Churchill’s Palate: A Talk and Tasting Event at The Wallace Collection

The Wallace Collection is a museum in London occupying Hertford House in Manchester Square, the former townhouse of the Seymour family, Marquesses of Hertford. It is named after Sir Richard Wallace, who built the extensive collection, along with the Marquesses of Hertford, in the 18th and 19th centuries. 

To celebrate The Wallace Collection showcasing the first major retrospective of Sir Winston Churchill’s paintings since his death, The Whisky Exchange are joining award-winning consumer journalist, Harry Wallop, to explore Winston Churchill’s particular tastes for Cognacs, Wine, Champagne and the famous “mouthwash” of Whisky and Soda.  

Journalist Harry Wallop will reflect on a past journalistic assignment to endeavour to match Churchill’s daily alcoholic intake, “drink for drink”. His research provided a real insight into Churchill’s daily routines and his ability to continue to function at the highest levels of State during one of the most challenging periods in the country’s history. 

There will also be the opportunity to learn from the experts at The Whisky Exchange with three of Churchill’s favourite drinks served after the talk; Hine Rare and Prunier XO Cognacs and Ararat Dvin Brandy, which was famously presented to Churchill by Joseph Stalin at the 1945 Yalta Conference.  

Attendees will also be provided with an opportunity to explore our major retrospective of his work, Winston Churchill: The Painter. 

About the contributors:Harry Wallop writes for a variety of national newspapers and magazines, particularly the Times, where he writes the weekly Harry Wallop column for the business pages, as well as for the Sunday Times, Daily Mail, Mail on Sunday, Guardian, Financial Times and Country Life. 

Harry is also an experienced television presenter and reporter, most notably presenting a clutch of Channel 4 Dispatches programmes. He was given the prestigious Business Journalist of the Year award 2023 by the Foreign Press Association and was highly commended as Business Journalist of the Year 2025 in the UK Press Awards. 

Cover Image: Sir Winston Churchill, Jug and Bottles C176, 1930s. Private Collection. © Churchill Heritage Ltd. Image courtesy Sotheby's