Jug of Vinegar OSRS Essential Guide

Ever stumbled upon a quirky item in Old School RuneScape that sounds more like a kitchen staple than a quest essential? That’s the jug of vinegar for you. As someone who’s sunk over 5,000 hours into OSRS – yeah, I’ve got the calluses from all those mouse clicks – I’ve learned that even the simplest things can trip you up if you’re not paying attention. Picture this: you’re knee-deep in a quest, bones piling up in your inventory, and suddenly you need vinegar. Not the stuff from your grandma’s pantry, but this pixelated version that costs a single coin. It’s ridiculous, right? But trust me, ignoring it can turn a quick errand into a full-blown headache.

I remember my first run-in with it back in 2018. I was a fresh-faced mid-level player, fresh off slaying some goblins for fun, when I decided to tackle Rag and Bone Man I. Thought it’d be a breeze – collect some bones, chat with the Odd Old Man, done. Nope. Hours later, I’m staring at Fortunato’s shop in Draynor Village, scratching my head because the vinegar just wouldn’t show up. Turns out, you gotta TALK to the guy first. Rookie mistake, but one that taught me to always double-check those little dialogue triggers. If you’re like me and love diving into OSRS’s weird side quests, stick around. We’ll break this down step by step, from what it is to how it fits into your grind. And hey, by the end, you’ll be boiling bones like a pro.

Let’s keep it straightforward. A jug of vinegar is basically a filled container of… well, vinegar. In game terms, it’s a quest item with zero combat stats or fancy effects. Weighs a measly 1 kg, trades for 1 coin if you could even trade it (spoiler: you can’t), and its examine text? “This wine clearly did not age well.” Classic Jagex humor right there. It’s not something you’ll hoard in your bank like runes or herbs. Instead, it’s a one-and-done tool for specific tasks.

Why vinegar, though? In the lore of RuneScape, it’s used to clean bones – softening them up so you can polish ’em for the Odd Old Man. Sounds gross? It is, but that’s OSRS charm. No deep backstory, no hidden powers. Just vinegar doing vinegar things. Short answer: it’s essential for two quests, and that’s about it.

But don’t sleep on it. In a game where inventory space is gold, knowing your items inside out saves runs to the bank. I’ve wasted too many teleports fumbling for basics like this.

How Do You Get Your Hands on a Jug of Vinegar?

Getting one is easier than piecing together a noob’s armor set. Head to Draynor Village – you know, that sleepy town south of Lumbridge with the pickpocketing hotspots. Fortunato’s your guy, the jolly wine merchant slinging booze from his shop. Once you’ve started Rag and Bone Man I, stroll up and buy it for 1 coin each. His stock? A whopping 500, restocking every 6 seconds. You’ll never run dry unless you’re buying for an army.

Here’s the kicker – and this is where newbies like early-me get stuck. If the jug doesn’t pop up in his inventory list, don’t panic. Chat him up. Ask about vinegar specifically. Boom, it appears. Jagex loves those hidden convos to make you feel like you’re role-playing. I once spent 20 minutes world-hopping because I forgot that step. Pro tip: Do it on a low-pop world to avoid the Draynor pickpockets nicking your gp mid-purchase.

Step-by-Step Guide to Buying It

Want me to walk you through? Sure, let’s list it out nice and clear:

1. Start the Quest: Kick off Rag and Bone Man I by talking to the Odd Old Man northeast of Varrock, near the limestone mine. No requirements beyond that – perfect for lowbies.
2. Teleport or Walk to Draynor: Use a Lumbridge home tele if you’re smart, then head south. Or amulet of glory to Draynor proper.
3. Find Fortunato: He’s in the northwest corner, behind the general store. Easy spot.
4. Talk First, Buy Second: Exhaust the dialogue about vinegar. Then trade him – 1 gp per jug.
5. Stock Up: Grab what you need upfront. For part one, eight will do; for the sequel, 27 more.

Simple, huh? But questions pop up all the time in clan chats: “Why can’t I buy it?” Answer: Quest not started, or skipped the chat. Fixed in seconds.

Oh, and a fun fact from my ironman days – if you’re restricting trades, you can’t buy these. Had to quest ’em legit, which meant multiple trips. Builds character, or so I tell myself.

The Big Deal – Using Jug of Vinegar in Quests

Alright, now the meaty part. This little jug shines in the Rag and Bone Man series. It’s not flashy like Dragon Slayer, but it’s got that satisfying “completionist” vibe. You use it to make pots of vinegar, shove in a bone, boil it over a fire, and voila – cleaned bone ready for handover. Each pot handles one bone, so efficiency matters.

Diving into Rag and Bone Man I

This quest dropped way back on April 10, 2006, and it’s still a rite of passage. The Odd Old Man wants eight specific bones from critters scattered across Gielinor. Your job? Hunt ’em down, vinegar ’em up, boil ’em clean.

I did this quest solo during a rainy afternoon binge in 2020. Started with the easy ones – giant rat bone from Lumbridge swamps. Snagged it in under five minutes. Then the real chase: mummified monkey paw from the Mosquito Swamp in Ape Atoll. Forgot my antipoison, got swarmed by karils. Lesson learned: Pack light, but pack smart.

Here’s a quick table of the bones you’ll need for part one, plus where to grab ’em:

See that? Eight bones, eight jugs. Pour the vinegar into an empty pot (buy those from any general store for 1 gp each), add the bone, then boil at the Odd Old Man’s fire – it’s right outside his cave. No tinderbox needed; the fire’s always lit. Hand over the cleaned goods, and you’re rewarded with 1,000 Prayer XP. Not bad for a few hours of bone-hunting.

