Keoish Brandy

Overview

Keoish Brandy has long been recognised as the premier brandy in the Flanaess, certainly among humans.

Its most famous blends are produced in the small town of Serpensbrugge in the Royal County of Rivermeet, about two hundred miles north of Gradsul on the banks of the Sheldomar. Here it is made in three varieties, as indicated by the colour of the distinctive serpentine bottles, which are either brown, green or blue.

Brown denotes the commonest brandy, although even this equals if not surpasses the majority of brandies produced elsewhere in the western Flanaess, certainly that made by humans. Aged for 12 years in oak casks, its subtle amber colour and smooth flavour has brought pleasure to many over the centuries.

Green is the superior version; stronger and purer. It is more expensive and correspondingly rarer. Aged for 15 years in Roanwood casks, it is darker in colour than it's Brown cousin, with a subtle flavour which marks it as a brandy of distinction.

Blue is generally recognised as being the supreme brandy, even by demi-humans, albeit grudgingly at times. Aged for a reputed 25 years in Bronzewood casks, it is deep brown in colour.

Over the years, the Bronzewood adds subtly to the flavour and acts as a filter, drawing out the few remaining impurities, leaving a taste of such clarity that normally eloquent ambassadors have been know to be lost for words, and lesser mortals reduced almost to tears, just trying to convey the taste. The Blue is never officially exported from the Kingdom, and border officials take a dim view of more than 2 bottles being taken out of the county.

Even within Keoland, Blue is only available from certain suppliers, inns and taverns which have royal approval.

A Brief History

In the early years of the Kingdom, a small brandy distillery was established in the town of Serpensbrugge in the southern part of the Sheldomar Valley.

Nurtured by the Sheldomar and its numerous tributaries, the area was already well established as a wine producing region. After several years, the distillery began to gain a reputation for its fine brandies in the valley, and increasingly the rest of Keoland.

It began to expand accordingly, and around the year CY 1 introduced the stronger, smoother Green, which was greatly favoured by King Lammeras the Half-Olven. Within three years the Serpensbrugge Distillery were given their appointment as Purveyors of Fine Brandies to the King, and it was also at this time that the distinctive serpentine bottles were first produced by a local company.

Introduced in CY 350 as a celebration of Keoland at the height of its expansionist phase, the Blue was an instant success, taken to their bosom by royalty and nobles alike as the embodiment of all that was well with the nation at that time. The distillery was given a royal charter to produce the Blue on behalf of the King (and nobody else), and the symbol of Keoland, the black lion, rampant, was worked into the design of the bottle as an amulet around the serpent's neck.

Whilst not available for export outside of the Kingdom, the Blue was often used as a gift for ambassadors and visiting dignitaries from foreign lands, ensuring its fame and reputation, even as far as the Great Kingdom, to which 30 crates were despatched in CY 404. The purpose behind despatching such a large number is a mystery, as is their fate; they are believed to have never arrived. Speculation concerning their whereabouts, including their being hidden somewhere deep beneath Greyhawk, has enlivened many an evenings drinking over the centuries.

Following the spectacular success of the Blue, the head distiller was forced by royal pressure to open the distillery for guided tours for certain sage and august personages, including said ambassadors, royalty and dignitaries. In CY 355, King Tavish I signalled his favour by attending the first tour. Visitors were given a brief (and many complained overly vague) history of the distillery, and then taken on the tour itself. No weapons, armour, scrolls magical items, bottles, or suchlike items, are allowed onto the premises. Anybody in possession of such are asked to either leave them at the Gatehouse, or are turned away. Following the tour there was the opportunity to sample the Green (generously), and the visit traditionally concluded with a Blue toast to King and Kingdom.

In CY 523, a distillery opened in neighbouring Principality of Ulek, and was soon producing fine quality brandy. Investigation by Royally commisioned spies showed that two of the founders had been on a distillery tour several years earlier. It is not known how they may have gathered information from the distillery, and no action could be taken without creating a major diplomatic incident during an already tense time. Instead, from that date, tours were restricted to Keolanders, and sampling now takes place before the tour, the subsequent intoxication being a severe obstacle to spell casting, or other similar activities.

