Intoxicating History
Intoxicating History
Podcast Description
From the rise and fall of empires to the birth of modern diplomacy, civilization's greatest moments have been shaped by an unlikely force: what filled our glasses. Join award-winning author Henry Jeffreys and renowned food writer Tom Parker-Bowles as they pour through history's most intoxicating stories. From Charles Dickens's beloved punch to the royal family's legendary drinks trolley, discover how alcohol has shaped civilizations, sparked wars, and sealed peace treaties.Each episode finds our convivial hosts uncorking a different chapter of human history through the unique lens of alcohol. Whether they're recreating Dickens's beloved punch recipes, infiltrating the closely-guarded royal wine cellars, proving that the English invented champagne or discovering how Portuguese port sparked an international alliance, Henry and Tom blend scholarly insight with irreverent wit and a shared passion for historical peculiarities.Authoritative yet wonderfully entertaining, Intoxicating History serves up serious history with a generous measure of irreverent humour. Through revolutions and peace treaties, cultural upheavals and technological breakthroughs, your hosts reveal how the contents of the glass have steered the course of history – usually while sampling the evidence, (purely for research purposes, of course!)Whether you're a history buff, food and drink enthusiast, or simply love a well-told tale, raise a glass with us as we explore civilization's most intoxicating moments.Pour yourself something suitable and join us for a journey through time, one drink at a time.New episodes served weekly. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast delves into themes such as the historical significance of different alcoholic beverages, exploring episodes like Wine, War and the WW2 Battle for France’s Vineyards and Monks, Mavericks, and Murder: The Untold History of Champagne. It also covers the cultural connections of alcohol, as seen in Shaken, Not Stirred: How James Bond’s Drinks Defined an Era, examining how drinks have influenced society and politics.
From the rise and fall of empires to the birth of modern diplomacy, civilization’s greatest moments have been shaped by an unlikely force: what filled our glasses.
Join award-winning author Henry Jeffreys and renowned food writer Tom Parker-Bowles as they pour through history’s most intoxicating stories. From Charles Dickens’s beloved punch to the royal family’s legendary drinks trolley, discover how alcohol has shaped civilizations, sparked wars, and sealed peace treaties.
Each episode finds our convivial hosts uncorking a different chapter of human history through the unique lens of alcohol. Whether they’re recreating Dickens’s beloved punch recipes, infiltrating the closely-guarded royal wine cellars, proving that the English invented champagne or discovering how Portuguese port sparked an international alliance, Henry and Tom blend scholarly insight with irreverent wit and a shared passion for historical peculiarities.
Authoritative yet wonderfully entertaining, Intoxicating History serves up serious history with a generous measure of irreverent humour. Through revolutions and peace treaties, cultural upheavals and technological breakthroughs, your hosts reveal how the contents of the glass have steered the course of history – usually while sampling the evidence, (purely for research purposes, of course!)
Whether you’re a history buff, food and drink enthusiast, or simply love a well-told tale, raise a glass with us as we explore civilization’s most intoxicating moments.
Pour yourself something suitable and join us for a journey through time, one drink at a time.
New episodes served weekly.
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.
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