Podcast · Arts & Books

Intoxicating History

by Antica & Telltale Studios · English · Arts & Books

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

New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 44 min
Latest: 23 Jan 2026
Language: English

Latest episode

23 Jan 2026 · 54 min

An Apple a Day Kept Britain Going

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.…

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Earlier episodes 25 most recent

S2 · E3 · 16 Jan 2026 · 47 min
Churchill Drank What? Champagne, myths and the Making of a Wartime Legend
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…
S2 · E2 · 9 Jan 2026 · 58 min
American Presidents: What they drank and why it mattered
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…
S2 · E1 · 5 Dec 2025 · 1 hr 5 min
French 75s, Granny Sherry & the Night Eggnog Exploded: A Christmas Day in Drinks
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…
S1 · E21 · 12 Jun 2025 · 17 min
History's Most Intoxicating Revelations: Season 1 Top 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…
S1 · E20 · 15 May 2025 · 47 min
The Angel's Share: 300 Years of Port's Forbidden Sips
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…
S1 · E19 · 1 May 2025 · 1 hr 3 min
Mad Men, Sad Wine with Rory Sutherland
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…
S1 · E18 · 24 Apr 2025 · 42 min
Grape Pretenders, Part 2
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…
S1 · E17 · 17 Apr 2025 · 44 min
The Grape Pretenders: A history of Wine Fraud
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…
S1 · E16 · 10 Apr 2025 · 50 min
The Burton Snatch: Jamie Allsopp & The Ipa Revolution
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…
S1 · E15 · 3 Apr 2025 · 41 min
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 the indomitable Carrie A Nation, hatchet in hand, storming saloons and leaving a trail of smashed…
S1 · E14 · 27 Mar 2025 · 37 min
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 version of a pole dancer. Discover how this fictional feast influenced F. Scott Fitzgerald's 'The…
S1 · E13 · 20 Mar 2025 · 39 min
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 Cato the Elder, the original frugal influencer who refused imported Falernian wine for his guests…
S1 · E12 · 13 Mar 2025 · 42 min
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 lunch at Kensington Place. And we reveal fun secrets like why freezing your glass is the ultimate hack…
S1 · E11 · 6 Mar 2025 · 40 min
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 varying degrees of tradition. Beyond the drinks themselves,, this episode dissects themes of…
S1 · E10 · 27 Feb 2025 · 44 min
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. Discover how Johnnie Walker’s iconic Striding Man—reborn from a cheeky 1908 advertising idea—came to…
S1 · E9 · 20 Feb 2025 · 48 min
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 in the 1970s , Blue Nun was once the go-to drink for those looking to add a little European…
S1 · E8 · 13 Feb 2025 · 28 min
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 reveal the hidden stories of courage, collaboration, and sabotage that shaped the future of French…
S1 · E7 · 6 Feb 2025 · 37 min
WW2 Part 1: Wine, War and the 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 more than a well-placed spider web. From vineyards bricked up behind false walls to daring…
S1 · E6 · 30 Jan 2025 · 39 min
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 Naples, the episode unpacks the messy mix of heroism and controversy that defined the man. You’ll…
S1 · E5 · 23 Jan 2025 · 41 min
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 export - James Bond. They dive into how Bond’s drinking habits are a time capsule of the 1950s…
S1 · E4 · 23 Dec 2024 · 40 min
Monks, Mavericks, and Murder: The Untold History of Champagne
Get ready for a sparkling journey through scandal, invention, and murder with Intoxicating History . In this episode, Henry Jeffreys and Tom Parker Bowles pop the cork on the truth about champagne: Did the English actually invent it? Spoiler alert—it involves pirates, royal lovers, and a brief diversion into the wonderful world of cider. We meet Sir Kenelm Digby, the cavalier-turned-glassmaking genius who might have killed his wife with an anti-aging serum made of snake venom. From the Powder of Sympathy to the revelation that Dom Pérignon probably wasn’t the inventor of sparkling wine, this…
S1 · E3 · 19 Dec 2024 · 47 min
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 tales of scheming monarchs, historic alliances, and the favourite drinks that keep the wheels of royal…
S1 · E2 · 12 Dec 2024 · 51 min
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, and often, its hypocrisies. From the gaslit allure of gin palaces—both refuge and ruin for London’s…
S1 · E1 · 5 Dec 2024 · 1 hr 1 min
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 British palates shaped an entire industry, why Scottish drinkers initially turned up their noses…
27 Nov 2024 · 1 min
Introducing Intoxicating History
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. Whether you're a history buff, food and drink enthusiast, or simply love a well-told tale, raise a glass with us as we…

About Intoxicating History

Intoxicating History is a English arts & books podcast from Antica & Telltale Studios. Melo plays each episode straight from the publisher's own feed — no ads added, no account needed — and remembers where you stopped, in this browser only.

Publisher: Antica & Telltale Studios
Language: English
Category: Arts & Books
New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 44 min
Latest episode: 23 Jan 2026
Feed: RSS — paste into any podcast app
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1782189667
Rights: Antica & Telltale Studios

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