The closely woven relationship between alcohol and the five major social institutions (family, economy, religion, government, and education) has taken Anistatia Miller on a research journey that has spanned from the early origins of alcohol production in Asia to the lives of nineteenth- and twentieth-century bartenders to the French origins of Cuban rum. However, during the past five years her focus has honed in on the economic and social impact of alcohol production and alcohol consumption on life in early modern England (
c.1500-1800). Her main research interests include: -the history of brewing and distilling as well as the roles these industries played in the transformation of the English economy during the Tudor, Stuart, and Georgian periods -the history of London dry gin and eighteenth-century gin production outside of the capital, particularly in Bristol -the history of domestic brewing and distilling as well as mead, cider, and perry production in southwest England As the co-director of Exposition Universelles des Vins et Spiritueux, a private museum of wines and spirits situated in Bandol, France, from 2006 through 2009, I managed the archiving of over 8,000 bottles plus alcohol-related ephemera; the establisment of the museum's web site (
ww.euvs.org); and founded a free, online library of drink and spirits books (
ww.euvslibrary.com). I served as the historical consultant, in 2009 and 2011, for the content and design of the Beefeater Visitor Centre in London. And in 2012, I was the archivist for the historical records of Plymouth Gin held at the Black Friars Distilery in Plymouth, Devon. She am currently working on her PhD thesis which examines the British brewing trade during the Tudor and Stuart periods (1485-1714), focussing on its development in Bristol. The discussion reviews that the impact the early modern brewing trade exerted on the local and national economies as well as four of the five essential social institutions, while it was being shaped by technological advancements and legislative restrictions.
