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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.

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Check latest episodes from Intoxicating History podcast

An Apple a Day Kept Britain Going

2026/01/23

Cider once mattered as much as beer or wine — so how did it lose its place in British life? In this episode of Intoxicating History, Henry Jeffreys and Tom Parker Bowles explore the overlooked history of apples, orchards and a drink that quietly fuelled the countryside for centuries. We’re joined by James Crowden, whose deep knowledge of rural England helps us trace how cider shifted from everyday necessity to cultural afterthought. Along the way, we uncover how monks, farmers, class, labour and tax policy shaped cider’s fortunes, and why industrialisation changed the way Britain drank. This isn’t nostalgia. It’s a story about land, work and identity, and why today’s cider revival is about reclaiming flavour, craft and connection rather than novelty. Thoughtful, funny and gently persuasive, this episode makes the case for cider as one of Britain’s most important — and misunderstood — historic drinks. As ever, we’re supported by Wylde Market have another wonderful box to unpack Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Churchill Drank What? Champagne, myths and the Making of a Wartime Legend

2026/01/16

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.

American Presidents: What they drank and why it mattered

2026/01/09

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.

French 75s, Granny Sherry & the Night Eggnog Exploded: A Christmas Day in Drinks

2025/12/05

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.

History's Most Intoxicating Revelations: Season 1 Top 12

2025/06/12

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.

The Angel's Share: 300 Years of Port's Forbidden Sips

2025/05/15

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 Adrian Bridge, 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.

Mad Men, Sad Wine with Rory Sutherland

2025/05/01

We’re thrilled to welcome marketing maverick Rory Sutherland to Intoxicating History. In this somewhat rambunctious episode, Henry Jeffreys and Tom Parker Bowles share a glass of Port with Rory as he declares war on the tyranny of the wine-list and launches his campaign to ban drinks parties… except if they’re outdoors. Rory takes us back to his Welsh roots and his love of pubs, explaining they are the beating heart of community cohesion—and why they should not be taxed. He reveals his secret super-power as a “fat man in restaurants” and his discovery that even the most powerful people can be charmed by a Kent pub. In a surprisingly candid turn, Rory opens up about his experience on Mounjaro his relationship with food (and yes, with wine) and the real genius of low alcohol beer. So pour yourself something splendid, lean back, and join us a little less pure history than usual but a terrific episode full of wit, wisdom and insight. Supported by Taylors Port Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Grape Pretenders, Part 2

2025/04/24

In this second part of a two-part special, Tom and Henry delve into the scandalous world of wine fraud that shook the fine wine establishment to its core. We unveil the extraordinary tale of Hardy Rodenstock, the mysterious German who claimed to have discovered Thomas Jefferson’s lost wine collection, and Rudy Kurniawan, the Indonesian fraudster whose LA mansion was a factory for fake vintages. Along the way, we’ll take you inside the testosterone-fuelled world of “The Angry Men” – millionaire collectors who mixed misogyny with their Mouton Rothschild. From Michael Broadbent’s poetic wine descriptions comparing vintages to Sophia Loren, to bottles selling for $156,000 only to have the cork drop in, this episode uncorks a delicious blend of greed, deception and the absurdity of what one wine expert calls “a drinkable penis extension”; So pour yourself something you actually fancy drinking, and join us for these intoxicating tales of grape pretenders. Brought to you in association with Taylor’s Port. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Grape Pretenders: A history of Wine Fraud

2025/04/17

We are back to escort you on a rollicking journey through the world of wine fraud in “The Grape Pretenders.” In this episode, Henry Jeffreys and Tom Parker Bowlesinvite you to join us as we unravel the outrageous schemes of the past, where fraudsters concocting “authentic” vintages by blending turnip juice, wild fruit, and even a dash of lead oxide—ingredients that would make any sommelier’s head spin. Our adventure begins with the exploits of Charles Palmer, an English officer whose fateful carriage encounter changed a chateau’s fate, sparking a series of misadventures in wine imitation. We explore recipes that include bizarre additions like almond shells and gum benzone, and we hear about the infamous “Holy Palmer’s kiss” that left high society baffled and amused. We examine the art of disguise practiced by dubious wine merchants and celebrate the wild ingenuity that once ruled the vine. So, pour yourself a glass and join us as we raise our spirits, laugh at history’s oddities, and toast to the enduring legacy of fake wine. Brought to you in association with Taylor’s Port. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Burton Snatch: Jamie Allsopp & The Ipa Revolution

2025/04/10

In this episode of Intoxicating History, we take you on a spirited journey through the wild world of British beer. Henry Jeffreys and Tom Parker Bowles, recount how a bold 1718 letter—declaring war with Spain over a bloated drinks bill—set the stage for the fascinating tale of IPA. Together, we explore the rise, fall, and revival of Allsopp’s legendary brew. We share how Burton’s mineral-rich water rescued pale ale from spoiling on long voyages, the fierce rivalry with Bass (complete with scurrilous adverts and alleged poisonings), and even how a 1934 family ledger became the Holy Grail for resurrecting a business. This episode celebrates brewing ingenuity, from Arctic Ale and the search for the Northwest Passage, to the Russian court and the magic of fresh cask ale. Join us for an intoxicating blend of history, heritage, and hops. Supported by Taylor’s Port. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From Bibles to Capone: Prohibition in the USA

