Radegast Distillery

Radegast Distillery is a human producer of whiskey located in Port Renatus on Mars in the Sol system. Founded as a bar in 2520 by the Wilkes family, Radegast became a common stopover point once word spread about the house whiskey produced in the back. Its popularity grew to the point that a full-size distillery was added in 2574.

Both the bar and the distillery were purchased from the Wilkes family by the Pan-Galactic Beverage Corporation (PGBC) in 2602. Radegast saw 300 years of galactic success before falling out of the public eye in the early 29th century. In 2920, the brand underwent a resurgence when a private investor bought and rebuilt the original bar in the style of the 26th century. Radegast is consistently ranked among the largest sellers of Martian whiskey in the UEE.

History

Dimitri and Danica Wilkes, the eldest children of a second-generation Mars-born family, opened Radegast Bar in 2520. The bar gained early popularity among the Port Renatus locals, winning Most Welcoming Bar/Restaurant in a 2532 edition of Mars Today. Dimitri used the storage room, and his regulars, to experiment with home-brewing. He tried several unsuccessful beer recipes and made an attempt at distilling gin before turning to whiskey. The recipe proved popular and raised the bar's profile further. The Wilkes siblings eventually retired on their profits and passed the bar down to their children.

In 2574, Danica's granddaughter added a permanent distillery to the family operation. Zara Wilkes' house whiskey, Radegast Gold, gained a wide reputation for its smoothness and clarity of flavor. Radegast Distilleries opened a second facility on Angeli, Croshaw, in 2585. The first untapped casks of Angeli whiskey were shipped to Port Renatus in 2598. The journey unexpectedly but pleasantly changed the whiskey's flavor, prompting the launch of Radegast Homeward. This limited release was stored in Angeli oak barrels, matured in zero-G, and then returned to Mars for its final aging.

The company's success drove the Pan-Galactic Beverage Corporation (PGBC) to make an offer to buy the Radegast name, whiskey, and bar in the late 26th century. The Wilkes family wanted to ensure that the label stayed under their control, so a formal sale was not finalized until 2602. With the added benefit of PGBC's production and distribution network, Radegast whiskey began to appear across the UEE.

Decline

The last member of the Wilkes family left the Radegast brand in 2754, citing personal differences with the leadership of PGBC. This ended 180 years of Wilkes-led distillation of Radegast whiskey, as well as PGBC's access to the Wilkes-owned water source on Mars, Perepllut's Well. PGBC retained the rights to the Radegast name and began selling a low-cost version of its Gold whiskey in 2766. Its first attempt at a new recipe, Radegast Neo, was poorly received.

In the early 2800s, PGBC came under fire after it was accused of diluting Radegast Gold and passing it off as full strength. The company denied the accusations. The scandal repeated throughout the 2810s and reached its climax in 2821, when evidence was published on Spectrum by independent investigator Willis Kemper. The Radegast brand was unable to maintain its reputation, and although the high-end limited editions were still considered top-quality whiskeys, sales fell sharply.

Revival

PGBC dissolved in 2918, and with it, its right to the Radegast name. A private investor purchased the brand and the building where the original bar once operated. Two years later, in 2920, the rebuilt Radegast bar reopened, restored to look as it did in the 26th century.

Descendants of the Wilkes family were hired to distill classic versions of the whiskey from the original recipes crafted by Dimitri and Zara. The new Radegast whiskeys grew in reputation, and the brand was reestablished. Master Distiller Hanshi Wilkes currently oversees all production.

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