Intoxicating History

The Martini Files: The history of the perfect cocktail

The Martini Files: The history of the perfect cocktail

Intoxicating History


Published: 13 March 2025 at 05:00 Europe/London

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Episode notes

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 while  reminiscing about the “Flame of Love” cocktail that Frank Sinatra adored. As ever we are pouring a liberal measure of historical tidbits, personal anecdotes, and useless information essential to understanding  the art and joy of a perfectly crafted martini.


Supported by Taylor’s Port





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