Infusions

Writers: Arale
Date Posted: 9th June 2012

Characters: Arzel
Description: Arzel examines his infusions and makes plans for the future.
Location: Vintner Hall
Date: month 8, day 1 of Turn 6

Arzel unlocked the small storage room he was allotted and stepped in,
closing the door behind him. Once inside, he uncovered the glow he
carried and began examining the shelves. Each one was lined with jars
which were each filled with various spirits as well as flavoring
ingredients.

Creating infusions was not particularly difficult, but creating good
ones was what counted. Part of his reputation for fine liquors came
from his ability to produce unique and flavorful infusions. He knew
what tasted good and what didn't and he wasn't afraid to try something
new. Right now, he was working on herbal infusions. Most of these jars
weren't going to produce a usable - to his standards at least - liquor
but a few of them would be magnificent.

He had detailed notes for each jar to know exactly what went in it,
from the details on the spirit itself - when it was distilled, who did
it, the ingredients used and so on, to the flavors. Where each herb
came from, how many, prepared what way. Even how many times each jar
had been shaken, how long it had been infusing and what the taste was
each time it was tested. Every detail meticulously recorded so that a
jar could be recreated if it turned out to be one of the winners.

Arzel made his way to the back set of shelves, where the jars that
should be finished or would be very soon sat.

He set the glow down and picked up the first jar. It was a rectified
grain spirit. By itself, it had no discernible flavor, color or even
smell. But he'd added cinnamon to it. Holding the jar aloft a bit, he
peered into the lightly tinted liquid at the curls of bark within and
then gave the jar a good shake. When the sticks of cinnamon had
finished swirling about, he opened the jar and took a tiny sip.

It wasn't quite ready yet, but getting close. He marked down the date
and result and moved on to the next jar. This one had the same
spirits, but instead of cinnamon, it had mint. After that jar, he
moved on to the one being infused with a blend of two different kinds
of mint. Then one with garlic. Another had ging. Another had a mix of
rosemary and thymus. None of them were ready yet, but they were all so
close, he would come back tomorrow instead of the next day as he
normally would. Being able to judge when the infusion was just right
was the most important part, and these were right on the cusp.

He took a moment to give the other jars in the room a firm shake,
though none of them were even ready enough to begin tasting yet. He
had high hopes for some of these herbal blends. They were turning out
very well and he thought he might be able to get a decent supply of
the liquor ready before the next Gather. After he paid for the herbs
and the raw spirits, and of course the percentage tithed to the Hall,
he'd still make a decent profit. Though, not as much of one as with
the berry blends that he worked with during the summer months. Sweet,
fruity liquors were much more popular than spicy ones and he could
charge more due to the berries and fruits only being available during
certain times of the turn. Unlike the herbs which could be used dried,
berries were best used fresh for infusions. With a few exceptions. He
had a prune infusion which was actually quite popular.

His work with the infusions finished, Arzel locked the little storage
room back up and mentally composed an order for bottles from the
Hall's glass stores. He was going to need several of them. The mint
blend was a going to be a keeper for sure. He had enough jars to make
several liters of that and would need enough bottles to put it in for
sale after it was finished. He was going to need more mint too though.
And that, he wasn't getting at the Hall.

"Fizz," he called when he reached his quarters. The little blue
firelizard popped out from under the bed. And what in the world was he
doing under there anyway? A dizzying kaleidoscope of images bombarded
Arzel in reply to the unspoken question. Well used to this sort of
thing, the journeyman was able to piece together that his little
friend had been taking a nap. Or hunting trundlebugs. He really hoped
it was the nap, honestly.

"I'm going to have a job for you," he informed Fizz with a grin at the
pleased sounding chirruping the blue answered with. Fizz was a good
messenger, and he enjoyed being sent on errands. Especially to places
where there might be youngsters about.

Arzel wrote a quick letter to a friend of his whose cothold included a
hothouse. The man grew fresh herbs even in the depths of winter there
and the journeyman knew he could get a good supply of mint from him.
The question was, for what price. The note was soon rolled up tightly
and inserted into a message tube which was strapped to Fizz, who held
perfectly still while the contraption was tied on.

"Now don't you stop along the way, but you can play while you wait for
a reply if you want." He often spoke to Fizz like the little blue
could understand the full meaning of his words. He credited that with
the blue's relatively calm disposition. "Off with you now," he added,
picturing the recipient clearly in his mind. It was a trip Fizz had
made many times before so Arzel was confident of his message being
delivered with no problems.

When Fizz popped /between/, the journeyman got up to requisition some
bottles and maybe even a few more jars and then, to grab a meal.He'd
check on the brandies he had distilling next.

Last updated on the June 18th 2012

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Infusions