"All right, all right. Lenn worked so hard to bring this back, so let's have a taste. Come to think of it, Arthur recommended this to me too." Owen clapped his hands and summoned Maggie, asking the House-elf to bring over some clear glass goblets and ice from the kitchen.
Maggie controlled the wooden cask with her fingers, opened the tap, and began filling everyone's cups. As the amber liquid flowed into the glasses, a rich plum aroma mixed with the scent of alcohol immediately drifted out.
"Slivovitz? Is that the brand or the name of the liquor?" Daisy twitched her nose and sniffed, then looked at the fruit pattern printed on the label. "Made from damsons?"
"Any fruit with sugar in it can be fermented into alcohol, so pears, peaches, strawberries, cherries, and the like are all common ingredients. Because of the weather, Northern European countries can't grow grapes at all, but they're naturally fond of strong liquor to ward off the cold, so brandy is quite common in those countries." Because of his job, Albert often went for a drink with his colleagues after work, so he was rather knowledgeable about alcohol.
"Speaking of which, the name brandy does have some connection to the country Lenn was just in... Ah, thank you, Maggie. Later, make some for yourself and Kreacher to taste too." Josephine accepted the wine the House-elf handed her and paused. "Its name comes from the Dutch for 'burnt wine,' Brande wijn. After it came to Britain, because the name was too long and hard to pronounce, it was shortened to brandy."
Morgan le Fay had not yet recovered from her earlier discomfort. After sitting back down on the sofa, she waved the House-elf away.
"Maggie, please just pour me a mouthful." Thinking that he still