The Chronicle
Latest dispatches
20 results across all types
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Great Drinkers: Peter The Great
Peter the Great uses booze as a tool for entertainment and power in the Russian court and his activities beggar belief
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Dutch Courage
The origin of the the phrase Dutch Courage
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Best New (to me) Drinks of 2025
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Drinking: why are we in denial about the fun bit?
Picture by Mauricio Mascaro I was recently on the hunt for some good drinking anecdotes. My tasting events are built around a broader narrative from alcohol history, but without amusing tales and trivia, they’d be a bit dry for an audience getting steadily merry. So I googled "drinking stories". A bit vague, sure, but sometimes casting the net wide brings in a good catch.* It might not surprise you as much as it did me, but entertaining tales of mischief were not what the internet bestowed upon me. Nope. Instead, I found tales of woe, recovery, trauma, shame, and abuse - towards the self and others. In previous essays, I’ve explored the historically precedented conditions that have led us to a point where hedonism has become unfashionable. But I’m not interested today in the socio-economic reasons behind the decline in alcohol consumption. I want to talk about the attitude shift. Not “Why are people drinking less?” but “How has our attitude to it changed?” How is the decline in alcohol
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What Are We Replacing Hedonism With? - A History of Hedonism Part 2
If we are abandoning hedonism as we arrive in more chaotic times, what are we replacing it with, and what are the historical precedents?
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Why Aren’t Young People Drinking Like We Did? - A history of hedonism
Roman hedonism Among those of us in hospitality and drinks, the question of why young people are drinking less has become a post-lockdown obsession. Every week, there’s another post or panel trying to crack the code of Gen Z messaging. But this trend has little to do with features & benefits, branding, or curated personal brands. It has everything to do with the socio-economic climate we all live in - and which younger generations feel more intensely. Yes, camera phones and social media have made public intoxication riskier - few want a drunken moment to be immortalised online. But that only matters when there’s a cultural desire to get drunk in the first place. This isn’t just about being watched, it’s about not feeling like partying. It’s tempting to think that hard times push people towards intoxication as escapism. But hedonism flourishes in stable times, not chaotic ones. People have always drunk and taken recreational drugs, but when safety, affluence, and optimism return, intoxi
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Gin Tastings vs Wine Tastings: which is best for your event
Wine tastings have long been a go-to for parties, client events and team socials. They’re familiar, polished and widely appreciated. But ask around and you’ll likely find that most people have never been to a gin tasting - and that’s where the magic lies. A well-crafted gin tasting isn’t just a drinking experience. It’s a guided journey through history, flavour and storytelling – with plenty of surprises along the way. So how do gin tastings compare to wine tastings, and which one’s right for your next event? A Tale in Every Glass Wine tastings are all about the grape - the variety, the region, the vintage. You’ll learn about the land, the weather, the winemaker’s choices. It’s a deep dive into nature and nurture, with centuries of tradition behind every bottle. Gin tastings , by contrast, tell a different kind of story. Gin’s history is filled with drama - from its medicinal beginnings to the wild days of London’s Gin Craze, right through to today’s renaissance of craft distilling. Ea
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Cocktail Recipe - The Cosmonaut
The story There’s plenty of cocktails that are variations on previous ones. Ingredients or methods tinkered with until the bartender is satisfied he has improved upon the original. The Cosmonaut is the only one I can think of that was invented as a reaction against a popular cocktail. Sasha Petraske was a New York based bar owner who had earned his place in cocktail history well before his untimely passing at the age of 43. He opened Milk & Honey on new year’s eve 1999 and more than any other is considered the first of the modern speakeasy style bars. Any time you have to go downstairs into a windowless bar with 1920s stylings, you have Petraske to thank for the enjoyable experience that awaits. Milk & Honey operated a set of charming house rules including ‘no shouting’ and ‘gentlemen will not introduce themselves to ladies. Ladies, feel free to start a conversation. If a man you don;t know speaks to you, please left your chin slightly and ignore him’ Amongst Petraske’s legacy du
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Cocktail Recipe - The Sazerac
