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47-585: The Stafford is a five star hotel in St James's Place in London, England. Built in the 17th century, its wine cellars may be the oldest in London. Previously used as private residences, the buildings were opened as a hotel in 1912. Allied soldiers used them as air raid shelters during the Second World War . Numbers 16-18 St James's Place were built as private residences in the 17th century. With

94-478: A wine last longer, so they play an important role in the aging of wine . The average number of people who drink as of 2016 was 39% for males and 25% for females (2.4 billion people in total). Females on average drink 0.7 drinks per day while males drink 1.7 drinks per day. The rates of drinking varies significantly in different areas of the world. Alcohol is used in rum-running , the illegal business of smuggling alcoholic beverages where such transportation

141-511: Is exclusively fermented with white sugar , yeast , and water. Fermented water is clarified after the fermentation to produce a colorless or off-white liquid with no discernible taste other than that of ethanol . Mead ( / m iː d / ), also called hydromel, is an alcoholic drink made by fermenting honey with water, sometimes with various fruits , spices , grains , or hops . The alcoholic content of mead may range from as low as 3% ABV to more than 20%. The defining characteristic of mead

188-804: Is a fermented beverage most commonly produced from grapes . Wine involves a longer fermentation process than beer and often a long aging process (months or years), resulting in an alcohol content of 9%–16% ABV . Sparkling wines such French Champagne , Catalan Cava or Italian Prosecco are also made from grapes, with a secondary fermentation . Fruit wines are made from fruits other than grapes , such as plums , cherries , or apples . Distilled beverages (also called liquors or spirit drinks) are alcoholic drinks produced by distilling (i.e., concentrating by distillation ) ethanol produced by means of fermenting grain, fruit, or vegetables. Unsweetened, distilled, alcoholic drinks that have an alcohol content of at least 20% ABV are called spirits . For

235-407: Is a large pub that specializes in beer . A cider house is an establishment that sells alcoholic cider for consumption on the premises. Some cider houses also sell cider "to go", for consumption off the premises. A traditional cider house was often little more than a room in a farmhouse or cottage , selling locally fermented cider. An ouzeri ( Greek ουζερί IPA: [uzeˈri] )

282-501: Is a term used in the United States to describe an improvised alcoholic beverage . It is variously made from apples , oranges , fruit cocktail , fruit juices , hard candy , sugar , high fructose syrup , and possibly other ingredients, including crumbled bread . Drinking games are games which involve the consumption of alcoholic beverages and often enduring the subsequent intoxication resulting from them. Evidence of

329-582: Is a type of Greek tavern which serves ouzo (a Greek liquor) and mezedes (small finger foods ). Pulquerías (or pulcherías) are a type of tavern in Mexico that specialize in serving an alcoholic beverage known as pulque . A tiki bar is a themed drinking establishment that serves elaborate cocktails, especially rum -based mixed drinks such as the Mai Tai and Zombie cocktails. Tiki bars are aesthetically defined by their tiki culture décor which

376-495: Is an unlicensed hotel , liquor-store or other vendor of alcoholic beverages, sometimes with the added connotation of selling poor-quality products. A straw purchaser may receive money or recompense from the underage person in exchange for purchasing the alcohol on their behalf. Alcohol has been used as a currency for transactional sex in South Africa, and Uganda. Pruno also known as prison hooch or prison wine,

423-470: Is between 3% and 50%. Many cultures have a distinct drinking culture , where alcoholic drinks are integrated into parties . Most countries have laws regulating the production, sale, and consumption of alcoholic beverages. For example, some regulations may require the labeling of the percentage alcohol content (as ABV or proof ) and the use of a warning label . Some countries ban the consumption of alcoholic drinks , but they are legal in most parts of

