Jenwer

Jenwer is an alcoholic spirit which originates in, and is one of the most distinctive exports of, Anglei. 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 1880s further aided the drink's rise, giving it greater scope to expand beyond its heartland.

Consumption

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

Outside Hendalarsk, Devil's Water 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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  "Jenwer Avenue", a satirical engraving by 18th-century artist Martin Wittenor