Bartending in Tethyr

[Velaryon]

I thought it would be amusing (as well as useful) to keep a running list of all the strange drinks that have come up in the campaign so far. Anything that's mostly like normal alcohol I'm not going to bother to list, but each new unique drink gets its own post.

[Velaryon]

Gutbuster is an especially strong and nasty dwarven ale, common in the dwarven kingdoms in the northwest of Faerun.

The formula for brewing Gutbuster is fairly new, having been invented by renowned battlerager Thibbledorf Pwent, leader of the Gutbuster Brigade (whether the drink is named after the brigade or vice-versa is a matter of some debate).

The formula is closely guarded, and although a few competing brands of Gutbuster have sprung up in the eighteen years since the drink's creation, all are dwarf-owned and dwarf-operated. The original Gutbuster formula, created at Mithral Hall, remains the most common and is widely regarded as the best brand of Gutbuster.

Gutbuster gets its name from the fact that it's so strong it literally eats at the stomach lining of most creatures. Dwarves are one of the few races that can stomach the drink, and one of the few that care to drink the stuff, which is more renowned for its strength than its taste.

[Velaryon]

Genie Juice is a rare drink, unique for its strange appearance as well as its effect on those who imbibe it.

Genie Juice is brewed somewhere in Calimshan, although the actual location of the brewery is a hotly debated topic even among Calishites. Regardless, agents of the brewery appear every once in awhile in the major cities of Calimshan to sell the drink, and from there it has slowly migrated to neighboring countries such as Tethyr.

Genie Juice comes in a distinctive bottle (pictured below). When opened, a bluish smoke pours out from the bottle. The liquid itself is bluish as well, although it takes on a purple or even pink sheen depending on how the light hits it.

While the drink has a sweet, pleasant taste, Genie Juice is far better known for the wide-ranging, bizarre effects it has on those who drink it. Some simply pass out as if they had been drinking all night, while others experience hallucinations and strange trips comparable to a powerful narcotic. Blue smoke often pours out the mouth, nose, and ears of those who drink it.

A few people even claim to have been transported to a mysterious realm and met otherworldly beings, perhaps genies themselves. This is generally regarded as just another hallucination, although those that have experienced it will swear that it was real.

Genie Juice seems to affect almost everyone equally; that is, those with the strongest tolerance for alcohol seem just as likely to experience these effects as a novice drinker of lesser fortitude.



A bottle of Genie Juice:

[Velaryon]

While the Flip has its own topic here already, it's uncommon enough in the real world that I feel it deserves mention on this list as well.

Popular among humans and halflings, the Flip is made by adding a mixture of eggs, cream, and sugar to beer. Sometimes rum is put in as well, and countless variants of the Flip exist, with various other substances added to give it a local flavor.

One important touch that makes the Flip unique, regardless of which variation one is drinking, is that the drink must be stirred with a hot poker, fresh from the fire. The poker gives the drink a distinct burnt, bitter taste, as well as making the drink itself hot.

The Flip is popular among farmers because they have most of the ingredients on hand, so they can mix up a homebrewed batch of Flip as long as they have beer. It's considered a great way to warm up on those cold winter nights.

[Velaryon]

The Filibuster is an alcoholic drink which is named for a debate technique employed in lands with a parliamentary government or council system, in which one member holds the floor and continues speaking for hours on end to either wear out the patience of his political foes or just kill debate until everyone goes home.

Filibuster (the drink) gets its name because to most people, it tastes so awful that they can only drink a small sip at a time, and as a result the drink seems to go on forever. Since it's almost unheard of for someone to actually enjoy the drink, it's something of a mystery why nearly every tavern and inn in Tethyr carries a supply of Filibuster.

The drink itself is a plain, dark, honey-colored liquid. It has no froth, no bubbles, or any other particularly distinguishing features.

[Velaryon]

Slimy Wight is a drink rarely ordered by many people, although its lack of popularity has more to do with the drink's name, appearance, and resemblance to humanoid bodily fluids than its taste... presumably anyway, since it's difficult to find anyone willing to admit that they have tried the stuff.

Served as a shot rather than a full glass, Slimy Wight, not surprisingly, a whitish color, and is thicker than most alcoholic drinks. It's more like a gel in some ways than a watery liquid.

A great deal of myth and misinformation surrounds the origins and brewing process of Slimy Wight. Some people claim a link to the undead whose name the drink bears, while others claim a less supernatural origin for the drink.

[Tyrrox Zym]

Filibuster Filibuster Filibuster

Named after my dog who barks and barks and barks until you either jump out the window or shoot yourself because you can't take it anymore.

[Velaryon]

Crackling Kraken gets its name from two sources: the sound that it makes and the source of its primary ingredient. The drink has small bubbles (similar to carbonation), but no matter how long the drink is left sitting, the bubbles never run out. The constant rising of the bubbles to the surface gives the drink a perpetual crackling sound (think of Rice Krispies, but a little moreso).

It's a drink most commonly found in coastal towns, because one of the primary ingredients is seawater. The seawater is poured through a strainer to remove things like dirt, seaweed, and fish, and brought to a low boil to remove impurities. Then, with the seawater still boiling, the rest of the ingredients are mixed in, including whatever creates the bubbles.

A variant of the create water spell can be used in order to create the seawater, but purists insist that natural seawater makes the best Crackling Kraken, and so its availability inland is significantly lower than in coastal cities such as Myratma.

[Velaryon]

If anybody else wants to invent a drink, go on ahead. If you create one, include the following information:

-the name of the drink
-what it looks like
-what it tastes like

and if you want:

-who invented it
-where it's made
-why it has the name it does
-unusual ingredients
-bits of random information about it

[Velaryon]

The Sickly Wraith is a strong drink, but not very tasty. Despite its potency, the drink is served in a yard (a narrow glass about three feet tall, pictured below), which is more than enough for the average taverngoer to get drunk on.

The liquid itself is a pale gray color, mostly clear but slightly cloudy. It is often said that if one could drink a piece of paper, it would taste like a Sickly Wraith.

Not many people would count the Sickly Wraith among their favorite drinks. It is most often ordered by young men who are just old enough to drink, since they will often be drawn to such a large glass of potent alcohol, especially since Sickly Wraiths are fairly inexpensive. Otherwise, it is usually ordered by someone who wants to get drunk fast and doesn't care what they're drinking.




A Yard of Ale

[Velaryon]

The Sizzling Succubus is part alcoholic drink, part aphrodisiac. A sweet-smelling red liquid that comes in a slender, mostly opaque dark bottle, it is fairly strong, but goes down as smooth as honey.

Sizzling Succubus gets its name from the devil of the same name, because the drink causes a reaction in those who drink it that makes them aroused shortly after consuming the drink. As such, taverns that serve the drink often receive a substantial commission from local brothels.

Stories circulate that the Sizzling Succubus comes straight from the Nine Hells, but in truth the drink has nothing to do with its namesake devil.

Equally false are stories that suggest the formula was given to mortals by Sune, the Faerunian goddess of love and beauty, although the drink is popular among followers and clergy of Sune.

In truth, the initial formula was devised by a sorcerer some 50 years ago, who subsequently retired from adventuring and opened a distillery north of Waterdeep.