Porto Cruz is a real, long-established Portuguese port wine brand, produced in Porto since the 19th century. Sweet, strong (around 19–20% alcohol), and, unlike a great deal of what passed for imported liquor in early-1990s Russia, reliably genuine, it became one of the more recognizable imported drinks to reach Russian shelves and kiosks as trade opened up, prized less for any real sophistication than for the simple, welcome fact of being exactly what the label claimed — a meaningful upgrade over the «Royal»-grade alternatives, and potent enough to explain Zhorik’s rapidly deteriorating coordination.