Steven Grasse: Difference between revisions
Content deleted Content added
No edit summary |
No edit summary |
||
| Line 6: | Line 6: | ||
| occupation = Advertising Executive, Author, Distillery owner |
| occupation = Advertising Executive, Author, Distillery owner |
||
| years_active = 1989-present |
| years_active = 1989-present |
||
| known_for = {{hlist|Quaker City Mercantile|[[Hendrick's Gin]]|Tamworth Distilling|[[The Evil Empire: 101 Ways That England Ruined the World]]|}} |
| known_for = {{hlist|Quaker City Mercantile|[[Hendrick's Gin]]|[[Sailor Jerry]] rum|Tamworth Distilling|[[The Evil Empire: 101 Ways That England Ruined the World]]|}} |
||
}} |
}} |
||
| Line 15: | Line 15: | ||
== Career == |
== Career == |
||
{{Quote box |
|||
| quote = Bands create passion and excitement; and they’re not always trying to sell you something. The content is what you’re excited about… and you become part of their circle and their lives. They created an identity that was visual, that was audible and that was also visceral. |
|||
| author = Steven Grasse |
|||
| align = left |
|||
| width = 300px |
|||
}} |
|||
=== 1989–2006 === |
=== 1989–2006 === |
||
Grasse founded Quaker City Mercantile (formerly Gyro Worldwide), a [[Philadelphia]]-based advertising agency, in 1989.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.phillymag.com/news/2010/01/29/legends-the-mad-mans-next-act-0210/|title=Legends: The Mad Man's Next Act - Page 2 of 7|date=2010-01-29|website=Philadelphia Magazine|language=en-US|access-date=2020-03-23}}</ref> Grasse |
Grasse founded Quaker City Mercantile (formerly Gyro Worldwide), a [[Philadelphia]]-based advertising agency, in 1989.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.phillymag.com/news/2010/01/29/legends-the-mad-mans-next-act-0210/|title=Legends: The Mad Man's Next Act - Page 2 of 7|date=2010-01-29|website=Philadelphia Magazine|language=en-US|access-date=2020-03-23}}</ref> Grasse has said that his approach to advertising was inspired by the way bands promote themselves, which draw in a loyal following by building a sense of community around their brand.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Latif |first=Ray |date=2019-01-08 |title=Taste Radio Ep. 144: How The Creator of Sailor Jerry Rum and Hendrick’s Gin Builds Iconic Brands |url=https://www.tasteradio.com/episodes/2019/taste-radio-ep-144-how-the-creator-of-sailor-jerry-rum-and-hendricks-gin-builds-iconic-brands/ |access-date=2022-07-02 |website=Taste Radio |language=en-US}}</ref> |
||
This approach influenced the marketing strategy of Sailor Jerry's Rum, a spirit brand which became the fastest growing rum brand in the United States, and was acquired by [[William Grant & Sons]] in 2008.<ref name=":0" /> Grasse had previously partnered with William Grant & Sons in 1998 to create [[Hendrick's Gin]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.1843magazine.com/design/brand-illusions/why-a-gin-maker-invented-its-own-history|title=Why a gin maker invented its own history|date=2019-09-06|website=1843|access-date=2020-03-25}}</ref> Beginning in 1999, Grasse began producing ''Bikini Bandits'', a series of short films. A feature film based on the franchise was planned to be produced by [[StudioCanal]] but was later cancelled.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Lacob|first=Jace|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/08/04/art-in-the-age-ex-ad-man-steven-grasse-s-wonderfully-weird-spirits|title=Art in the Age: Ex-Ad Man Steven Grasse's Wonderfully Weird Spirits|date=2012-08-04|work=The Daily Beast|access-date=2020-03-24|language=en}}</ref> |
|||
=== 2007–present === |
=== 2007–present === |
||
| Line 24: | Line 32: | ||
In 2009, Gyro Worldwide was renamed as Quaker City Mercantile.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://phillyadclub.com/goodbye-gyro-worldwide-now-quaker-city-mercantile/|title=Goodbye Gyro Worldwide. . .Now Quaker City Mercantile|date=2009-06-12|website=Philly Ad Club|language=en-US|access-date=2020-03-25}}</ref> During this time, Grasse also began marketing his own brands,<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Morgan|first1=Adam|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RZO8BQAAQBAJ&dq=steven+grasse&pg=PT211|title=A Beautiful Constraint: How To Transform Your Limitations Into Advantages, and Why It's Everyone's Business|last2=Barden|first2=Mark|date=2015-01-07|publisher=John Wiley & Sons|isbn=978-1-118-89945-8|language=en}}</ref> and founded Art in the Age of Reproduction, a retail store in [[Philadelphia]]. Grasse cited [[Walter Benjamin]]'s 1935 essay "[[The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction]]" with inspiring the idea behind the company.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Lacob|first=Jace|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/08/04/art-in-the-age-ex-ad-man-steven-grasse-s-wonderfully-weird-spirits|title=Art in the Age: Ex-Ad Man Steven Grasse's Wonderfully Weird Spirits|date=2012-08-04|work=The Daily Beast|access-date=2020-03-31|language=en}}</ref> |