470-637: Is classified as a carcinogen . In 2023, the WHO declared that 'the risk to the drinker’s health starts from the first drop of any alcoholic beverage.' Discovery of late Stone Age jugs suggests that intentionally fermented drinks existed at least as early as the Neolithic period. The oldest verifiable brewery has been found in a prehistoric burial site in a cave near Haifa in modern-day Israel . Researchers have found residue of 13,000-year-old beer that they think might have been used for ritual feasts to honor

517-411: Is forbidden by law. Wine fraud relates to the commercial aspects of wine. The most prevalent type of fraud is one where wines are adulterated, usually with the addition of cheaper products (e.g. juices) and sometimes with harmful chemicals and sweeteners (compensating for color or flavor). Moonshine is illegal to produce and sell in most countries. In Australia, a sly-grog shop (or shanty)

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564-553: Is often used for medicinal purposes . It may be a grain spirit, or it may be made from other plants. It is used in mixed drinks , liqueurs , and tinctures , and also as a household solvent . In the alcoholic drinks industry, congeners are substances produced during fermentation . These substances include small amounts of chemicals such as occasionally desired alcohols, like propanol and 3-methyl-1-butanol , as well as compounds that are never desired such as acetone , acetaldehyde and glycols . Congeners are responsible for most of

611-653: Is that the majority of the drink's fermentable sugar is derived from honey. Mead can also be referred to as "honeywine." Pulque is the Mesoamerican fermented drink made from the "honey water" of maguey , Agave americana . Pulque can be distilled to produce tequila or Mezcal . Rice wine is an alcoholic drink fermented and possibly distilled from rice , consumed in East Asia , Southeast Asia and South Asia . Sake , huangjiu , mijiu , and cheongju are popular examples of East Asian rice wine . Wine

658-443: Is wine that has had a spirit added to it. Many different styles of fortified wine have been developed, including port , sherry, madeira , marsala , commandaria , and the aromatized wine vermouth . Rectified spirit , also called "neutral grain spirit", is alcohol which has been purified by means of "rectification" (i.e. repeated distillation). The term neutral refers to the spirit's lack of flavor that would have been present if

705-535: The Great Rebellion . The alcohol monopoly system has a long history in various countries, often implemented to limit the availability and consumption of alcohol for public health and social welfare reasons. The alcohol monopoly was created in the Swedish town of Falun in 1850, to prevent overconsumption and reduce the profit motive for sales of alcohol. It later went all over the country in 1905 when

752-784: The Swedish parliament ordered all sales of vodka to be done via local alcohol monopolies. In 1894, the Russian Empire established a state monopoly on vodka, which became a major source of revenue for the Russian government. Later in the nineteenth century opposition to alcohol grew in the form of the temperance movement , in the United States , United Kingdom , Canada , Scandinavia and India , and it eventually led to national prohibitions in Canada (1918 to 1920), Norway (spirits only from 1919 to 1926 ), Finland (1919 to 1932), and

799-724: The caves used to store wine in France, is ideal for both short-term storage and long-term aging of wine. Wine generally matures differently and more slowly at a lower temperature than it does at a higher temperature. When the temperature swings are significant, 14 degrees or more, it will cause the wine to breathe through the cork which significantly speeds up the aging process. Between 10–14 °C (50–57 °F), wines will age normally. Wine cellars can be either active or passively cooled. Active wine cellars are highly insulated and need to be properly constructed. They require specialized wine cellar conditioning and cooling systems to maintain

846-439: The congeners . Freeze distillation concentrates ethanol along with methanol and fusel alcohols (fermentation by-products partially removed by distillation) in applejack . Fortified wine is wine, such as port or sherry , to which a distilled beverage (usually brandy ) has been added. Fortified wine is distinguished from spirits made from wine in that spirits are produced by means of distillation , while fortified wine

893-471: The 17th century CE. They house over 8000 bottles of wines and Champagnes , including many rare and precious vintages and a selection of Armagnac , port and single malt whiskies , some dating back to the 1920s. The cellars host an informal museum, with artefacts left by Canadian and American servicemen and women in World War II. The last remaining casket and wine corking machinery are also on show in

