The Understated Dragon Lord novel Chapter 285

Nathan was up to the challenge, confidently applying his expertise in response to Emily's doubt. "Vodka is distinct from other spirits; its scent is unique. I've been in the spirits business for decades, and vodka is what I deal with the most, it's what I know best. So I can tell from just the smell when the cap is opened – I don't need to see it, and I don't need to taste it!"

"You can tell from the smell that it's fifty-year-old vodka worth a million dollars a bottle?" Emily pressed with two pointed questions.

"I can't do that," Nathan admitted. "To identify whether it is fifty-year-old vodka, I need to observe its color and would be better off tasting a drop to accurately verify its authenticity."

Daniel had already poured the vodka. Usually, vodka appears clear, but those with some age – over ten years old – acquire a pale yellow color. Daniel’s vodka poured out a rich golden hue, resembling amber, and looked absolutely stunning. Beyond its impressive color, the aroma was also intoxicating, making people feel almost dizzy from just a whiff. The sensation was marvelous.

Upon seeing the vodka in the glass, Nathan's eyes lit up like a cat that had spotted a tiny fish, full of eager anticipation. He asked Daniel with a mix of excitement and anxiety, "May... may I smell it?"

"Sure," agreed Daniel.

Nathan leaned in greedily to savor the aroma, deeply inhaling the fragrant scent. “Is this truly fifty-year-old vodka?”