Ever wonder why boiling specifically? Short answer: It’s the quest’s quirky mechanic. Feels like alchemy, but for skeletons. I love how it ties into OSRS’s weird humor – the Old Man‘s got a bone fetish, apparently.

Leveling Up to Rag and Bone Man II

Once part one’s done, sequel time. This bad boy ramps it up to 27 bones, including wildcards like a drake bone or fenris wolf bone. Released later as an extension, it’s longer but way more rewarding – 5,000 Prayer XP and access to the Wishlist scroll for future bone trades.

My personal saga? I grinded this during a Deadman Mode prep session in 2022. Teamed up with a buddy via Discord; he handled the desert ones while I tackled the Fremennik. Saved hours. But solo? It’s a slog. That skeletal wyvern bone from Asgarnian Ice Dungeon? Chilled me to the core – literally. Forgot my antifire, nearly wiped.

For the full list, it’s massive, so I’ll hit highlights in a list:

• Easy Grabs: Ice troll bone (Trollheim, tele there with fairy ring), ram skull (Rellekka, hunter level helps).
• Mid-Tier Challenges: Brine rat bone (Lumbridge Swamp Caves, but deeper – bring a light source).
• Nightmares: Maniacal monkey bone (Ape Atoll again, but crazier), tortured bear bone (Taverley Dungeon slayer task vibes).

Total vinegar? 27 jugs. Buy in bulk from Fortunato post-part one. Boil the same way. The Wishlist at the end lets you skip future hunts by trading noted bones – game-changer for completionists.

Question for you: Have you ever rage-quit a bone hunt? I did once on the kalphite bone in the desert. Sand everywhere, low energy. Walked away, came back fresh. Moral: Take breaks; OSRS isn’t a sprint.

Pro Tips from a Seasoned OSRS Grinder

Look, I’ve botted… wait, no, I haven’t. But I’ve optimized every quest like my life depended on it. For jug of vinegar runs, here’s what works.

First, inventory management. Pots, jugs, bones – it fills fast. Use a beast of burden like a yak if you’re high-level, or just bank often. I once overloaded on Varrock Palace roof chasing a pigeon bone. Facepalm.

Second, travel hacks. Fairy rings are your best friend. Code DKS for Troll Stronghold, BJR for Ape Atoll. Saves tele tabs for bosses later.

Third, common pitfalls. Steal from Fortunato by accident? He labels you a thief, won’t sell. Wait it out or world-hop. Happened to me post-thieving guild grind – embarrassing.

And for ironmen: Can’t buy? Use Lunar spell Humidify on water runes to fill jugs, but nah, quest forces the buy. Adapt or die.

Vinegar Efficiency Table

Want to minimize trips? Check this:

Numbers don’t lie. That’s a solid Prayer boost early-game.

Long story short, stock up early. Draynor’s close to banks, so no excuses.

Why Bother with This Weird Item Anyway?

In a game full of epic swords and dragon hides, why fuss over vinegar? Simple: Quests like these unlock the map. Finish the series, and you’re set for higher-tier stuff – like Song of the Elves or Sins of the Father. Plus, that Prayer XP? It’s free levels when you’re scraping by on ensouled heads.

From my experience, it’s the small quests that hook you. I started OSRS for PvP, ended up a quest cape chaser. Vinegar was my gateway drug to the Odd Old Man‘s cave – now it’s comfort food. Ever felt that rush handing over the last bone? Pure dopamine.

But let’s get real. Is it skippable? For min-maxers, yeah – buy the Wishlist bones noted from GE post-quest. But for purists? Nah. Grind it. Builds stories, like the time I DC’d mid-boil and lost a phoenix crossbow bone. Cried laughing.

What about alching or other uses? Zilch. High alchemy’s 0 gp. It’s quest-locked utility. No ARCES or anything fancy.

Community Tales and My Own Vinegar Fiascos

OSRS Reddit’s gold for this. Threads like “No jugs at Fortunato?” pop up weekly. Answer: Talk to him, dummy. I upvoted one last month – guy was one dialogue from victory.

My worst? During a speedrun attempt in 2023, I bought 35 jugs, forgot pots. Ran to Port Sarim, back. Added 45 minutes. Now I checklist everything.

YouTube’s got montages – “Buying Jugs for 1 Hour” vids for ironmen laughs. Watched one while questing; inspired me to tele-alch my way through.

Question: Favorite bone hunt? Mine’s the experiment in Wizards’ Tower. Basement vibes, zero risk. Quick win.

In clans, we joke about “vinegar runs” as newbie hazing. “Go fetch 10!” Builds bonds.

Wrapping It Up – Grab Your Jug and Get Boiling

So there you have it – the unassuming jug of vinegar, hero of bone quests. From Draynor buys to Ape Atoll adventures, it’s woven into OSRS’s fabric. As your resident expert (with scars to prove it), I’d say don’t skip it. That 6,000 XP? It’s your ticket to 70 Prayer without burying 10k dragon bones.

Next time you’re in Draynor, snag a few. Chat Fortunato, boil some bones, laugh at the absurdity. OSRS thrives on these moments. What’s your next quest? Drop it in the comments – maybe I’ll share my horror stories.

Happy scaping, friends. May your inventories stay light and your bones stay clean.