Napoleon | A Thirst for Firsts

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The extraordinary origin stories of ordinary drinks

A thirst for firsts

Barbe-Nicole Clicquot Ponsardin, Veuve Clicquot

Barbe-Nicole Clicquot Ponsardin, Veuve Clicquot

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 Angostura bitters

First Angostura bitters

First Angostura bitters

Who knew the bottle of Angostura aromatic bitters, with its oversized label, had such a dramatic and tempestuous history?

Nov 18, 20249 min read

First Green Chartreuse recipe

First Green Chartreuse recipe

First Green Chartreuse recipe

The story of Green Chartreuse, the famous French liqueur still hand-crafted in the Chartreuse Mountains, is steeped in myth, monks and a...

Mar 16, 20238 min read

First Courvoisier cognac

First Courvoisier cognac

First Courvoisier cognac

Courvoisier cognac boasts an incredible origin story; one steeped in adventure & entrepreneurialism (via Napoleon Bonaparte’s court).

Aug 10, 20216 min read

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