Distilled (2023) Board Game – Board Game Guys

Distilled is a board game released in 2023 by Paverson Games. Designed by Dave Beck and illustrated by Erik Evensen, this game falls under the categories of Card Game, Economic, and Industry/Manufacturing. With mechanics such as Hand Management, Income, Market, Push Your Luck, and Set Collection, Distilled offers a unique and engaging gameplay experience for 1-5 players.

Game Components of Distilled

Personal Distillery Boards: Each player has their own board.

Recipe Clipboards: Include signature recipes and additional recipes to be acquired.

Distillery Goals: Three goal cards per player, with two being relevant for end-game scoring.

Distiller Identities: Each with a unique, game-breaking asymmetric special ability and a home region (Asia, North America, or Europe).

Ingredients: Yeast, water, sugar, and other specific ingredients.

Barrels and Bottles: Basic metal barrels, wooden barrels, clay pots, and region-specific bottles.

Tasting Flight Cards: Six options that impact gameplay significantly.

Spirit Awards: Bonus points for achieving specific criteria during the game.

Market Board: For buying ingredients, upgrades, and items.

Flavor Cards: For aged spirits.

How To Setup Distilled

To set up *Distilled*, choose a tasting flight card that all players will use, and set up the shelf board with corresponding labels. Each player selects a color and takes their personal distillery board and recipe clipboard. They are dealt three distillery goals and two distiller identities, choosing one identity to keep. Players receive their signature recipe, signature ingredient, and starting resources based on their chosen identity. Fill the market board with the necessary items and ingredients, and ensure each player has a generic glass bottle and a basic metal barrel.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Market Phase: Players buy ingredients, items, new recipes, and distillery upgrades.

Distilling Phase: Players create a mash deck with yeast, water, and sugar, shuffle it, and remove the top and bottom cards to simulate removing the “heads” and “tails” of the brew.

Aging and Selling: Spirits can be sold immediately or aged in specific barrels or pots.

Spirit Awards: Players can claim bonuses for meeting specific criteria.

End-Game Scoring: Points are awarded for sold spirits, bottle collections, upgrades, and fulfilled goals.

Objective: The player with the highest reputation at the end of seven rounds is named the Master Distiller.

Player Experience

Playing *Distilled* feels like running a real distillery, where you build and manage your business, specialize in certain alcohols, and craft unique spirits. The game combines strategic planning with a bit of randomness and push-your-luck elements, making each playthrough unique. Players must manage resources, prioritize purchases, and make tactical decisions about which spirits to distill and age.

Pros

Thematic Depth: The game’s mechanics closely mirror real distilling processes.

Replayability: Multiple distiller identities, recipes, and tasting flight cards ensure high replay value.

Strategic Complexity: Combines engine-building, tableau-building, and press-your-luck mechanics.

Player Variety: Asymmetric abilities and different home regions for distillers add variety to gameplay.

Cons

Rule Complexity: The game has many rules and mechanics, which can be overwhelming for new players.

Randomness: The push-your-luck mechanic can lead to unpredictable outcomes.

Ingredient Limits: The arbitrary limit on basic ingredients can feel restrictive.

Personal Thoughts on Distilled

*Distilled* is ideal for players who enjoy thematic games with deep mechanics and strategic depth. If you have an interest in the fine art of distilling spirits or simply enjoy building and managing your own business within a game, *Distilled* is a great addition to your collection. The game’s unique blend of engine-building, tableau-building, and press-your-luck mechanics makes it engaging and challenging, suitable for players who appreciate a mix of strategy and randomness.

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