2025/04/03

Welcome to another unruly chapter of Intoxicating History with hosts, Henry Jeffreys and Tom Parker Bowles. In this episode, we’re unraveling the wild, head-spinning days of America’s Prohibition era. We discover how a noble quest to curb alcohol ended up giving birth to a veritable carnival of bootleggers, speakeasies, and legal loopholes that only the richest could exploit. We get into the nitty-gritty of how temperance morphed from high-minded ideals into a rollercoaster of absurdity. We meet the indomitable Carrie A Nation, hatchet in hand, storming saloons and leaving a trail of smashed barrels in her wake—she’s not your everyday protester. And who could forget Al Capone? His notorious reign in Chicago, complete with jaw-dropping escapes and tax evasion will make your head spin. And that’s all before we meet ‘the Real McCoy’... We also dive into the quirky, sometimes downright dangerous world of homemade spirits, the unexpected social melting pots that were speakeasies, and the bizarre laws that let the wealthy stockpile booze for years. So, pour yourself something nice, settle in, and join us for a spirited, unfiltered journey through one of history’s most tumultuous—and deliciously entertaining—eras. Supported by Taylor’s Port. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rome Part 2: The Empire Strikes Bacchus

2025/03/27

In this episode of Intoxicating History Tom Parker Bowles and Henry Jeffreys get together for another round of wine-fuelled storytellin, delving deeper into the indulgent, decadent world of Ancient Rome. In the The Empire Strikes Bacchus we explore the lavish and legendary banquets of Roman high society. Step into the extravagant dining hall of Trimalchio—a nouveau riche freed slave famous for his legendary feasts, bizarre culinary theatrics, and, intriguingly, a wife who might have been Rome's version of a pole dancer. Discover how this fictional feast influenced F. Scott Fitzgerald's 'The Great Gatsby,' and learn what truly went down in these over-the-top Roman dinner parties, from pastry thrushes to wild boar served with theatrical flair. Tom and Henry also journey through the kitchens of Apicius, the Roman world’s first celebrity chef, whose surprisingly modern recipes still tantalize the taste buds today. From dormice garnished with honey and poppy seeds to flamingo served in rich sauces, Roman tastes were anything but subtle. Amidst tales of Caligula’s infamous banquets and the culinary extravagance that marked the decline of Roman austerity, the presenters unpack the politics of seating arrangements, wine quality, and the social drama playing out around every decadent dish. This is Roman history served up with flair—and perhaps just a hint of excess. Intoxicating History is brought to you in association with Taylor's Port. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rome Part 1: What did the Romans Ever Do for Us?

2025/03/20

In this episode of Intoxicating History, Henry, Jeffreys and Tom Parker Bowles travel back 2,000 years to ancient Rome to ask the big question: What did the Romans ever do for us—wine‑wise? From Pliny the Elder’s hangover cure of raw owl eggs in wine (yes, really) to the scandalous Bacchanalian rites that terrified senators into banning women from drinking, we’ll reveal how Rome invented luxury vintages that cost more than a modern Château Yquem—then aged them for a century and more. We meet Cato the Elder, the original frugal influencer who refused imported Falernian wine for his guests (but probably savored it in secret). And discover how Mark Antony entered Ephesus in a wild bacchic parade—think Pride float meets reality show—to cement his power and reputation as one of history’s most notorious party animals. If you love historical gossip, tales of Ancient Roman excess, and a side of scandal worthy of the Senate, tune in for a glass‑raising romp through Rome’s vinous legacy—no time machine required. Supported by Taylor’s Port. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Martini Files: The history of the perfect cocktail

2025/03/13

In this episode of Intoxicating History, we get up close and personal with everything Martini as we chat with our brilliant guest, author, FT Columnist and Martini Queen, Alice Lascelles. Tom Parker Bowles and Henry Jeffreys dive into the quirky history of the martini—from its early days as a medicinal elixir with a dash of ginger, to the iconic cocktail that inspired Hemingway and Dorothy Parker’s legendary wit - or not. There are personal martini ‘mishaps’, like Tom’s first three-martini lunch at Kensington Place. And we reveal fun secrets like why freezing your glass is the ultimate hack while reminiscing about the “Flame of Love” cocktail that Frank Sinatra adored. As ever we are pouring a liberal measure of historical tidbits, personal anecdotes, and useless information essential to understanding the art and joy of a perfectly crafted martini. Supported by Taylor’s Port Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chartreuse To ‘wreck-The-Hoose’ Juice: Monks And The Art Of Distillation

2025/03/06

In this episode, Tom Parker Bowles and Henry Jeffreys unravel the enigmatic legacy of monastic mixology. They explore how medieval monks, driven by both spiritual devotion and scientific curiosity, transformed the art of distillation into a craft that yielded some of history’s most fascinating elixirs. We delve into the creation of the herbaceous, enigmatic Chartreuse; the uniquely stimulating, and often-maligned Buckfast; and the parvenu that is Benedictine —all recipes shrouded in secrecy and varying degrees of tradition. Beyond the drinks themselves,, this episode dissects themes of resilience, innovation, and the surprising marketing prowess of these religious artisans. Whether it’s unearthing hidden manuscripts or examining how these potent concoctions became cultural icons, join us for an irreverent yet thoughtful take on how the sacred and the profane intersect in our drinking culture. If you’re drawn to history that’s as spirited as it is surprising, this episode is a must-listen. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.