The great man of letters Charles Lamb was naturally shy — wine allowed him to shine on conversation. Sometimes, though, he would overindulge

We asked our readers to come up with a cocktail recipe that best reflects Western civilisation. The winning drink is both fortifying and delicious

The writer and critic who inspired this column, George Saintsbury, lived for pleasure: reading, women and, of course, fine wine

Edgar Allen Poe may have drunk himself to death but his tastes reveal a staggering ignorance about alcohol