Aspire to become one of the “Greats”? Well, number one on the list of things you’ll need is talent. Following that, you’ll need resilience as well as a dash of good luck. And apparently another thing you’ll desperately need is a strong liver, because almost every great author from the past 150 years was either an alcoholic or in the process of becoming one. Here’s a nice selection of some famous authors who loved their liquor as well as their favorite drinks:
Edgar Allan Poe – Eggnog
During this period, American gothic fiction was at its peak. Both opium and absinth were very much en vogue, and I bet ol’ Edgar wouldn’t have said no to either of these things. However, his favorite drink was something completely different. The man loved his eggnog, and he made it following an old family recipe, consisting of seven eggs, sweetened milk, whipped cream, rum, brandy and nutmeg.
Ernest Hemingway – Mojito
Even if you could name a couple of other drinks when thinking of Ernest Hemingway, Mojito was still his absolute favorite. Ever since he tried it in Havanna, Cuba for the first time it’s been his go-to drink. He made it a habit to keep his glass full at all times to ensure a smooth writing process.
Bukowski – Bier
Oh Bukowski, you really loved your liquor, didn’t you? It pushed you over the edge only to catch you right before it broke you again. Bukowski, you god, you devil, you bastard – where would you have been without your beer? You drank more in a day than my humble self does in a week. The source of your inspiration was also the same thing that shattered you in the end.
Scott Fitzgerald- Gin Rickey
Despite the fact that Scott and his beloved wife Zelda Fitzgerald were (so to speak) lightweights when it came to alcohol, it didn’t stop them from drinking on a regular basis. Their favorite was Gin Rickey, because – as according to Fitzgerald – one always smelled wonderfully afterwards.
Fun fact: on several occasions, Scott and Zelda were spotted butt naked, dancing at parties together.
Oscar Wilde- Absinth/cold champagne
Alcoholism is a sin of the working class… Oh, Oscar, you derived such great pleasure from drinking, and while the green fairy did her dance for you, you were oh-so down for that. The writing almost did itself then, didn’t it? Champagne for breakfast and absinth during work, talk about living the life…
Carson McCullers – Sonny Boy
While asked what she would like to drink, Ms McCullers simply said, “I drink hot tea and nothing else.” Well, the part about the hot tea was true. The part about “nothing else”? Not so much. She loved mixing a tiny bit of Sherry in with her tea, a concoction she then called Sonny Boy.
Hunter S. Thompson- Wild Turkey
The anarchist author had a special relationship with whisky; one beyond our comprehension – or so it seemed. He emptied hotel bars only to end up tearing down the hotel rooms. Almost every single car trunk of his was filled with Wild Turkey. The man loved his whiskey; it’s as simple as that.
