Intoxicating History
TWS Creative, Antica & Telltale Studios
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 w...
From Bibles to Capone: Prohibition in the USA
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
Apr 3, • 40:57
Rome Part 2: The Empire Strikes Bacchus
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
Mar 27, • 37:21
Rome Part 1: What did the Romans Ever Do for Us?
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 Ca
Mar 20, • 39:13
The Martini Files: The history of the perfect cocktail
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 lunc
Mar 13, • 42:04
Chartreuse To ‘wreck-The-Hoose’ Juice: Monks And The Art Of Distillation
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
Mar 6, • 40:16
Episode 10 - Johnnie Walker: The Spirit That Ruled The World
In this episode of Intoxicating History, hosts Henry Jeffreys and Tom Parker Bowles unscrew and pour a liberal measure of the scandalous saga of Johnnie Walker—a Scotch that started as a modest blend in a small Ayrshire grocers and skyrocketed to become a global currency of power and prestige.We dive into the racy world of whisky where a simple bottle wasn’t just a drink, but a ticket to high-stakes boardrooms, secretive backroom deals, and even diplomatic breakthroughs in colonial India. Discov
Feb 27, • 44:05
Episode 9 - Wine and Wimples: How Blue Nun sparked a Global Wine Revolution
It was the wine that took the world by storm—then became a punchline. But behind the once brown and now blue bottle’s retro reputation lies a fascinating story of global wine culture, clever marketing, and unexpected historical twists.In this episode, Henry Jeffreys and Tom Parker Bowles dive into the rise and fall (and maybe rise again?) of Blue Nun, the German white wine that introduced millions to the joys of wine drinking. From Hollywood stars and rock legends to aspiring dinner party hosts
Feb 20, • 47:35
Episode 8 - WW2 Part 2: From Vines to Victory
The Nazis are retreating, the Allies are advancing, and the fate of France’s most prized vineyards hangs in the balance. What happens when a desperate army turns to scorched earth tactics? Could centuries of winemaking history be wiped out in an instant?In this gripping follow-up to our deep dive into wine and war, Henry Jeffreys and Tom Parker Bowles uncover the high-stakes battle to save France’s greatest vintages. From the Champagne Campaign to daring acts of resistance in Bordeaux, they reve
Feb 13, • 28:25
Episode 7 - Wine, War and the WW2 Battle for France’s Vineyards
When the Nazis stormed into France, they weren’t just after land—they had their eyes on the ultimate spoils of war: France’s legendary vineyards became battlegrounds, not just for soldiers, but for winemakers fighting to protect their lifes’ work from the clutches of the Third Reich.In this episode, Henry Jeffreys and Tom Parker Bowles look at the dramatic, and often absurd, true story of how the Nazis tried to loot France’s finest vintages—and how the French fought back, sometimes with nothing
Feb 6, • 37:15
The Admiral, The Navy, and the Wine That Won the Day
In this episode of Intoxicating History, Henry Jeffreys and Tom Parker Bowles tell the remarkable story of how Admiral Nelson, fresh from beating the French at the Battle of the Nile, stumbled upon a Sicilian wine that would fuel the Royal Navy and become the most famous wine in the world - for a while at least. Marsala wasn’t just a drink; it was a symbol of empire, ingenuity, and excess.But that’s just the start. From the scandal of Nelson’s affair with Lady Hamilton to his brutal actions in N
Jan 30, • 39:15
Episode 5 - Shaken, Not Stirred: How James Bond’s Drinks Defined an Era
We’re easing out of dry January by veering off the path of hard history and into the world of a fictional hero. One in which the love of vodka martinis reflects a post-war Britain desperate for glamour and escapism. And whose creator’s obsession with detail—right down to his hero’s champagne choices—tells us as much about the author as it does about his famous spy?In this slightly geeky episode of Intoxicating History, Tom Parker Bowles and Henry Jeffreys share their love of that great British e
Jan 23, • 41:37
Episode 4: Monks, Mavericks, and Murder: The Untold History of Champagne
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Dec 23, 2024 • 40:23
Episode 3: Pouring Power: Claret, cocktails and the Crown
In this week’s Intoxicating History, Henry Jeffreys and Tom Parker Bowles dive into the opulent, often outrageous world of royal courts, where what is poured and plated isn’t just about indulgence—it shapes politics, power, and even history itself. From lavish banquets to surfeits of lampreys, and secret drinking behind closed palace doors, Henry and Tom uncover the stories of kings, queens, and clever courtiers who used food and drink as tools of influence, diplomacy, and death. Expect tal
Dec 19, 2024 • 46:36
Episode 2 - Flips, Punches and Corpse Revivers: Charles Dickens’ Victorian World of Drinks
This week on Intoxicating History, Tom Parker Bowles and Henry Jeffreys take us to the heart of Dickensian London, a world where every glass of gin, mug of punch, or bottle of sherry consumed by one of Charles Dickens’ characters tells us something about Victorian life. Dickens wasn’t just a master storyteller—he was a chronicler of his times. Through his vivid descriptions of food, drink, and the characters who consumed them, we get a window into the entire society: its joys, struggles, an
Dec 12, 2024 • 50:41
Episode 1: Drunk Crusaders and Daring Traders - the Rise and Rise of Port
Pour yourself a glass and settle in for the inaugural episode of Intoxicating History. Join journalist and food writer Tom Parker Bowles and award-winning drinks expert Henry Jeffreys as they uncork the fascinating story of Port wine—a tale of two nations bound together by centuries of trade, taste, and tippling.From medieval crusaders to ambitious merchants, our hosts chart Port's remarkable journey from humble beginnings to the heights of aristocratic refinement. Along the way, discover how Br
Dec 5, 2024 • 1:01:07