In The Beast Curse, Juliet and Oakmoor talk about the difference between Varkhoran and Calatinian sparkling wine when drinking her favorite spiritpunch, so I figured I should describe the real-world equivalents for the various types of alcohol in Damensea.

Sparkling Wines

Sparkling wine is the most common alcoholic drink in my books. The sparkling wine of Calatini (typically just called sparkling wine) is proper French champagne, possessing a drier, delicate flavor with fine, persistent bubbles. Whereas the sparkling wine of Varkhora is prosecco (since Varkhora is inspired by Italy), possessing a fruitier, slightly sweeter flavor with lighter, frothy bubbles. Finally, although neither have appeared in my books yet, the sparkling wine of Grasea is cava, which is more tart, while the sparkling wine of Rasian is sekt, which is sweet with a zing and less alcohol content.

Doublewines

Although they’ve mostly featured in the various recipes from my books, doublewines are various types of fortified wine. Calatinian doublewine (typically called doublewine without an adjective) is sherry. Varkhoran doublewine is marsala. Sweet or dessert doublewine is port. Heated doublewine is madiera. Infused doublewine is vermouth. Except for the first two, the names for doublewines come from the characteristics of that type of fortified wine. Calatinian doublewine is sherry because it’s used more in my recipes, while Varkhoran doublewine is marsala because it’s Italian.

Spirits

Spirits (or distilled alcohols) occasionally appear in my books, especially spiritwine, which is brandy. Spiritale is whiskey, while cinnaspiritale is fireball. Spiritcane is rum. Spiritjuniper is gin. Spiritmead is distilled mead. Spiritwater is vodka. The names for spirits typically come from the what alcohol they’re distilled from or some other unique characteristic of that spirit.

Cocktails, Liqueurs, Mixers

In my books, spiritpunches are cocktails. Although drinking cocktails as we know them started in the Victorian era rather than the Regency, drinking spiritpunches was fun way for the sophisticated Juliet and Oakmoor to bond. Only one liqueur has appeared in my books so far—orenge amaro, which is aperol and is used in Juliet’s favorite spiritpunch, orenge spriss (or aperol spritz.) The main mixer in my books is sparkling gingyr, or ginger beer, and is Oakmoor’s favorite drink since he loves anything with gingyr.