In 2009, Gyro Worldwide was renamed as Quaker City Mercantile.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://phillyadclub.com/goodbye-gyro-worldwide-now-quaker-city-mercantile/|title=Goodbye Gyro Worldwide. . .Now Quaker City Mercantile|date=2009-06-12|website=Philly Ad Club|language=en-US|access-date=2020-03-25}}</ref> During this time, Grasse also began marketing his own brands,<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Morgan|first1=Adam|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RZO8BQAAQBAJ&dq=steven+grasse&pg=PT211|title=A Beautiful Constraint: How To Transform Your Limitations Into Advantages, and Why It's Everyone's Business|last2=Barden|first2=Mark|date=2015-01-07|publisher=John Wiley & Sons|isbn=978-1-118-89945-8|language=en}}</ref> and founded Art in the Age of Reproduction, a retail store in [[Philadelphia]]. Grasse cited [[Walter Benjamin]]'s 1935 essay "[[The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction]]" with inspiring the idea behind the company.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Lacob|first=Jace|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/08/04/art-in-the-age-ex-ad-man-steven-grasse-s-wonderfully-weird-spirits|title=Art in the Age: Ex-Ad Man Steven Grasse's Wonderfully Weird Spirits|date=2012-08-04|work=The Daily Beast|access-date=2020-03-31|language=en}}</ref> |
||
In 2016, Grasse authored [[Colonial Spirits: A Toast to Our Drunken History |
In 2016, Grasse authored ''[[Colonial Spirits: A Toast to Our Drunken History]]'', which explores the history of [[History of alcoholic drinks#The Thirteen Colonies|alcohol in Colonial America]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://attadrink.com/colonial-spirits-by-steven-grasse/|title=Colonial Spirits by Steven Grasse|date=2017-04-25|website=attadrink|language=en-GB|access-date=2020-03-31}}</ref> The illustrated book included historical recipes and trivia about the history of alcohol in the United States.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2017/01/03/507536826/a-survival-guide-to-colonial-cocktails-so-you-dont-die-drinking-them|title=A Survival Guide To Colonial Cocktails (So You Don't Die Drinking Them)|website=NPR.org|language=en|access-date=2020-03-31}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.inquirer.com/philly/food/20160922_Meet_the_Philly_adman_who_tells_you_what_you_want_to_drink.html|title=Martha Washington got tipsy drinking this cocktail. Now you can, too.|last=Melamed|first=Samantha|date=|website=The Inquirer|language=en-US|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-03-31}}</ref> In its opening chapter, he compares the United States to a bar, "open to everyone, available to whoever can afford it, and apparently quite difficult to get kicked out of."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Punch |title=The Best Drink Books of Fall/Winter 2016 |url=https://punchdrink.com/articles/the-best-drink-books-of-fall-winter-2016-wine-cocktail-recipes-beer/ |access-date=2022-07-02 |website=PUNCH |language=en}}</ref> |
||
Grasse founded [[Tamworth Distillery]], a [[New Hampshire]] based [[Microdistillery|craft distillery]], in 2015.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.vogue.com/article/craft-distilleries-is-wilderness-to-bottle-the-new-farm-to-table|title=Is "Wilderness to Bottle" the New Farm To Table?|last=Plummer|first=Todd|website=Vogue|language=en|access-date=2020-03-23}}</ref> Inspired by his interest in transcendentalism and a desire to create a lasting legacy,<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Adman's Whiskey Lab |url=https://www.mensjournal.com/food-drink/the-admans-whiskey-lab-20140505/ |access-date=2022-07-02 |website=Men's Journal |language=en-US}}</ref> Grasse developed the concept of a "farm-to-table, grain-to-glass" distillery with Jamie Oakes and Matt Powers. The distillery focuses on a wilderness-to-table philosophy, and creates a variety of craft spirits.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-11-19 |title=Tamworth Distilling Combines Quality with Locality |url=https://www.nshoremag.com/eat-drink/tamworth-distilling-combines-quality-with-locality/ |access-date=2022-07-02 |website=Northshore Magazine |language=en-US}}</ref> |
