When we made these recipes, we hoped they would be used by Dungeons & Dragons players in social settings, perhaps even at the gaming table. All recipes are therefore designed to serve at least two people, and many of the drinks are punches—or rather, puncheons—that are perfect for sharing with an entire adventuring party.
Puncheons & Flagons is divided into ten chapters, and each chapter corresponds to one establishment in Faerûn and one base spirit or category of drinks. The first six chapters cover gin, whiskey, vodka, rum, tequila, and brandy. The subsequent chapters cover less ubiquitous spirits; wine-based drinks; beer, cider, and mead-based drinks; and alcohol-free drinks. Each chapter also includes a recipe for a shareable snack, something sweet or savory that pairs well with the drinks in that chapter and the atmosphere of that establishment.
Several of the recipes in this book require advance preparation and a little time in the kitchen, so always be sure to read the recipe from start to finish to see if you need to prepare a flavored syrup or make a miso-washed rum!
Incorporating Drinks into Your Campaign
The drinks in this book are packed with character and offer a few idiosyncratic flavors—all the better to support your campaigns and enrich your settings!
When putting together a campaign, consider whether there are drinks in this book that might enhance the players' experience. Perhaps the party is visiting one of the bars or towns mentioned in these pages, or perhaps they're encountering a culture or community that's strongly associated with one of these drinks. They may even encounter some of the characters we've referenced.
If the adventurers are encountering sea elves, a round of briny Seafoam cocktails garnished with nori may be enriching. If the characters are investigating a mystery at the Pink Flumph, offer them a Fol-de-rol, and if they're venturing into Evereska, offer them a Moonrise! If the characters are fighting a necromancer, serve them a Necromancer! Keep in mind that while many of these drinks have their roots in specific communities or character classes, none of the drinks are exclusively enjoyed by just those communities!
The stories shared in this book may even inspire your adventures, and the drinks tied to those stories may come into play. Perhaps drinks that don't have magic properties in our world actually do have magic properties in the characters' world!
A Note on Responsible Drinking
Drinking is meant to be a pleasurable experience for you and for everyone around you. Please know your limits, exercise moderation, and listen to your friends when they suggest you slow down! Remember that mutual respect is a vital part of every adventuring party, and no one should ever feel pressured to drink if they choose not to.
This book includes nonalcoholic drinks for those who do not drink or for those who choose not to drink, whether forever, for a month, for a night, or for a round.
Don't drink and delve. (But do drink and roleplay as a dungeon delver.)