27 November

A prolific author of drinking songs – and more delicate poems, too – the Roman poet Quintus Horatius Flaccus, the man who brought us carpe diem (seize the day), died on this day in 8 BC.

Horace also crafted dulce et decorum est pro patria mori (it is a sweet and honourable thing to die for one's country), and, most importantly for us, nunc est bibendum (now is the time for drinking). Much of his work is devoted to the pleasures of wine, women and song.

A lover of the finer things in life, from food to gardens, and a connoisseur of the finest Roman wines, he rose quite phenomenally through Roman society, associating with emperors, generals and politicians despite being the son of a freed slave.

Although Horace died before spirits were first produced, as a maker of toasts, we are sure he would have appreciated this particular concoction: Toasted Old-fashioned Godfather. Whiskey and amaretto are a match made in heaven, if not Olympus.