|||
In 2021, he cowrote ''The Cocktail Workshop'' with Adam Erace.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Lifestyle Book Review: The Cocktail Workshop: An Essential Guide to Classic Drinks and How to Make Them Your Own by Steven Grasse and Adam Erace. Running Press, $27.50 (216p) ISBN 978-0-7624-7297-0|url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-7624-7297-0|access-date=2021-11-17|website=PublishersWeekly.com|language=en}}</ref> The book, which includes drink recipes, lessons on [[Mixologist|mixology]], and history, was published by [[Running Press]].<ref>{{Cite news|last=Hansberger|first=Angela|title=Whatever you pour in your glass, new drink books can whet your interest|language=English|work=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution|url=https://www.ajc.com/things-to-do/food-and-recipes/whatever-you-pour-in-your-glass-new-drink-books-can-whet-your-interest/36EK2HJM7NEZXLPOUB53G2PFTE/|access-date=2021-11-17|issn=1539-7459}}</ref> |
In 2021, he cowrote ''The Cocktail Workshop'' with Adam Erace.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Lifestyle Book Review: The Cocktail Workshop: An Essential Guide to Classic Drinks and How to Make Them Your Own by Steven Grasse and Adam Erace. Running Press, $27.50 (216p) ISBN 978-0-7624-7297-0|url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-7624-7297-0|access-date=2021-11-17|website=PublishersWeekly.com|language=en}}</ref> The book, which includes drink recipes, lessons on [[Mixologist|mixology]], and history, was published by [[Running Press]].<ref>{{Cite news|last=Hansberger|first=Angela|title=Whatever you pour in your glass, new drink books can whet your interest|language=English|work=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution|url=https://www.ajc.com/things-to-do/food-and-recipes/whatever-you-pour-in-your-glass-new-drink-books-can-whet-your-interest/36EK2HJM7NEZXLPOUB53G2PFTE/|access-date=2021-11-17|issn=1539-7459}}</ref> |
||
Revision as of 00:32, 3 July 2022
Steven Grasse | |
|---|---|
| Born | September 19, 1964 |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation(s) | Advertising Executive, Author, Distillery owner |
| Years active | 1989-present |
| Known for |
|
Steven Grasse (born September 19, 1964) is an American advertising executive, author, distillery owner and the founder of Quaker City Mercantile. Throughout his career, Grasse has cultivated an avant-garde image, and he was called the "punk rock prince of small-batch spirits" by Alex Halberstadt.[1]
Early life and career
Steven Grasse grew up in Souderton, Pennsylvania, as part of a Pennsylvania Dutch family.[2] As a teenager, he worked for Indian Valley Printing, his father's company, while attending Souderton Area High School. Grasse was inspired by the work of English music promoter Malcolm McLaren, and decided to study marketing and advertising at Syracuse University. He went on to intern at several advertising agencies before being hired by Saatchi & Saatchi.[3]
Career
Bands create passion and excitement; and they’re not always trying to sell you something. The content is what you’re excited about… and you become part of their circle and their lives. They created an identity that was visual, that was audible and that was also visceral.
Steven Grasse
1989–2006
Grasse founded Quaker City Mercantile (formerly Gyro Worldwide), a Philadelphia-based advertising agency, in 1989.[4] Grasse has said that his approach to advertising was inspired by the way bands promote themselves, which draw in a loyal following by building a sense of community around their brand.[5]
This approach influenced the marketing strategy of Sailor Jerry's Rum, a spirit brand which became the fastest growing rum brand in the United States, and was acquired by William Grant & Sons in 2008.[5] Grasse had previously partnered with William Grant & Sons in 1998 to create Hendrick's Gin.[6] Beginning in 1999, Grasse began producing Bikini Bandits, a series of short films. A feature film based on the franchise was planned to be produced by StudioCanal but was later cancelled.[7]
2007–present
In February 2007, Grasse founded the Coalition for British Reparations, and started a petition for the British government to pay US$58 trillion in reparations for damages he alleged the British Empire had done to the world at large. He described the petition as "performance art", stating that "It's very serious, but very cheeky".[8] Grasse authored the controversial book The Evil Empire: 101 Ways That England Ruined the World which was published on April 23, 2007.[9]
