First Jägermeister
Jägermeister is herbal hell for some and party central for others. A spirit that is simultaneously described as a liqueur, a digestif, a medicine and a student rite of passage. As a drink, it’s intriguing and confusing in equal measure. It doesn’t have a trendy bottle, its name is hard to say, no one is 100% sure what’s in it and its history comes with a hint of Nazism. Curious to know more?
Nov 2911 min read
First wine cork
How and why did a bit of tree bark start being used for closing wine bottles? And who was the first person to think it was a good idea?
Oct 1611 min read
First drinks ‘toast’
Where did the ritual of the drinks toast come from? And why is it named after a burnt bit of bread?
Sep 2810 min read
First 0,0% ABV beer (alcohol-free)
This is the story of the first 0,0% ABV beer, commonly known as ‘alcohol-free’.
Jul 287 min read
First decaffeinated coffee
Who would have thought a product as wholesome and seemingly innocuous as decaffeinated coffee would have such a strong Nazi subplot?
May 119 min read
First vintage champagne
The world’s first vintage champagne was made in 1810, just outside the city of Reims in northeastern France, by a bright, bold, business-savvy trailblazing widow (‘veuve’ in French) called Barbe-Nicole Clicquot Ponsardin, forever immortalised as Veuve Clicquot.
Apr 2111 min read
First Guinness
Like the stout itself, this is a rich and deliciously moreish tale recounting the incredible history of the world's first Guinness beer
Feb 2812 min read
