Some Captivating Quotes about Whisky from the People who loved it Dearly
We may not have much in common with the most accomplished and celebrated people on the planet, but if there is, and has to be just one thing, it’s the love for all things whisky. The worldwide whisky community has some truly admirable and eloquent ambassadors, and while we may not be able to profess our love as well as they once did, we can all unite under the feeling.
Whether it’s Mark Twain’s quotes about whisky, or the last words of one of the world’s greatest whiskey-makers, our list of the most memorable quotes about the ‘spirit of the Gods’ contains only the best of the best.
Mark Twain
Ask anyone that has ever looked for Mark Twain quotes online, and they will tell you one thing with absolute certainty – nearly a dozen of Mark Twain quotes are either about whisky, or were said after he had whisky.
The celebrated writer was known for his sharp wit and humour as much as he was known for his love of whisky. Although Mark Twain was only his pen name, it soon became his identity worldwide and still remains. When it comes to Mark Twain quotes about whisky, there are obviously a handful of them to choose from but our favourite and perhaps the most famous Mark Twain quote is this one right here.
“Too much of anything is bad, but too much of whisky is barely enough.”
Of course as a writer who was fond of whisky, he spoke about it constantly and more often than not, would leave others amused by saying it. Another fascinating Mark Twain quote that comes to mind was uttered when he wrote a letter thanking someone for sending him whisky regularly. He said, ‘Your whisky came at the right time. Of course, your whisky never comes at the wrong time.”
Ava Gardner
One of the most prominent actors in Hollywood during the old days, Ava Gardner was known not only for being one of the most talented and beautiful women in the world, but also for being an avid whiskey lover.
Her fondness for cigarettes and whiskey were never a secret matter in Hollywood. Living a full life, Ava made headlines constantly, both for her work and personal life, which included being married to none other than fellow whisky lover and icon Frank Sinatra. Bold, outspoken and never one to not speak her mind, a number of Ava Gardner quotes can be found on the internet today. Yet the most timeless and relatable of Ava Gardner quotes continues to be this one; “I wish to live to 150 years old, but the day I die, I wish it to be with a cigarette in one hand and a glass of whiskey in the other.”
Hunter. S. Thompson
His list of credentials was lengthy as was his body of work, but journalist, author and creator of Gonzo Journalism, Hunter. S. Thompson was also known for his recreational preferences. Drinking whisky was the most prominent one of his recreational preferences, which included a number of other wild and borderline reckless activities.
His most famous whisky quote summarized everything Hunter. S. Thompson loved to do when he wasn’t writing, and it was, “…sleep late, have fun, get wild, drink whisky, and drive fast on empty streets with nothing in mind except falling in love and not getting arrested…” A visionary indeed.
W. C. Fields
A very well-known comedian, actor, writer and even a juggler, W. C. Fields was also a highly proficient lover of whisky. All of these attributes conflate to form a highly eccentric person, and that is exactly what W. C. Fields used to be, but we’re not here to talk about that.
W. C. Field’s quote about whisky could very well be quoted by motivational speakers, and once you hear it, you will be inspired beyond measure too. He is known to have once said, “When life gives you lemons, make whisky sours.”
As far as whisky lovers are concerned, we think W. C. Fields was nothing short of a visionary!
Jasper Newton Daniel
Yes, that’s Mr. Jack Daniel, perhaps the greatest American that ever lived, at least for whiskey lovers all over the world. Not only was Jack Daniel the founding father of the world’s largest selling American whiskey brand, he was also a fan of his own product.
When he met his untimely end in 1911 after unfortunately injured himself by kicking a safe and developing a case of blood poisoning, his last words would be remembered forever. On his death bed, Jack Daniel said, “One last drink, please.”
George Bernard Shaw
The Irish writer has a variety of quotable one-liners and literature to his name, and his profound effect on theatre and socio-politics earned him the Nobel Prize of Literature. George Bernard Shaw, among other things, was known to be extremely fond of whisky, and had some very nice things about it.
He famously, and very succinctly, expressed his thoughts about whisky, echoing our own sentiments when he said, “Whisky is liquid sunshine.” Few things have been said about whisky since that were as relatable as this one. Way to go Mr. Shaw!
Winston Churchill
The former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom was always a controversial figure in politics, and has historically remained so. While Churchill’s policies, actions and many other political actions are up for debate to date, the one thing that has always been unanimously accepted is his inclination towards whisky.
One of the most widely document Churchill quotes about whisky was this one, “he water was not fit to drink. To make it palatable, we had to add whisky. By diligent effort, I learned to like it.”