Intoxicating History

Intoxicating History

Antica & Telltale Studios

Episodes 26
Avg. Duration 46m
Activity Dormant
Apple Rating 4.4 (7)
Since Nov 2024
Latest Episode Jan 2026

Outreach Signals

Open to Sponsors

Publishing Details

Schedule
Weekly
Format
Episodic
Consistency
9%
Hosting
feeds.acast.com

Contact & Outreach

About This Podcast

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.



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Recent Episodes

S2E4 An Apple a Day Kept Britain Going

Jan 23, 2026 53m

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…

S2E3 Churchill Drank What? Champagne, myths and the Making of a Wartime Legend

Jan 16, 2026 46m

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…

S2E2 American Presidents: What they drank and why it mattered

Jan 09, 2026 57m

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…

S2E1 French 75s, Granny Sherry & the Night Eggnog Exploded: A Christmas Day in Drinks

Dec 05, 2025 1h 4m

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…

S1E21 History's Most Intoxicating Revelations: Season 1 Top 12

Jun 12, 2025 17m

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…

S1E20 The Angel's Share: 300 Years of Port's Forbidden Sips

May 15, 2025 46m

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 AdrianBridge, the CEO of Taylor's Port,…

S1E19 Mad Men, Sad Wine with Rory Sutherland

May 01, 2025 1h 3m

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…

S1E18 Grape Pretenders, Part 2

Apr 24, 2025 42m

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…

S1E17 The Grape Pretenders: A history of Wine Fraud

Apr 17, 2025 43m

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…

S1E16 The Burton Snatch: Jamie Allsopp & The Ipa Revolution

Apr 10, 2025 50m

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…

S1E15 From Bibles to Capone: Prohibition in the USA

Apr 03, 2025 40m

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…

S1E14 Rome Part 2: The Empire Strikes Bacchus

Mar 27, 2025 37m

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…

S1E13 Rome Part 1: What did the Romans Ever Do for Us?

Mar 20, 2025 39m

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…

S1E12 The Martini Files: The history of the perfect cocktail

Mar 13, 2025 42m

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…

S1E11 Chartreuse To ‘wreck-The-Hoose’ Juice: Monks And The Art Of Distillation

Mar 06, 2025 40m

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,…

S1E10 Johnnie Walker: The Spirit That Ruled The World

Feb 27, 2025 44m

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…

S1E9 Wine and Wimples: How Blue Nun sparked a Global Wine Revolution

Feb 20, 2025 47m

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…

S1E8 WW2 Part 2: From Vines to Victory

Feb 13, 2025 28m

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…

S1E7 WW2 Part 1: Wine, War and the Battle for France’s Vineyards

Feb 06, 2025 37m

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…

S1E6 The Admiral, The Navy, and the Wine That Won the Day

Jan 30, 2025 39m

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…

Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does Intoxicating History have?

Intoxicating History has published 26 episodes since November 2024, covering topics in Arts, Food.

Is Intoxicating History still active?

Intoxicating History is currently dormant with new episodes weekly. Average episode length is 46m.

How do I contact Intoxicating History for sponsorship or guest appearances?

Sign up on Grep.FM to access contact details for Intoxicating History, including email and social media links.

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