The story While you can’t trademark a cocktail, there are four cocktails in the world whose names are trademarked. The Dark n’ Stormy, the Hand Grenade, the Painkiller and the Sazerac. The Saverac is essentially a local variant of an Old Fashioned and its origins go back to the first half of the 19th century. Back then it was made with cognac as the primary spirit and was invented by New Orleans pharmacist Antoine Peychaud, inventor of Peychaud’s Bitters, as a health restoring elixir. Cognac is of course a grape based spirit and following a vineyard epidemic in the 1880s, the recipe changed to American rye whiskey instead. Aside from the choice of rye whiskey (as opposed to bourbon) and aniseed notes of the absinthe, the other notable difference between a Sazerac and an Old Fashioned is in their traditional servings, with Sazeracs served neat rather than on the rocks. There are different ways to make a Sazerac. I prefer to use a sugar cube, but sugar syrup can be used and it’ll still b
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Cocktail Recipe - Peach & Blackberry Bramble
What’s matter? You’re not a reader? Then scroll down to the video. The story I love a Bramble. Invented by the late great Dick Bradsell in the mid 80s, it’s a triumph of sour and sweet - gin, blackberry liqueur, lemon juice and sugar syrup. It manages to appeal to most cocktail fans - it’s technically a sour, but it’s also quite spirit forward and the fruitiness appeals to the summer cocktail crowd. Aldi recently asked me to create a cocktail that used their Haysmiths Blackberry and Raspberry Gin. I excitedly invented the Peach & Blackberry Bramble. Turns out someone had already invented it. Although I don’t think anyone has done it with blackberry gin. So I’ve only invented a variation. Anyway, it’s great. Off you go! Ingredients: 50ml Blackberry Gin* 25ml Peach Liqueur 20ml Freshly squeezed Lemon Juice Garnish - sprig of mint and 2 blackberries I’ve tried this with Haysmith’s Blackberry & Raspberry Bramble Gin. It’s super cheap and decent. If you want a more expensive option, I
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Gin Review - Harpusa Dry Gin
Tasting notes for Harpusa Himalayan Gin and perfect serve.
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The Duke’s Martini vs Ass Juice: New York in Two Drinks
In my work, I’m constantly reminded that it’s the experience people remember the most. It’s not what I ask them to taste, or what I ask them to pay but how I make them feel. This reality was borne out gloriously on a recent trip to New York. Two bars, two drinks, two experiences. Radically different in atmosphere, price point and quality. Both fantastic experiences. First there was the Lobby Bar at the legendary Hotel Chelsea , famous for hosting everyone from Warhol to Joplin and renowned for serving one of the best Martinis in Manhattan, a reputation that proved itself well earned. The bar is opulence itself - chandeliers, marble but very tasteful and silent but for the quiet chatter of its patrons, while the bartenders attend in white jacket and black tie. They make friendly conversation in hushed polite terms, and leave to attend other duties at the exact right time. The drink? A Duke’s Martini ($31). Vermouth is poured into the chilled glass, while a bottle of Tanqueray No 10 is t
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IWD: In Praise of Maria the Jewess
Maria the Jewess and the invention of distillation Without the invention of the still, I wouldn’t have a job. The general historical consensus is that the first person known to have distilled alcohol was the great Arab alchemist Jābir Ibn Hayyan (c.AD 721-815). His part in the eventual invention of Gin is unsurprisingly the least of the accolades and perhaps on International Men’s Day, I’ll go into that further. Behind every great man is a great woman, but in the case of Jābir, there was a great woman about 700 years before him. Maria the Jewess. Maria lived in the Egyptian city of Alexandria and is considered one of the first people that wrote about alchemy. What is alchemy? Alchemy isn’t the crackpot pursuit of turning lead into gold. Well, at least it’s not only that. Alchemy was a mixture of science, pseudo-science and philosophy and was the progenitor to chemistry and modern medicine. Western alchemy, the one we know the most about, was defined by its dogged pursuit of three
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Boozy Books - World Book Day Special
World Book Day is upon us. In the UK, we celebrate this by either sending our children to school dressed as characters that might have a connection to literature or by pontificating about how tenuous that connection is. Essentially we get to engage in competitive parenting and snobbery, which people seem to enjoy. It hasn’t got much to do with reading. Anyway, it’s inspired me to recommend some books on drinking. Best Book about the History of Gin Gin Glorious Gin by Olivia Williams There are lots of books about Gin. Most are feeble efforts designed as Christmas presents for the gin drinker in your life, cheerfully received but destined to be taken, unread, to the charity shop, but there are a few that are worth reading. History scholar and gin fan Olivia Williams manages to condense gin’s history into 300 pages but includes enough detail for it to come across as thorough and well researched, and Williams has a writing style that is accessible and witty. It’s anything but (Londo
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Cocktail Recipe - Hot Turmeric and Ginger Toddy - Alcohol free (and the boozy) version.
