Chapter 117: The Distiller and Blueberry Wine

The Maester's Tower at Winterfell and the several courtyards surrounding it had practically become Winterfell's "scientific research base."

The unkempt and slovenly Maester Farmer would go to the manors and mountains around Winterfell every day to collect specimens of plants and minerals, bringing them back to Winterfell for study.

Maester Luwin would hold a bronze Myr lens every night and early morning to observe the stars.

The courtyard of the Alchemist Ginter was always filled with thick smoke, emitting the smell of sulfur and saltpeter; recently, he had been collaborating with the Glassmaster Ortega to improve glass and complete a secret mission assigned to him by Eddard.

Maester Norman, the "Old Man," would lock his door every day to concoct cold medicine according to the prescription provided by Duke Eddard.

Maester Doster, who was obsessed with mysticism and Magic, spent every day with Old Nan, listening to her tell stories of the Night King, the Long Night, and the wights; he wrote furiously, recording everything about the wights, the Night King, and the dead.

The Assistant Maester and the apprentices also lived happily in Winterfell; Robb, Jon, Theon, and Domeric often took the apprentices to soak in the hot springs in the Godswood and trained with them on the training grounds.

Lareza, who had dark skin and Dornish blood, became a star on the training grounds; his archery skills were superb, not at all inferior to Theon or Domeric.

On this day, Eddard and Maester Luwin arrived at the courtyard of the Alchemist Ginter, where the air was filled with a pungent odor.

Maester Luwin covered his nose with his sleeve and said with disgust, "Lord Eddard, Ginter isn't researching Wildfire in this courtyard, is he? Wildfire is the excrement of alchemists and is very dangerous. If Ginter is allowed to produce Wildfire here, perhaps one day, Winterfell will be destroyed in the emerald-green flames of Wildfire!"

"Lord Eddard, those who play with fire will eventually burn themselves."

Facing Maester Luwin's warning, Eddard said, "Rest assured, Ginter is not researching Wildfire; he is doing something else."

Eddard and Maester Luwin pushed open the door, and a wave of heat rushed toward them.

Ginter's clothes were tattered, and his blonde hair was a mess. After arriving at Winterfell, Eddard had rewarded Ginter with some clothes and coins, but the alchemist seemed not to care much about his personal image; he was devoted to research and invention every day.

"Lord Eddard, the distiller is finished!" Ginter bowed and scraped as he introduced the device before them to Eddard and Maester Luwin.

Maester Luwin widened his eyes, examining the miraculous device before him, "A distiller?"

The base of the distiller was a stove built of bricks, with flames burning inside, and a large pot above the flames was boiling. Above the large pot was a steaming barrel, and to the right of the steaming barrel was a condenser; the condenser and the steaming barrel were connected by a pipe.

Inside the condenser was a winding condensing coil, and the area around the condensing coil was filled with cold water.

At the back of the condenser was a water outlet, and the distilled wine would drip into the wine barrel below.

Eddard patted the steaming barrel with his hand, "Inside the steaming barrel is Blueberry Wine. After the Blueberry Wine evaporates, it passes through the pipe into the condenser, goes through the condensing coil, and completes the distillation. The wine after distillation has a higher alcohol content."

Ginter rubbed his hands, "Lord Eddard drew the blueprints for me, allowing me to complete this distiller; this is truly a great invention! I tasted this delicious brew, and I have never drunk such high-proof wine."

Maester Luwin picked up a wine glass, took a sip, and found the aftertaste lingering, "Lord Eddard, this Blueberry Wine is truly delicious. With this distiller, Winterfell's brewing technology can lead all of Westeros."

The North has a cold climate, especially during the long winters that last for several years, and the residents of the North need strong spirits to keep warm. Even in the warmer southern regions, many nobles and wealthy merchants have a preference for strong spirits.

Eddard's good brother, King Robert Baratheon in King's Landing, was a drunkard; wine was indispensable to alcohol-loving nobles, patrons of brothels, prostitutes, Knights, Septas, and even gamblers, villains, peddlers, and commoners.

Eddard believed that once Winterfell mastered distillation technology, Winterfell's high-proof wine products could sell well throughout Westeros, bringing rolling wealth to Winterfell.

With the distiller in the future, Eddard was determined to focus on developing Blueberry Wine. Wild blueberries in the North were distributed throughout the region, with those from the Lonely Mountain, the Northern Mountains, and Skagos being of the best quality. The Rockborn on Skagos even named the local wild blueberries "Blue Nobles."

Although the southern regions of Westeros also produced blueberries, the taste of southern blueberries was far inferior to those of the North.

"If the people of the Reach, Dorne, Tyrosh, and King's Landing can taste the high-quality Blueberry Wine of the North, I believe they will be willing to pay for it. Perhaps one day, our Northern Blueberry Wine can be as famous as Dornish Red or even the Golden Wine of the Arbor."

Maester Luwin smiled, "Lord Eddard, high-quality Blueberry Wine is indeed delicious, mellow, and rich; however, Blueberry Wine is not something the poor can afford. The residents of the North still prefer ale and mead."

Eddard nodded, "In the future, Blueberry Wine will be for export, while ale, mead, and the like will be supplied to the residents of the North and stored in cellars. When the long winter descends, the people of the North can use the wine to warm their bodies, sit by the fire, drink, and laugh about the winter and the blizzards!"

The brewery in Winterfell was brewing every day, and the wine in the Winterfell cellars was increasing every day, but this was far from enough. Eddard hoped that in the future, not only could Winterfell store large quantities of wine, but barrels of wine could also be stacked at the Night's Watch's Green Guard, Westbridge, and the Nightfort.

In this way, the brothers of the Night's Watch and the soldiers of Winterfell could all drink delicious wine.

That evening, Eddard gathered his family; Catelyn and the children sat on one side, while Lady Barbrey, Helen Pyke, the sharpshooter Fellan, Syrio, the Woodcarver Guzan, the Glassmaster Ortega, and others sat on the other side.

"Tonight, let us taste the Blueberry Wine of Winterfell together."

Lady Barbrey chuckled, "Lord Eddard, I thought it was some precious treasure. Outsiders might drink little Blueberry Wine, but I drink it often!" Recently, Lady Barbrey had been drinking with the sharpshooter Fellan every day.

"Lady Barbrey, this is high-proof Blueberry Wine; you certainly haven't drunk this before!" Eddard beckoned to the guard Dawson standing to the side.

The guard Dawson turned and left; before long, he returned to the dining table with several personal soldiers, carrying a few barrels of high-proof Blueberry Wine.

The wine barrels were opened, and the aroma of wine filled the air; every adult's glass was filled with Blueberry Wine. As for Eddard's children—Robb, Jon, Sansa, Arya, and Bran—they were only allowed to drink half a small glass.

(End of chapter)