Alcohols (Middle Earth)

To begin (appropriately) with Dorwinion. This land, the name of which may mean either 'land of the young' or 'land of wines' (guess which I prefer), is north of the sea of Rhûn, probably in a location approximating to Hungary - which might fit, since top-quality Tokaji is of a strength that might be described as 'heady'; over-indulgence is likely to render the drinker (colloquially speaking) legless.

Miruvor is a matter of much speculation. Judging from the effect, I should suspect something distilled, like high-grade grappa, or 56° vodka - only nicer.

Beer of course comes in different varieties. Nowadays it's hard to get porter outside Ireland, though its big brother, stout, is well-known,especially when it come from Guinness, which I don't think had a branche in Bree.

Wine was certainly widely grown, for example in the Southfarthing (I imagine a strongish red, e.g. Beaujolais, or Spätburgunder), but also different varieties of white. Did they have Jurançon? If only ...

Of course rum is excluded, since it comes fro the New World ... unless – miruvor

 

Hehe when thinking about Dorwinion it brings in mind Moldova and it's ,,fountain of wine" at Mileştii Mici near Chişinău (I don't know why, it's just my association , also I always picture it as land possibly inhabited by elves and some men of Edain descent (maybe Avari clans and it might be possible that Dorwinion was once under influence of Gondor when it's borders reached Sea of Rhun, after all in The Hobbit we are told that wood elves of Mirkwood traded with ,,their kin" and men from far lands so I assume that population of Dorwinion is partly of firstborn and humans, it would be likely that elves were the first to cultivate grapes and it would even explain mentions of the wine from this land on the feasts in Menegroth, in one of the lays of beleriand if I'm not mistaken) Yes I forgot about wineyards in Shire in South Farthing (the Old Wineyards specifically, Rory Brandybuck get some bottles hehe), there might be standard in wine kinds: red, white and rose, Gondor as it is land of mediterranean-like climate presumably also has some good wines (and this red cheese, there was a thread about that hehe I mentioned in my opinion that it might be local product from Lebennin or Lamedon Also whole idea of wine-land reminds me certain fantasy book I read, part of the witcher saga by Andrzej Sapkowski polish author, which takes place in a dark, low fantasy world, there is also land producing wines in which heroes stay for a while the wines are even given names in invented by author elvish tongue anyway I also remembered that miruvor is apparently a clear liquid but has no strong taste as alcohol would have, it appears that it might be something totally unique

 

Beer is probably the most common alcohol featured in the LOTR series. I don't seem to remember too many characters getting drunk from it though, maybe that would cranked the rating up?

 

Most of the alcohol in the land of men appears to be described as wine or 'powerful draughts' which is a catch all term for strong liquor I guess. Hobbits just seem to be happy with their beer/ale.

 

Mostly seems to ale and wine depending where you are. I would imagine the elves would be the people to go too if you wanted a good cocktail though! ​

 

Yeah, sometimes alcohol usage does mess with the rating, it just depends how much and what comes from it. Wine and beer - of course if I was in the game I would be all about the beer!

 

You people might just have a bit too much time in your hands...

 

Mead (or beer) is the only drink that I know of discussed in any of the stories. There probably was wine in there as well but I missed it lol.

 

I also noticed a total lack of strong alcohol mentioned both in the movies and the books. Weird.