How Freddie Mercury Took His Tea, Vodka And More
There is a panoply of larger-than-life figures in the history of rock and roll, but very few have captured the cultural imagination quite like the original frontman of Queen, vocal powerhouse Freddie Mercury. The eccentric singer made a name for himself with his astounding vocal range, expert craftsmanship in his songwriting, and of course his charismatic personality both on and off stage. As such, Mercury managed to build a passionate fanbase over the course of his career — a fanbase that has largely endured even after his unfortunate passing in 1991.
Mercury has become something of a beloved icon to his fans, who love to know each minute detail of the figure's lifestyle. When it comes to uncovering the details of his food and drink habits, fans can thank Peter "Phoebe" Freestone, Mercury's longtime friend and personal assistant, who has provided insight on the matter. In answering various questions about the singer in a blog titled "Ask Phoebe," Freestone said in a 2017 entry: "As a rough guide it was tea in the morning, champagne/wine in the later afternoon and with food, and vodka and tonic in the evening." Let's explore the details of how (and when) this superstar took his beverages.
A certain tea for his morning routine
Freddie Mercury was evidently a creature of habit when it came to his drinks, as Phoebe Freestone details. "As for brands, we generally kept to the same throughout the time at Garden Lodge." So, which type of tea was Mercury's preference? According to Freestone, it was Twinings Earl Grey with milk and two sugars.
His choice isn't exactly surprising. Earl Grey is a widely consumed tea in Mercury's native England. In fact, the black tea and bergamot blend was actually created as a gift to former British Prime Minister Charles Grey, establishing its place as a popular choice in British culture from the outset. It's likely that you've heard of Mercury's preferred brand, Twinings, a British tea company that sits among the best tea brands on the market.
Mercury taking milk and sugar in his tea is slightly surprising though — not because it's uncommon (many people take one or the other in black tea if not both), but rather because dairy and added sugar can have negative effects on one's ability to sing. But Mercury was evidently aware of the need to care for his voice. In the same blog post, Freestone speaks of Mercury always having a "hot lemon and honey drink on hand" prior to a performance. However, with the vocal abilities that Mercury clearly had, it's doubtful that a morning tea would hold him back very much.
Wine in the afternoon
Who doesn't love a crisp glass of white wine or Champagne? For Freddie Mercury, it represented a part of his afternoon ritual as well as an area in which he became quite well-versed. Phoebe Freestone states in his blog post that Mercury picked up quite a bit of knowledge surrounding the art of wine, saying, "Freddie was actually quite knowledgeable about wine and he would know which one he would want with various meals with friends." A rockstar and a personal sommelier — not a bad friend to have.
As far as his afternoon wine brands were concerned, Freestone makes it known that Mercury was a little more discerning: "The champagne was usually Louis Roederer Cristal and the white wine was his favourite imported from Switzerland, San Saphorin." Louis Roederer Cristal was crafted in 1876 to cater to the then-Tsar of Russia, Alexander II. This is a balanced and refreshing Champagne selection that is clearly fit for a king.
As for Mercury's choice of white wine, details are hard to come by on exactly which Swiss wine he preferred, since San (or Saint) Saphorin is actually a whole wine-producing region near the shores of Lake Geneva. This region mostly produces wines from the chasselas grape, as well as pinot noir, gamay, and merlot varietals.
Can't go wrong with a vodka tonic
Freddie Mercury loved tonic water for his cocktails. But he often chose to forgo the traditionally-British gin for a more neutral tasting option: vodka. Phoebe Freestone writes that Mercury's favorite vodka was Stolichnaya, "but in some countries that isn't available so he would drink Moscovskaya, really the same under a different name. Schweppes was the preferred mixer."
You've likely heard of Schweppes, as it's a popular soft drink brand dating back to 1783. As for vodka, Mercury proves that his taste for quality doesn't stop at wine. Stolichnaya, a Latvian triple-filtered vodka, ranks well among other ultimate vodka brands. It's renowned for its smoothness, especially when you consider its price compared to other premium vodkas.
Interestingly, Freestone is onto something when he claims that Moscovskaya is virtually the same as Stolichnaya. According to Difford's Guide, Moscovskaya is owned by the same company that produces Stoli. Even though it's made in a different distillery, Moscovskaya is subject to the same legal parameters as its popular counterpart. However, it's important to note that this merger seems to have taken place in 1997, after Mercury's death, so it's difficult to know just how similar these were when Mercury was drinking his vodka tonics. Either way, whether it's tea, wine, or vodka, you can celebrate the late rock legend with one of his favorite beverages next time you're listening to Queen.