Intoxicating History

Winston Churchill is remembered as the man who drank the British through the Second World War. But how much of that is legend, how much is exaggeration, and how much is actually true? In this episode of Intoxicating History, we take a long, considered sip of Churchill’s drinking life. From his famously weak “mouthwash” whisky sodas to champagne by the pint, brandy at bedtime, and alcohol prescribed on doctor’s orders during Prohibition America. We explore how drink shaped his working rhythm, his diplomacy, his image and perhaps even his genius. Along the way, there are Soviet banquets with Stalin, loathed cocktails courtesy of FDR, champagne diplomacy at Yalta, and the curious truth about whether Churchill was ever actually drunk at all.Was alcohol his weakness or his secret weapon? Smart, surprising and very funny, this episode cuts through the myths to reveal the man behind the glass. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode of Intoxicating History we trace American history through what presidents chose to pour. From George Washington’s Madeira-fuelled formality to Thomas Jefferson’s obsession with French wine, drink becomes a way of signalling power, taste, and intent. Along the way, we meet whiskey-loving generals, temperance-minded First Ladies, Prohibition presidents who quietly ignored their own laws, and eras shaped by glamour, chilli, or quiet restraint. Kennedy dazzles with French wine and style. Johnson tears up the rulebook with Texas hospitality. Nixon knows his claret but keeps it close. Reagan recognises the diplomatic value of American wine. Obama brews beer in the White House. Trump sticks to Diet Coke. Together, these choices tell a story of America through glasses raised, rules bent, and the politics of what ends up on the table. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After a bit of a break, Intoxicating History is back. Tom Parker Bowles and Henry Jeffreys return with a full day’s worth of Christmas drinking, from breakfast bubbles to late-night nog. We kick things off with champagne, charting its journey from syrupy Russian favourite to the dry style loved in Britain, and the Victorian habit of happily mixing it with gin. From there, its’ a dive into the Buck’s Fizz, its scandalous origins at Buck’s Club, and the cameo champagne cocktails in Casablanca — including the wonderfully lethal French 75, and the surprising origin story of its name… Next up is sherry: Bristol Cream, sweetened amontillado, Dickensian purism, and the enduring British belief that “granny sherry” is still the drink of Christmas. Baileys follows — born from tax incentives, Jameson whiskey, Cadbury’s drinking chocolate, and a chemist who miraculously kept cream stable in a bottle. Finally, crashed in front of the telly, we journey into the wild world of eggnog and the utterly chaotic 1826 West Point Eggnog Riot, when drunken cadets caused custard-coloured festive devastation. A warm, funny, and deeply boozy Christmas special brought to you by Wylde Market, the online farmers’ market. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're back with something special - our top 12 most intoxicating moments from Season 1! Join us as we revisit the wildest boozy tales that shaped history, from Roman drinking clubs to champagne myths. We'll reveal how Mark Antony sent drunken letters to the Roman public (the ancient equivalent of drunk texting!), explore whether the Royal Navy actually invented the mojito, and uncover the bizarre horse-trading practice that may have given us the word "cocktail" - involving ginger and a very uncomfortable equine experience.We'll also dive into prohibition's ridiculous loopholes, discover how the French protected their precious vineyards during WWII, and finally settle the great martini debate - was James Bond actually right about shaking, not stirring? From naval rum rations to Hitler's stolen wine collection, these stories prove that alcohol has been causing chaos, controversy, and comedy throughout human history. Pour yourself something appropriate and join us for this intoxicating journey! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tom and Henry have escaped our London bunker for the season finale and found themselves in glorious Porto, surrounded by the world's finest ports! Join us as AdrianBridge, the CEO of Taylor's Port, grants us privileged access to the Factory House - a Georgian-style private club for British port shippers built in 1790. The French pinched all the silverware when they occupied it during the Napoleonic Wars, but there’s plenty of port still in storage. We explore the hallowed halls where port luminaries discuss business and sip their treasures, before touring Taylor's Lodge with its gravel floors and rows upon rows of aging barrels. Adrian reveals how Catherine of Braganza not only brought England her dowry of Bombay but also tea and marmalade (without which English breakfast would be utterly miserable). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.