Hag's Breath
A clear, but cloudy spirit that is renowned both for its foul flavour and its ability to make even the hardiest souls drunk after only a few shots. Hag’s Breath is avoided by anyone with even a modicum of sophistication, partly because of the generally foul taste and smell, but also because Hag’s Breath is well known to deaden the tastebuds for days or even weeks after it has been consumed. However, it is a popular drink in the Imperial Colonies where it is exported in large quantities, and amongst sailors toiling for the The Imperial Navy, the Hastellion Trading Company and the Kelrik Pirates alike, who receive a portion as part of their daily rations.
Consumption & Uses:
Though Hag’s Breath is produced specifically with the idea of it being consumed, there are few people that would actively pick it out as their preferred drink of choice. To begin with, it has a flavour that has been described as being a mix of slightly rancid salted fish and juniper, though this flavour is abandoned once the spirit has been in the mouth for more than two seconds, whereupon it is replaced by a strong alcoholic burning sensation. In terms of odour, Hag’s Breath smells like the strong raw alcohol it is, with a hint of the sea breeze to it. Hag’s Breaths’ most obvious use is as a drink, though other uses for it have been found and have proved useful as well. If a rag soaked in the spirit is fed into the bottle it can be lit and turned into quite the effective fiery projectile, though one that is just as dangerous to its wielder as to the target. It is also very good at warming up those who find themselves trekking through colder climate, partly because it does produce a burning sensation in the throat and stomach when ingested, but also because it has never been known to freeze.
Item type
Consumable, Food / Drink
Rarity
Hag’s Breath is an uncommon sight in bars, taverns, public houses and any other establishment that sells alcohol across Kelbonnar. This is because it is only manufactured in the area of the Jem’Hal Desert in Bar-Sunar Province. Despite this, reasonably large quantities of Hag’s Breath are exported elsewhere in the Empire of Turelion, mostly to places that are not able to grow enough excess grain, barley or other fruit or vegetable crops to brew or distil alcohol from. This means that Hag’s Breath is much more commonly found in the Imperial Colonies, or in more isolated settlements where its advantages of being sold in small measures and getting people drunk quickly make it an appealing import. These qualities also make it popular amongst Ship’s Captains who often bring a stock of Hag’s Breath on board to use as the liquor ration for their sailors.
Raw materials & Components
The spirit is made by collecting large quantities of the tough spiny grasses that grow all over the arid expanse of the Jem’Hal Desert, which are then beaten with wooden mallets to bruise and help release the juices inside the strands of vegetation. The beaten strands are then stuffed into barrels which are topped up with water, sealed and then left outside alternately to bake and then chill in the desert days and nights. After four weeks, the barrels are opened, their contents bottled and the Hag’s Breath is ready to drink for anyone brave enough to try.
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