DSH Perfumes Whiskey + Ginger

I’ll eat when I’m hungry, I’ll drink when I’m dry
If the hard times don’t kill me, I’ll lay down and die
Rye whiskey, rye whiskey, rye whiskey I cry
If you don’t give me rye whiskey I surely will die

I’ll tune up me fiddle and rosin my bow
I make myself welcome, wherever I go

Beefsteak when I’m hungry, red booze when I’m dry
Doubloons when I’m hard up and religion when I die

But if I get boozy, my whiskey’s my own
And them that don’t like me, can leave me alone.

Jack o’ Diamonds, Jack o’ Daniels, I know you of old

You robbed me poor pockets of silver and gold. ~ excerpt from a 19th C. North American folk song originally recorded by Tex Ritter in 1933

Dawn Spencer Hurwitz of DSH Perfumes via Instagram

Award-winning artisanal perfumer Dawn Spencer Hurwitz sent me some samples of her recent compositions this past week. It’s always a delight to work my nose through them – and amongst the lot there was one which immediately caught my eye: a new Heirloom Elixir {no.33} named Whiskey + Ginger. This charming and distinctive perfume was inspired by a 19th century libation traditionally imbibed on Derby-day – the Horse’s Neck highball. The Horse’s Neck originally consisted of a glass of nonalcoholic ginger ale combined with a jigger of bourbon, rye or brandy – and derives its idiosyncratic appellation from the long coiled lemon peel which snakes around the inside of the glass. It is singularly refreshing, especially in the warmer months.

Readers, you know me by now; my brain dovetailed all the moving parts – the sea chantey-type folk tune, the beverage – both of which are American in origin and were popular within the same time frame. I couldn’t resist. Dawn has an uncanny knack for reconstructing classic drinks which possess an historical context (Le Sazerac, The Absinthe Drinkers, Uptown Moonshine, Lautrec (created for ÇaFleureBon’s first anniversary and rereleased in 2019 as an Heirloom Elixir), and whether they smell nouveau-retro or utterly contemporary, their appeal is timeless. Each of these fragrances is a complex, rich olfactive tapestry, and DSH Perfumes Whiskey + Ginger continues in that tradition. I feel propelled back in time – and the thinly-veiled piratical aspect of my nature is thoroughly gratified. By no means should my personal predilections ‘date’ this particular perfume: if you were to experience Whiskey + Ginger yourselves I believe that its smoky, spicy allure might well reel you in. It IS that good.

As is often the case, few fragrances created by Dawn Spencer Hurwitz could be described as simple – even if they are artlessly compelling and/or resemble a scented second skin. Her aromatic components can appear almost labyrinthine, perhaps daunting at times. I think that it’s helpful to remember that artists such as she have any number of aces up their sleeve; a great deal of time and effort has gone into the creation of original accords which enrich the fragrances they inhabit, and these are drawn upon when they are required for specific effect. This may help clarify such concepts as ‘sugar cube accord’ (think absinthe, for one), suede accord, rye whiskey accord, etc. Some perfumers even eke out a living by selling their own created accords to other perfumers – many of whom happily rely upon them.

Horse’s Neck cocktail wiki By Ralf Roletschek

Whiskey + Ginger happens to be a Horse’s Neck cocktail created with rye whiskey, as opposed to the variants which utilize bourbon or brandy. Rye whiskey was accessible, and from the 1800s on, the whiskey ration was considered a standing policy in the U.S. army. Dawn has rendered it lovable (even if you hadn’t previously liked it) by introducing its raspy-smooth qualities with a surfeit of citruses and a zesty pink peppercorn, all guaranteed to make your mouth water. Aldehydes do what they do best, glimmering and diffusive. The intense tonicity of fresh ginger cleanses the palate, gentled by nearly every part of the orange tree there is: sweet, bigarade, neroli, orange blossom. Rosewater and grandiflorum jasmine provide delicate gentling; they are welcome, if seamless adjuvants; one notices, particularly in the drydown, how gloriously these few florals meld with spice, a soupçon of sugar, tonka, Peru balsam, and the woody floralcy of cabreuva wood. Guaiacwood, as we are aware, is becoming scarcer because of the rigorous sourcing modern tastes demand – but it is quietly dosed in DSH Perfumes Whiskey + Ginger, and as such avoids dominating the fragrance while it imparts its smoky facets without trumpet fanfare. A clove tobacco accord reminds us of Kreteks – those cigarettes/ little cigars which are fragrant (and Bohemian, to those of us who enjoyed them in the 60s and 70s): tailor-made for accompanying glowing musks and ambergris. Whiskey and more whiskey; a stealthy note of suede for good measure. When all is said and done, a balanced and enchanting fragrance awaits the explorer. If it appears gourmand to some, it is an atypical one which will please noses which might have become wearied by very sweet scents: Whiskey + Ginger is very sophisticated and chic, with a somewhat playful mien (And yes. I confess to purchasing a small flacon of it in extrait. Again, not a usual occurrence for me unless I really love a perfume.).

Notes: aldehydes, pink peppercorn, white grapefruit, bergamot, fresh lemon, green mandarin, orange, bitter orange, yuzu, fresh ginger, neroli, orange blossom, rosewater, grandiflorum jasmine, spice notes, sugar cube accord, rye whiskey natural accord, whiskey whiff accord, suede accord,  clove tobacco, cabreuva wood, guaiacwood, musk, ambergris, ciste absolute, Peru balsam, Tonka bean absolute, Virginia cedar

Sample of DSH Perfumes Whiskey + Ginger provided by the perfumer – many thanks! This is something extraordinary. My nose is my own…

~ Ida Meister, Deputy and Natural Perfumery Editor

 

DSH Perfumes Whiskey + Ginger is a limited edition Heirloom Elixir

Thanks to the generosity of Dawn Spencer Hurwitz, we have a draw for 60 ml of DSH Perfumes Whiskey + Ginger {Heirloom Elixir no. 33} for one registered ÇaFleureBon reader USA (or with a USA address).YOU MUST REGISTER and leave a comment on this site, with what appeals to you about Ida’s review. Draw closes 6/14/2024

Follow us on Instagram @cafleurebonofficial @idameister @dshperfumes

This is our Privacy Policy

We announce the winners only on our site and on our Facebook page, so like ÇaFleureBon and use our blog feed…or your dream prize will be just spilled perfume.