940-554: The 19th century, number 17 St. James Place was owned by Lord Lyttenton and his wife. In 1849, the family left the house when Lady Lyttelton became a nanny to Queen Victoria ’s children. In the succeeding years, number 17 became the Richmond Club Chambers, Green's Private Hotel and St James's Palace Hotel. In 1886, the Stafford Club moved into number 18. In 1912, number 16 was added to 17 and 18 to become

987-635: The Encouraging of the Distillation of Brandy and Spirits from Corn" Alcoholic beverages played an important role in the Thirteen Colonies from their early days when drinking wine and beer at that time was safer than drinking water – which was usually taken from sources also used to dispose of sewage and garbage. Drinking hard liquor was common occurrence in early nineteenth-century United States. The Whiskey Rebellion (also known as

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1034-780: The Stafford Hotel. At some point, the Madame Prunier wine shipping company moved into the wine cellars. During the Second World War , the Stafford served as an air raid shelter for American and Canadian officers stationed in London. This led to the formation of the Better 'Ole Club whose membership includes the Prince of Wales . During the war, Simone Prunier, a restaurateur in Paris and London, housed her collection of wine in

1081-527: The Stafford was bought by Daniel Thwaites plc, a family-controlled Lancashire based brewery. The hotel underwent a six-month closure for major refurbishment in 1996 and an annual spend of over £1 million on redecorating and replacing fabrics and furniture. In 2007 the ‘all suite’ Stafford Mews building was opened. In 2009, The Stafford was purchased by Britannia Hospitality Limited and in 2010 it became part of their Kempinski Hotels collection. In 2014 The Stafford redirected its focus, moved away from Kempinski and

1128-550: The United States (1920 to 1933), as well as provincial prohibition in India (1948 to present). Beer is a beverage fermented from grain mash . It is typically made from barley or a blend of several grains and flavored with hops . Most beer is naturally carbonated as part of the fermentation process. If the fermented mash is distilled, then the drink becomes a spirit . Beer is the most consumed alcoholic beverage in

1175-478: The Whiskey Insurrection) was a violent tax protest in the United States beginning in 1791 and ending in 1794 during the presidency of George Washington . The so-called "whiskey tax" was the first tax imposed on a domestic product by the newly formed federal government. Beer was difficult to transport and spoiled more easily than rum and whiskey. The Rum Rebellion of 1808 was a coup d'état in

1222-836: The White Mouse), an intelligence agent for the British during World War II, became a Stafford resident in 2001, and celebrated her 90th birthday at the hotel. In 2003, when she entered a nursing home, the Stafford owners absorbed most of the costs of her hotel stay (parts of her bills were paid by Prince Charles ). In 2020, The Stafford became part of the Stafford Collection, including Norma restaurant in Fitzrovia, London and Northcote hotel in Lancashire. The Stafford wine cellars were built by Francis Godolphin in

1269-452: The addition of number 18 in 1912, the block of houses was converted into the Stafford Hotel. Since its founding, the hotel has passed through several ownership groups and undergone a major renovation. Numbers 16, 17, and 18 were all constructed as homes in the 17th century. During this period, Lord Francis Godolphin built an extensive wine cellar under the houses. Reportedly, the wine cellar had doorways that led to St James's Palace . During

1316-612: The cellars for safekeeping. The cellars also served as public bomb shelters . In 1947 the Costain Company, headed by Sir Richard Costain, purchased the Stafford. In 1985 it was sold to Trafalgar House , to complement their ownership of the Ritz and Cunard Line . Cunard oversaw the development of the Carriage House rooms in the late 1980s and established the Stafford as a favourite with North American visitors. In 1995,

1363-459: The dead. The traces of a wheat-and-barley-based alcohol were found in stone mortars carved into the cave floor. The Carmona Wine Urn is a first century Roman glass urn containing intact wine . Discovered in 2019 in Carmona, Spain during excavations of the city's western Roman necropolis , analysis of the urn's contents five years after has deemed the vessel as the oldest surviving wine in

