"Well then... now that you've seen the workshop, shall we move on to the tasting?"
After touring the liquor workshop, Rest was led to another building.
He took a seat as Celestine urged him, and a villager came carrying a tray with bottles and glasses.
"These are the distilled spirits produced with this equipment. We've made several varieties by changing the base fermented wine."
"I don't know much about liquor, but are they really that different?"
"Incredibly so."
Celestine asserted without hesitation.
"Just by changing the wine, the flavor and richness turn out completely different. Distilling spirits seems quite profound."
"Is that so..."
"Yes. I can't let my wine‑loving father taste it for a while. He might abandon his other work and immerse himself in spirit making."
"So His Excellency the Prime Minister has his human side too..."
He had arbitrarily imagined him as a rigid workaholic, but having a weakness for alcohol was surprisingly ordinary.
Celestine's enthusiasm for distilling might also be influenced by her father.
"Now then, please try them one by one."
"Oh?"
Several different liquors were poured into separate glasses.
The pungent, sharp smell of alcohol filled the room.
"This looks like strong liquor..."
Rest didn't have much knowledge about alcohol, but even so, he had at least drunk wine since his reincarnation. By the way... this country had no age restrictions for drinking.
Rest picked up the amber liquid on his right and slowly brought it to his lips.
"Ugh...!"
"That one is made from ale. It has a smoky, heavy flavor. I believe you'll find it has a faint nuttiness to it."
"Ri...Right..."
He had absolutely no idea.
Just one sip felt like a blow to the head. He had no capacity left to analyze the taste or smell.
Grain-based distilled liquor like whiskey or vodka were common in the world of his past life.
Of course, just because they were famous didn't mean Rest had ever drunk any.
"Next, this one is made from grapes."
"Ooh..."
The liquor was slightly redder than the previous one.
The aroma was fruity and made it seem easy to drink... but just like before, a powerful hit of alcohol scored a direct hit the moment it touched his tongue.
Fruit-based distilled liquor is called brandy, and it isn't only made from grapes; there are also varieties made from apples and cherries.
"Instead of drinking it right away, warming it with the heat of your hand will enhance the flavor. Please, by all means, give it a try."
"............Right."
"Drinks like ale are better chilled for a smoother finish, but I've found this liquor tastes best at room temperature."
Celestine also tilted her glass and drank.
With an elegant motion, she finished the alcohol... her cheeks slightly flushed, she let out a sigh.
(C-Celestine... could she actually be a ridiculously heavy drinker...?)
He'd heard that her father was a lover of liquor, but perhaps the daughter was the same way?
Rest was already feeling dizzy after just a sip or two, but Celestine remained completely unfazed, her cheeks only slightly flushed.
By the way, whisky and brandy typically have an alcohol content of around forty percent. These experimental liquors were slightly lower, but still nearly three times as strong as wine.
"And this is the last one."
"This one... its color is lighter than the others. It's clear, isn't it?"
Even while drunk from the alcohol, Rest took the last glass.
Without really thinking... with his dulled senses, he brought the glass to his lips.
"Gah!"
And... he felt like he was about to spew fire from his mouth.
"Raaaaah!?"
"Ah, I knew it would be hard to drink. My apologies."
"Th-this, this is...!?"
As he gulped down the water Celestine handed him, Rest shouted in confusion.
What on earth had he been given to drink? He thought his throat might burn away.
"This is distilled from the potato liquor the villagers drink. I distilled it repeatedly on an experimental basis. Most attempts failed, but miraculously, I got this one bottle."
Celestine brought the incredibly strong liquor to her lips and slightly furrowed her brows.
"Drinking it straight is reckless. It's not drinkable without diluting it with water."
"D-don't give me that...!"
Spirytus is a Polish product. It's alcohol made from grains or potatoes, distilled repeatedly to an alcohol content of ninety-six percent.
The liquor Rest had just drunk was incredibly close to that. Most of its composition was ethanol, and drinking it straight could burn one's throat.
"It takes effort and time, and stable production is impossible. On top of that, it's highly flammable and poses a fire risk... This can't be sold."
Phew...
Casting a sidelong glance at Rest, who was stunned by the alcohol, Celestine shook her head with a troubled expression.