Bottled Histories | Articles on the History of Alcohol from a Drinks Industry Insider

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Selling sophistication: the artistic legacy of early cognac advertising

Early cognac posters fused artistic mastery with commercial intent, using visual elegance to mirror the drink’s high status and affirm it as a symbol of refinement.

6 days ago

A worker operating Boucher's bottle-making machine

Blown away: the true story of Claude Boucher, the man behind the bottle

The idea that wines and spirits are shipped, marketed, and sold to us in bottles seems obvious with hindsight. But it wasn’t always the case.

Apr 30

Liquid gold, or why archives should matter to drinks companies

Building on insights from my attendance of the BAC/BACS 2024 annual conference, let’s explore how archives can create value for drinks companies.

Nov 22, 2024

How a tiny insect changed the fortunes of the world’s most longed-for spirit

In this article we will look into how a deadly louse from America has almost killed cognac and reshaped the world of spirits.

Jul 1, 2024

Hors d'âge: is armagnac really France’s oldest brandy?

It is a common belief that distilling industry was in place in Armagnac way earlier than in Cognac. But is this actually so?

May 14, 2024

Enlightened drinking: distilled spirits in eighteenth-century Paris

Although early French brandy trade is usually associated with foreign demand, eighteenth-century Parisians also regularly consumed spirits.

Apr 11, 2024

Dutch merchants, sweet wine, and the beginnings of the cognac industry

The Dutch played a key role in the emergence of cognac. But how did this occur? What was it exactly that they did? When? And why the Dutch?

Jan 7, 2024

My name is Alexandr Gorokhovskiy, I am a drinks industry professional with twenty years of experience in international spirits marketing, advocacy, and education. During my corporate career, I have worked with many great brands such as Jameson, Absolut, Ballantine’s, Chivas Regal, Royal Salute, Aberlour, The Glenlivet, Beefeater, Avión, Olmeca Altos, Havana Club, and Martell. This last assignment brought me to my new hometown of Cognac (France), where I now run an independent consultancy providing brand equity building services for various drinks companies.