1410-463: The desired temperature and humidity. In a very dry climate, it may be necessary to actively humidify the air, but in most areas this is not necessary. Passive wine cellars must be located in naturally cool and damp areas with minor seasonal and diurnal temperature variations, for example, a basement in a temperate climate. Passive cellars may be less predictable, but cost nothing to operate and are not affected by power outages . Some wine experts debate

1457-575: The distillation of various substances. The distillation of wine is attested in Arabic works attributed to al-Kindī ( c.  801 –873 CE) and to al-Fārābī ( c.  872 –950), and in the 28th book of al-Zahrāwī 's (Latin: Abulcasis, 936–1013) Kitāb al-Taṣrīf (later translated into Latin as Liber servatoris ). 12th century: The process of distillation spread from the Middle East to Italy, where distilled alcoholic drinks were recorded in

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1504-417: The existence of drinking games dates back to antiquity. Drinking games have been banned at some institutions, particularly colleges and universities. A drinking song is a song sung while drinking an alcoholic beverage. A beer garden (German: Biergarten ) is an outdoor area in which beer and food are served, typically at shared tables shaded by trees. A beer hall ( German : Bierpalast, Bierhalle )

1551-467: The floor periodically sprinkled with a little water was recommended to retain the desired humidity. Alcoholic beverages This is an accepted version of this page An alcoholic beverage (also called an adult beverage , alcoholic drink , strong drink , or simply a drink ) is a beverage containing alcohol (ethanol) . Alcoholic drinks are typically divided into three classes— beers , wines , and spirits —and typically their alcohol content

1598-493: The importance of humidity for proper wine storage. In the Wine Spectator , writer Matt Kramer noted a French study which claimed that the relative humidity within a bottle is maintained 100% regardless of the closure used or the orientation of the bottle. However, Alexis Lichine says that low humidity can be a problem because it may cause organic corks to dry prematurely. One inch (2.5 cm) of gravel covering

1645-613: The last month. Several other animals are affected by alcohol similarly to humans and, once they consume it, will consume it again if given the opportunity, though humans are the only species known to produce alcoholic drinks intentionally. Alcohol is a depressant , which in low doses causes euphoria , reduces anxiety , and increases sociability. In higher doses, it causes drunkenness , stupor , unconsciousness , or death . Long-term use can lead to an alcohol use disorder , an increased risk of developing several types of cancer , cardiovascular disease , and physical dependence . Alcohol

1692-924: The main chamber of the cellars. Wine cellars Wine cellars protect alcoholic beverages from potentially harmful external influences, providing darkness , constant temperature , and constant humidity . Wine is a natural, perishable food product issued from fermentation of fruit. Left exposed to heat, light, vibration or fluctuations in temperature and humidity , all types of wine can spoil. When properly stored, wines not only maintain their quality but many actually improve in aroma, flavor, and complexity as they mature. Depending on their level of sugar and alcohol, wines are more or less sensitive to temperature variances; wine with higher alcohol and/or sugar content will be less sensitive to temperature variance. Wine can be stored satisfactorily between 7–18 °C (45–64 °F) as long as any variations are gradual. A temperature of 13 °C (55 °F), much like that found in

1739-425: The mash ingredients had been distilled to a lower level of alcoholic purity. Rectified spirit also lacks any flavoring added to it after distillation (as is done, for example, with gin ). Other kinds of spirits, such as whiskey , (or whisky) are distilled to a lower alcohol percentage to preserve the flavor of the mash. Rectified spirit is a clear, colorless, flammable liquid that may contain as much as 95% ABV . It

