces to create three donuts inspired by the boutique Pennsylvania liqueurs. While the 'nuts themselves do not have alcohol in them, the flavor profiles have inspired some sugary innovation (L-R) — a "root beer float" with vanilla ice cream icing; "gingersnap cookie," with a ginger glaze and snappy cookie crumb; and "strawberry rhubarb pie," rhubarb-glazed and hooked up with pie-crust crumble (!) and strawberry icing. Available from Friday, April 20 [stoner joke!] until Sunday, April 29, the AiTA donuts will be distributed just like Fed's "fancies," available for $2 a pop daily from 7 a.m. till they're all gone.

Federal Donuts Teams Up with Art in the Age Liquors

From April 20-29th, three special doughnuts will be available at Federal Donuts that are inspired by local Art in the Age liquors. Gingersnap Cookie (featuring Snap), Strawberry Rhubarb Pie (featuring Rhuby), and Root Beer Float (featuring Root) will be joining Mike Solo's daily menu of fancy doughnuts at his deep fried Pennsport spot.