Following a shared trip to Warsaw, Sipping Time is back to discuss the history of Poland’s resilient capital. Nicknamed the ‘Phoenix City’, Warsaw has had an extremely turbulent past - with resoundingly high highs and devastatingly low lows. 

We unpack some of the stories that led to this reputation, seeking to understand the historical contexts of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, the Swedish and Russian wars, and the fascinating rebuilding of the city after the Second World War. 

We also recount the trip itself - with our whisky-infused amblings around the city, and our impressions, as a frequent visitor, and a first-time comer. 

We also dive headfirst into the thrilling story of Sigismund III Vasa, the depicted king upon the Column of Sigismund (Kolumna Zygmunta) in the Old Town. A story of bloody familial betrayals, tremulously vast wars, and ridiculously shaky imposter-tsars… this story has all the makings of an epic film series.

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Hosts: Adrian Cathie and Sami Pontin 

Editing and Design: Adrian Cathie