In 2009, Gyro Worldwide was renamed as Quaker City Mercantile.[10] During this time, Grasse also began marketing his own brands,[11] and founded Art in the Age of Reproduction, a retail store in Philadelphia. Grasse cited Walter Benjamin's 1935 essay "The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction" with inspiring the idea behind the company.[12]
In 2016, Grasse authored Colonial Spirits: A Toast to Our Drunken History, which explores the history of alcohol in Colonial America.[13] The illustrated book included historical recipes and trivia about the history of alcohol in the United States.[14][15] In its opening chapter, he compares the United States to a bar, "open to everyone, available to whoever can afford it, and apparently quite difficult to get kicked out of."[16]
Grasse founded Tamworth Distillery, a New Hampshire based craft distillery, in 2015.[17] Inspired by his interest in transcendentalism and a desire to create a lasting legacy,[18] Grasse developed the concept of a "farm-to-table, grain-to-glass" distillery with Jamie Oakes and Matt Powers. The distillery focuses on a wilderness-to-table philosophy, and creates a variety of craft spirits.[19]
In 2021, he cowrote The Cocktail Workshop with Adam Erace.[20] The book, which includes drink recipes, lessons on mixology, and history, was published by Running Press.[21]
Publications
- The Cocktail Workshop. (2021) with Adam Erace. Running Press. ISBN 9780762472987
- The Good Reverend's Guide to Infused Spirits. (2019) with Sonia Kurtz, Michael Alan. Skyhorse Publishing. ISBN 9781510739758
- Colonial Spirits: A Toast to Our Drunken History. (2016). Harry N. Abrams. ISBN 978-1-4197-2230-1
- The Evil Empire: 101 Ways That England Ruined the World. (2007). Quirk Books. ISBN 1-59474-173-5
References
- ^ "Steven Grasse: Punk-Rock Prince of Small-Batch Spirits". Food & Wine. Retrieved 2020-03-25.
- ^ "Steven Grasse Profile - The Adman's Whiskey Lab". Men's Journal. 2014-05-05. Retrieved 2020-03-23.
- ^ Amorosi, A. D. "The mad man of Philly ad men". Inquirer. Retrieved 2020-03-23.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Legends: The Mad Man's Next Act - Page 2 of 7". Philadelphia Magazine. 2010-01-29. Retrieved 2020-03-23.
- ^ a b Latif, Ray (2019-01-08). "Taste Radio Ep. 144: How The Creator of Sailor Jerry Rum and Hendrick's Gin Builds Iconic Brands". Taste Radio. Retrieved 2022-07-02.
- ^ "Why a gin maker invented its own history". 1843. 2019-09-06. Retrieved 2020-03-25.
- ^ Lacob, Jace (2012-08-04). "Art in the Age: Ex-Ad Man Steven Grasse's Wonderfully Weird Spirits". The Daily Beast. Retrieved 2020-03-24.
- ^ Heintz, Francesca. "A $58 trillion call for British reparations". www.thedp.com. Retrieved 2020-03-24.
- ^ Henderson, Michael (2007-03-03). "Britain's many gifts to the world". Daily Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2020-03-24.
- ^ "Goodbye Gyro Worldwide. . .Now Quaker City Mercantile". Philly Ad Club. 2009-06-12. Retrieved 2020-03-25.
- ^ Morgan, Adam; Barden, Mark (2015-01-07). A Beautiful Constraint: How To Transform Your Limitations Into Advantages, and Why It's Everyone's Business. John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 978-1-118-89945-8.
- ^ Lacob, Jace (2012-08-04). "Art in the Age: Ex-Ad Man Steven Grasse's Wonderfully Weird Spirits". The Daily Beast. Retrieved 2020-03-31.
- ^ "Colonial Spirits by Steven Grasse". attadrink. 2017-04-25. Retrieved 2020-03-31.
- ^ "A Survival Guide To Colonial Cocktails (So You Don't Die Drinking Them)". NPR.org. Retrieved 2020-03-31.
- ^ Melamed, Samantha. "Martha Washington got tipsy drinking this cocktail. Now you can, too". The Inquirer. Retrieved 2020-03-31.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Punch. "The Best Drink Books of Fall/Winter 2016". PUNCH. Retrieved 2022-07-02.
- ^ Plummer, Todd. "Is "Wilderness to Bottle" the New Farm To Table?". Vogue. Retrieved 2020-03-23.
- ^ "The Adman's Whiskey Lab". Men's Journal. Retrieved 2022-07-02.
- ^ "Tamworth Distilling Combines Quality with Locality". Northshore Magazine. 2019-11-19. Retrieved 2022-07-02.
- ^ "Lifestyle Book Review: The Cocktail Workshop: An Essential Guide to Classic Drinks and How to Make Them Your Own by Steven Grasse and Adam Erace. Running Press, $27.50 (216p) ISBN 978-0-7624-7297-0". PublishersWeekly.com. Retrieved 2021-11-17.
- ^ Hansberger, Angela. "Whatever you pour in your glass, new drink books can whet your interest". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. ISSN 1539-7459. Retrieved 2021-11-17.
External links
- Steve Grasse at IMDb
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