1786-575: The mid-12th century. In Italy, the works of Taddeo Alderotti (1223–1296) describe a method for concentrating alcohol involving repeated fractional distillation through a water-cooled still. By the early 14th century, distilled alcoholic drinks had spread throughout the European continent . Distillation spread to Ireland and Scotland no later than the 15th century, as did the common European practice of distilling " aqua vitae ", primarily for medicinal purposes. in 1690, England passed "An Act for

1833-495: The most common distilled drinks, such as whisky (or whiskey) and vodka, the alcohol content is around 40%. The term hard liquor is used in North America to distinguish distilled drinks from undistilled ones (implicitly weaker). Brandy , gin , mezcal , rum , tequila , vodka , whisky (or wiskey) , baijiu , shōchū and soju are examples of distilled drinks. Distilling concentrates the alcohol and eliminates some of

1880-784: The neolithic village of Jiahu in the Henan province of northern China revealed residue left behind by the alcoholic drinks they had once contained. According to a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences , chemical analysis of the residue confirmed that a fermented drink made of grape and hawthorn fruit wine, honey mead and rice beer was being produced in 7000–5600 BC (McGovern et al., 2005; McGovern 2009). The results of this analysis were published in December 2004. The earliest evidence of winemaking

1927-439: The taste and aroma of distilled alcoholic drinks and contribute to the taste of non-distilled drinks. It has been suggested that these substances contribute to the symptoms of a hangover . Tannins are congeners found in wine in the presence of phenolic compounds. Wine tannins add bitterness, have a drying sensation, taste herbaceous, and are often described as astringent . Wine tannins add balance, complexity, structure and make

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1974-528: The then-British penal colony of New South Wales , staged by the New South Wales Corps in order to depose Governor William Bligh . Australia's first and only military coup, its name derives from the illicit rum trade of early Sydney , over which the 'Rum Corps', as it became known, maintained a monopoly. During the first half of the 19th century, it was widely referred to in Australia as

2021-617: The world, surpassing the previous record holder, the Speyer wine bottle (discovered in 1867) by three centuries. Beer was likely brewed from barley as early as 13,000 years ago in the Middle East. Pliny the Elder wrote about the golden age of winemaking in Rome , the 2nd century BCE (200–100 BCE), when vineyards were planted. Examination and analysis of ancient pottery jars from

2068-504: The world. Cider or cyder ( / ˈ s aɪ d ər / SY -dər ) is a fermented alcoholic drink made from any fruit juice ; apple juice (traditional and most common), peaches , pears (" Perry " cider) or other fruit. Cider alcohol content varies from 1.2% ABV to 8.5% or more in traditional English ciders. In some regions, cider may be called " apple wine ". Fermented water is an ethanol -based water solution with approximately 15-17% ABV without sweet reserve . Fermented water

2115-421: The world. The temperance movement advocates against the consumption of alcoholic beverages. The global alcoholic drink industry exceeded $ 1.5 trillion in 2017. Alcohol is one of the most widely used recreational drugs in the world, and about 33% of all humans currently drink alcohol. In 2015, among Americans , 86% of adults had consumed alcohol at some point, with 70% drinking it in the last year and 56% in

2162-586: Was accepted into membership of The Preferred Hotel Group. In 2017 the Carriage House suites were redesigned in collaboration with designer Alexandra Champalimaud. In 2017 The Stafford launched its new restaurant, The Game Bird, with James Durrant as the chef. In 2021, the Game Bird became under the direction of Michelin-starred chef Lisa Goodwin-Allen , Executive Chef of Northcote in Lancashire, and Executive Chef Jozef Rogulski. Nancy Wake (nicknamed

2209-629: Was dated at 6,000 to 5,800 BCE in Georgia in the South Caucasus . Celtic people were known to have been making types of alcoholic cider as early as 3000 BC. and wine was consumed in Classical Greece at breakfast or at symposia , and in the 1st century BC. Medieval Muslim chemists such as Jābir ibn Ḥayyān (Latin: Geber, ninth century) and Abū Bakr al-Rāzī (Latin: Rhazes, c.  865–925 ) experimented extensively with

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