American Presidents: What they drank and why it mattered

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 wine, drink becomes a way of signalling power, taste, and intent. Along the way, we meet whiskey-loving generals, temperance-minded First Ladies, Prohibition presidents who quietly ignored their own laws, and eras shaped by glamour, chilli, or quiet restraint. Kennedy dazzles with French wine and style. Johnson tears up the rulebook with Texas hospitality. Nixon knows his claret but keeps it close. Reagan recognises the diplomatic value of American wine. Obama brews beer in the White House. Trump sticks to Diet Coke. Together, these choices tell a story of America through glasses raised, rules bent, and the politics of what ends up on the table.

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