Popular drink was the cream of the crop
Harvey’s Bristol Cream is something consumed by grandmothers at Christmas, according to Charlotte Carpenter’s friends. But she’s been looking into its history, and to the times when it was very fashionable indeed.
IT’S a very recognisable blue bottle, typically seen at Christmas, usually found in the hands of grandparents. It can only be one thing – a bottle of Harveys Bristol Cream, of course!
A straw-poll of University of Bristol students about their knowledge of this historically Bristolian beverage was met with a lot of questions: everyone asked “What is that?”
Hardly any had ever tried it, and common connection, unsurprisingly, was “My Grandma drinks Harveys.”
Despite being practically unknown to younger people, the timeless Harveys is one of the most famous drinks brands that Bristol has ever produced.
The youth’s modern association of Harveys with the older generation and festive period has not always been the case. It was once a trendy and sophisticated choice.
It all began in 1796 on Denmark
Street, as William Perry partnered with Thomas Urch, establishing the roots of the now globally successful brand.
Most of England’s sherry trade passed through the port of Bristol, making the city the perfect location for Harveys.
John Harvey joined as an apprentice in 1822, and by 1839 became a senior partner, eventually naming the business in 1871 as John Harvey & Sons.
The company grew, as the fortified wine was being shipped and blended back and forth between Spain and familiar docks of Bristol.
The Harvey brothers, John and Edward, began to experiment with their beverage, blending grapes to create the perfect flavour.
When trying out one of these new blends, the legend tells us that an aristocratic lady remarked ‘If that’s Bristol milk, then this is the cream.’
The cream of Bristol was what it certainly became. Favoured for its sweet yet spiced aroma and delicate amber hue, the unique blend of Fino, Oloroso, Pedro Ximenez and Amontillado grapes became a popular choice, soon to be known as the famous Bristol Cream.
First sold in 1882 Bristol Cream fast became popular. Whether it was being ordered at a bar by the classy woman, reached for out of the cupboard by a tired mother hoping to soothe her crying child, or savoured at the local pub after work, the Bristol Cream became a favourite.
By the 1970s, Harveys were annually selling a million cases of Harveys Bristol Cream and were expanding internationally.
By then the company had outgrown its Denmark Street base and moved to Whitchurch Lane, relocating in order to work on a larger scale on the outskirts of Bristol.
During this upsizing, John Harvey & Sons became Harveys of Bristol Ltd, though the premises at Whitchurch are now more familiarly known as the very successful Bottle Yard TV & Movie Studios, who to name a few, have produced Tipping Point (ITV), Poldark (BBC One) and Broadchurch (ITV).
Harveys retained their original premises, making use of the cellars situated in the basement previously used to store alcohol, in 1962 Harveys transformed the underground space into Harveys Cellars restaurant and wine museum.
The illuminated and atmospheric restaurant was known as the chic spot about town. Any older Bristolian readers will remember this dining experience which catered for the well-to-do and upper class. Often recalled as tasteful and expensive, you would have been lucky to visit this restaurant for your birthday celebrations, let alone on the everyday for a bite to eat.
After a successful period during which the restaurant gained a Michelin star, Harveys’ restaurant closed in 2003. Nowadays, the iconic site has been replaced with Wongs Chinese restaurant, with all traces of the once thriving Harveys eatery removed.
Following the move to Whitchurch Lane, Harveys gradually began their relocation to the Spanish region of Jerez. Taking advantage of the warmer climate and expansive grounds, the sherry is now blended and produced beneath the Spanish sunshine.
Harveys sales now stand at about a quarter of what they previously were during their peak, with their sherries now being represented by Whyte & Mackay.
The one major change in Harveys Bristol Cream was the introduction in the 1990s of the distinctive dark blue bottle, based on Bristol’s trademark blue glass. A fusion of cobalt and lead oxide produces this deeply vibrant shade of blue.
Although Harveys is no longer created on our doorstep, the distinctive bottle acts as our city’s eternal print on this formerly Bristolian drink, reminding us that wherever it is, we can be sure of its eternal position truly as Bristol’s cream.