The Royal Serpensbrugge Distillery

From its humble beginnings, expansion over the centuries has made the distillery the main employer in the town, and employees and inhabitants alike take great pride in their famous product. The bottling company was incorporated into the brewery about a century ago, although is still retains separate premises a mile or so away.

The town is generally well off economically; there are few hardships and a good standard of living is enjoyed by most inhabitants. The wealth of the town itself is augmented by the stocks of brandy held within the distillery. In addition to the brandy maturing at any one time, there are rumoured to several hundred casks in deep underground reserves.

Over time, the tours have developed into a regular part of distillery life. Attendance is by invitation only, and there is reputedly a waiting list of several years.

A fine tavern, The Serpent's Crown, was established to accommodate the visiting dignitaries and this flourishes as a result of the steady stream of visitors. The occasional visits by the King and his entourage are treated as public holidays by the townsfolk. For obvious reasons, little is known of distillery practices, and the staff, in some cases are third or fourth generation employees, who all live on the premises, are sworn to secrecy.

The head of the distillery is a particularly secretive figure. Known only by his title of Head Distiller, his true name is not known even by his close associates. It is generally held that the original founder was a magic user or cleric who had tired of adventuring, or possibly needed to go into hiding following a particularly dangerous escapade. Most believe the distillery is still run by their descendants, although even that cannot be verified.

While none doubt the quality of the distillers, their stills, or the ingredients they use, many have questioned over the years if it is possible to produce such brandy by natural means alone. Rumours have come and gone over the centuries of divine intervention, or the use of powerful, hitherto unheard of, magic. Numerous attempts to discover the distilleries' secrets are known to have been made, and adventurers have been lured to Serpensbrugge by the prospect of wealth beyond even a well stocked dungeon. It is believed that few (if any) have ever succeeded.

Security is heavy, with many ex-regulars from the King's Roayl Guardsmen being employed. All known attempts at the use of scrying magic have been defeated by an impenetrable ward which has so far foiled even the most powerful of mages.

Largely untouched by the recent wars, the distillery has continued as the foremost producer of brandy in the Flanaess. During the incursion of savages from the Amedio Jungle into Dreadwood towards the end of the war, the King sent a squadron of light cavalry to ensure the security of Serpensbrugge.

The brandy is appreciated as much as ever at home, and has become even more sought after in other countries as their own local facilities and vineyards have been decimated by the long years of war. Prices are spiralling ever upward.

The Future of Keoish Brandy

As has already been noted, despite the finest efforts of magical scrying, spies, and adventurers, the distillery has kept its many secrets to this day. However, by accident, a possible insight has been gained recently into its future plans.

A messenger was recently intercepted and killed by a party of Brigands as he travelled north up the Sheldomar towards Jurnre. The purpose of his journey was unknown at the time, but shocked by such an act in a generally peaceful area, a search was mounted, and the brigands were soon hunted down by a contingent of cavalry led by one of the King's Mareschals.

At least some of the messenger's belongings recovered, including a requisition, for delivery to a Gnome merchant in Jurnre, and almost a thousand gold pieces worth of gems, presumably a down payment.

The document requested delivery of several tons of a mineral called Cuprite of a specific purity before the onset of winter, and was sealed with the distinctive emblem of the Serpensbrugge distillery. Arrangements were made for the message to be delivered to its intended destination, but the Mareschal, worried that the mineral might by a spell component, reported the large volume to his superiors.

After scrutiny by various sages and alchemists, they reported that the mineral was the natural form of Cuprous Oxide, used as a pigment to colour a variety of objects a deep red, but primarily ceramics and glass. It is known to be present in significant quantities in the foothills of the Lortmils in the County of Ulek. It did not take long for somebody to put two and two together, and within a short while rumours were flying around southern Keoland and the Ulek states about the introduction of a new 'Red' brandy.

These rumours have caused much consternation in Keoland, and the number of visitors to Serpensbrugge, particularly from Niole Dra, has increased noticeably. Whether they bring or seek information is not known, but their presence fans the rumours even further.

For their part, the townsfolk are happy to wait and watch developments. The thought of yet another brandy bringing in even further revenue and prestige to their town would be welcome indeed and, particularly given the recent war, many see it as heralding better times to come.

What better way to usher in a new age than with a new brandy?

So far, the distillery has neither moved to confirm, nor deny, the rumours. The merchant in Jurnre has been unavailable for comment.

LEAKEK