We featured ROOT Organic Liqueur in our holiday gift guide. Zach gave Clay a bottle as a Christmas gift, and we've enjoyed trying it.  On the rocks, it's a bit much for us, like a really boozy root beer.  But we loved it mixed with ginger ale.  Want to try it? You can order ROOT here.

In their December issue, Fine Cooking features an interesting blog that was new to us: TheOldieFoodie.com.  On the site, author Janet Clarkson writes about food history and historic recipes. The recipe archive is astounding, with titles like "To dresse a Hare or Cunny in brothe, with a pudding in their bellyes (1588)." We're adventurous cooks, but we're steering clear of that one. 

Back to Pennsylvania Root(s)

In the 1700s, sassafras, sarsaparilla, birch bark, and other wild roots and herbs were brewed by Native Americans and early Pennsylvanians into an herbal remedy called root tea.  Over the years alcohol was added, the removed when Charles Hires of Philadelphia developed root beer in the 1800s. In 2009, Stephen Grasse, owner of Art In The Age brand of Philadelphia, released Root, an updated version of this unique tasting beverage—plus alcohol. Reminiscent of the 1700s product, the beverage has a bold, clean taste, smooth and dark with a hint of vanilla.  It is certified organic and made in limited batches to control the quality and taste. Mixologists and consumers across PA are adding it to cupcakes, grilling it on ribs, and experimenting with cocktail recipes.

Benjamin’s Ghost: An Interview with Steve Grasse of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction by Jason Urban

For better or worse, our notions of democracy and capitalism are often intertwined. Both place value on the importance of individual freedom and the power of choice. Both celebrate one person’s ability to make a difference regardless of class or status. Citizens are consumers but they are also entrepreneurs; they have the right to vote with a ballot… and with their wallet. Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction (AITA) is a Philadelphia-based retail, brick and mortar store, gallery, and brand that sell a range of micro-produced products, from prints and t-shirts to soaps and alcohol. There is an emphasis on limited edition objects coupled with an obsession for their history. As their name implies, they use Walter Benjamin’s famous essay, Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction, as a point of departure. From a printmaking perspective, Benjamin’s text is a rare example of pertinent required reading for printmakers. It seemed worth investigating this twenty-first century, commercial interpretation of the much-discussed document. The following is series of questions posed to AITA owner Steve Grasse and his responses

Root
Produced by Modern Spirits, Monrovia, California for:
Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

PROOF: 80 (40%)
TYPE: Liqueur, Herbal, Organic
AGE: N/A
PRICE: $32.99 750 ML

FOOD REVIEW - ROOT Liqueur

A little while ago I stumbled across Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction’s new (old?) spirit, ROOT. This video sums up exactly what ROOT is –

Elegance in Action T-Shirt

We make no New Year’s resolutions here – or to put it another way, we make resolutions for each other which are immediately broken. I resolved that Kay wouldn’t spray herself with perfume a dozen times a day so my Seven-Up tastes like the fragrance counter of a posh store. She resolved that I wouldn’t throw my cans into the bin from across the office and not pick them up when they miss.