A false drink that Kvothe orders at the Eolian when connosseuirs buy him drinks, similar to Greysdale Mead at Anker's. It is a trick that originated in brothels; when someone offers to buy the girl a drink, she orders a sounten and is served water. Sountens are priced highly, and the girl or, in Kvothe's case, musician, splits the money with the bartender and the house.