Jenwer

Jenwer is an alcoholic spirit which originates in, and is one of the most distinctive exports of, Hendalarsk. Chiefly produced by monasteries before the modern epoch because of its reputed medicinal properties - hence its Latin name, aqua vitae - the drink's commercial fortunes blossomed from the fifteenth century onwards as a consequence of the newfound prosperity of many urban Hendalarskaren. The country's political unification in the time of Archking Maximilian II further aided the drink's rise, giving it greater scope to expand beyond its heartland in the Werdach valley.

Consumption

While it is possible to drink jenwer neat or "auf den Bergen" (over ice), few consumers do so, finding the taste imparted by the namesake berries too sharp. The most popular accompaniments in Hendalarsk are ginger ale and ginger beer, as the warming spice of the ginger interacts favourably with the jenwer's own sharpness (itself diluted by the additional liquid). This concoction, known popularly as Teufelswasser (Devil's Water) because of the aforementioned heat, is by far the most popular cocktail in Hendalarsk, although a recent resurgence of popular interest in cocktails has also seen renewed prominence for cocktails such as the citrussy Jenwersauer (Jenwer Sour) and the Gartenmochit (Garden Mojito). Less experienced drinkers, especially students, are often found mixing jenwer with fruit juice.

Outside Hendalarsk, Teufelswasser enjoys a favourable critical reputation. Particularly in more equatorial latitudes, however, the predominant tendency is to mix jenwer with tonic water to produce a "Jenwerton"; a crucial factor in the drink's popularity is that the quinine in tonic water confers some resistance to malaria, protection not offered by ginger beer or other mixers.

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  The jenwer berries that form the basis of the spirit's flavour
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  "Jenwerstraße", a satirical engraving by 18th-century artist Martin Wikkenorst
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  A bottle of Machandel, an artisanal jenwer brand from Wrangwurt-am-Fertach