nobodysuspectsthebutterfly:

joannalannister:

I wanted to make a list for myself of some of the various types of alcohol in ASOIAF (ABV = alcohol by volume, as measured in RL, which may not be indicative of the fantasy equivalents)

• beer (2%-12% ABV)
• mead (8%-16% ABV)
• wine (9%-16% ABV)
• strongwine / fortified wine (15% – 20% ABV)
• spiced liqueur from Qarth, served in tall fluted glasses (15%-55% ABV)
• brandy from Tyrosh (35%-60% ABV)
• rum from the Summer Isles (37.5%-80% ABV)
• (assuming absinthe is similar to) Shade of the Evening (45% – 90% ABV)

Other things in the category of “Just fuck me up”

• myrish firewine – this person suggested it might be something like tequila with peppers, if so (30% – 60% ABV)
• milk of the poppy / opiate / morphine
• dreamwine – wine with sweet sleep (narcotic sedative)

I think dreamwine is wine + milk of the poppy – it requires sweetening
with honey to taste good, which wouldn’t be the case with sweetsleep.
Also people are given cups of it night after night, which also wouldn’t be the case with
sweetsleep. I believe it’s GRRM’s equivalent of laudanum, opium dissolved in alcohol, which is very bitter.

Shade of the evening is much more hallucinogenic than absinthe ever was. I don’t think there’s any alcohol in it at all, it’s not said to be distilled. It may be based on salvia divinorum, or maybe the legendary soma. Though if it is based on salvia, it might be a tincture (which can increase the hallucinogenic effects), in which case there might be alcohol in it… but the ABV strength would be irrelevant to the effects of the plant itself.

More drugs and alcohol if you need them. (Um, not if you need them. If you need them for writing. You know what I mean.)