Introduction So it’s a cold wet day in January. You’ve lived rather too well over Christmas and not got outside enough, leaving yourself vulnerable to illness. OK, I’ve talking about myself but I’m sure I’m not alone. Frankly, I don’t feel like a Martini today. I need to mend. So I thought I’d share a more medicinal cocktail and since it’s Dry January for many, I’ve eschewed the usual spirits. However I’ll explain how to make it boozy if you’d like. First up, credit where it’s due, the inspiration for this came from the splendid Mistress of Mocktails site . My version is slightly different in that it’s vegan, and the quantities have been changed to suit my taste This is a cozy and warming cocktail, perfect for sipping under a blanket. The more sorry for yourself you feel, the nicer it tastes too. Ingredients Water (enough to fill your favourite mug, and a bit more!) ½ tsp Ground Turmeric 1 tsp Chopped Fresh Ginger ½ tsp Ground Cinnamon 1 tbsp Maple Syrup (on honey if that’s your thing)
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Gin Review - Blood Monkey
Blood Monkey isn’t like other gins. Yes, I know they all claim that, but honestly - it’s very different indeed
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Cocktail Recipe - French 75
History Who was the greatest bartender of all? Many have their favourites but Harry MacElhone would feature in most lists. Born in Dundee in 1890, Harry learned the ropes at the New York Bar in Paris before travelling to the best place to become a master of the trade - the States. After stints in Connecticut and New York and fulfilling his national duty in the Air Force in World War 1, Harry took up a position at Ciro’s Club in London. Following in the tradition started by the father of modern bartending Jerry Thomas (1830-1885), Harry had his first bartending book published in 1921, Harry of Ciro’s ABC of Mixing Cocktails. After moving to France to launch Ciro’s in the French seaside resort Deauville, he finally bought his first bar in 1923 - the very place he had started, now renamed Harry’s New York Bar. The history of cocktails, and alcohol generally, is a tapestry of competing origin stories and contradictory claims. MacElhone is credited with creating quite a few that are still w
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London Craft Gin Cruise Preview: Interview with Wessex Distillery
This summer I’ll be hosting the London Craft Gin Cruise, plying our guests with the finest craft gins and having a right old good time. We’re lucky to be joined on our June cruise by the talented folk behind Wessex Gin who have one of the finest selections we’ve tried. And we’ve tried a few. Rebecca Monks, their events manager, was kind enough to answer our questions! What do you feel sets you apart from other gins out there? "Wessex is a family run distillery. Our Gooseberry and Elderflower Gin, along with our Rhubarb and Ginger Gin, are made up of one-third fresh pressed fruit juice. This sets us apart as most distilleries use artificial flavouring in their gins. Therefore, our Gins are much more fresh and tasty. We have also recently won the IWSC UK Gin Producer of the Year! Since opening in 2017, our Wessex Gins have won multiple international Gold awards. Our Wyvern Classic Gin has won four gold international awards." Which gins will you be bringing along to the cruise
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Top 10 Gins from the Nautilus Smugglers' Club 2020-2022
So from June 2020 to August 2022 the Nautilus Smugglers’ Club delivered the finest gins around the gins round. It was a labour of love. As well as giving me the opportunity to meet a lot of people and talk about gin, it also kept me relentlessly trying amazing gin. Anyway, here are my favourite gins from the ones we sent out of those two years. 1. Defiance Old Tom (May 2021) I’ve featured two Old Toms in the club, but this is probably my favourite. Sweet and smoky on account of the pine sap syrup used in the process. Oldham’s Defiance are probably my favourite distillery simply by virtue of them having three of the finest gins I’ve tried. Purchase here 2. Lind and Lime (January 2021) I like a flavoured gin, but it’s unusual for me to like one this much. Based in Leith and released while the new distillery waits for its whiskey to age, this is lime and pink peppercorns but the magic is in the balance of lime and juniper. Purchase here 3. Tarsier Dry (January 2022) I’m pretty fickl
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Tasting Notes: Audemus Pink Pepper Gin (August 2022 subscription)
Your gin this month is Audemus Pink Pepper Gin! Audemus is distilled in the village of Cognac. Picture, if you will, the enormous distilleries of Cognac, supplying the region’s famous brandy to the world, vast warehouses of copper stills churning out hundreds of litres a day. Now delete that image. True to the spirit of craft gin, Audemus gin is made in the living room of the distiller himself. Pink Pepper gin is their flagship concoction and it’s wonderful. So, my crew, pour yourself a neat splash and lift the glass for one last time together. On the nose, there’s quite a lot going on - there’s the familiar juniper hit, a touch of cardamom, a hint of vanilla and of course that mix of peppery and sweet that is really unique to the pink peppercorn (aside: while pink and black peppercorns are both dried flowers, they are not actually related). On the palate, the pink pepper really takes centre stage with a spice heat that develops and then dies away again on the finish to be replaced by