Intoxicating History

About 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. 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 (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

Publisher

Antica & Telltale Studios

Category

arts · history

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

27 Nov 2024

Latest episode

23 Jan 2026

Latest episodes

26 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   23 Jan 2026

   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. 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 (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

2. 

   16 Jan 2026

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

   Historians explore Winston Churchill's drinking habits, including his preferences for champagne and brandy, and how alcohol consumption influenced his leadership and public image during World War II in this historical analysis.

3. 

   9 Jan 2026

   American Presidents: What they drank and why it mattered

   The host explores American history through the alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverage choices of presidents, revealing how these drinks reflect power, taste, and political intent from George Washington to Donald Trump.

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

4.5 / 5

11 ratings

Spotify

4.9 / 5

25 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 34 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

57

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

31

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