Though the typical image of a Harley rider often involves a beer in hand, Uwe Ehinger, known as The Archaeologist, had a different idea for preserving old Knucklehead parts – gin. The reasoning behind this choice remains somewhat mysterious.
Believe it or not, Ehinger's "The Archaeologist Premium Dry Gin" is infused with genuine Harley parts sourced from various locations worldwide. One can taste the essence of a ’39 Flathead cam that once weathered in a Mexican desert, rocker arms from a ’62 Panhead discovered in a South Korean village, or screw-nuts salvaged from a ’47 Knucklehead in the Chilean mountains. Because... well, why not?
Having been a Harley-Davidson enthusiast for the majority of his life, Ehinger embarked on a lifelong quest to unearth lost motorcycle relics from remote garages, forgotten scrapyards, and dusty backyards across the globe. He became renowned as a motorcycle archaeologist.
Before being submerged in gin, the parts are meticulously cleaned and sealed with a tin alloy to ensure the liquor remains uncontaminated. Each bottle comes with a story detailing where the parts were found, along with their original serial numbers. And the "Premium" label isn't just for show – The Archaeologist gin commands prices starting at $1,000, with the initial batch already sold out.
Ehinger explained, “Whenever I stumble upon rare bikes, I contemplate how to honor each individual part because they deserve preservation. That's where the concept for 'The Archaeologist' originated: conserving the spirit of old machines in a literal spirit, offering an opportunity to taste history.”