In this occasional series, we are sharing literary tipples – the drinks enjoyed by our great writers. Today we share a drink with Mark Twain.
Here are some quotes from Mark Twain. Can you detect a theme?
Never refuse to do a kindness unless the act would work great injury to yourself, and never refuse to take a drink – under any circumstances.”
– Mark Twain
Too much of anything is bad, but too much good whiskey is barely enough.”
– Mark Twain
I always take Scotch whiskey at night as a preventive of toothache. I have never had the toothache; and what is more, I never intend to have it.”
– Mark Twain
Mark Twain, renowned American author and humourist was known to enjoy whiskey and cigars. His writings often reflect his humorous and sometimes irreverent attitude towards these indulgences, and he once said, “If I cannot drink bourbon and smoke cigars in heaven, I shall not go.”
Old Crow whisky from Kentucky was said to be Twain’s favourite drink. He visited the distillery in the 1880s, and Old Crow advertised this heavily. By the early 1950s, Old Crow were capitalizing on Twain’s fondness for their whiskey in their magazine ads. A number of Old Crow ads appeared featuring Twain, including one with Rudyard Kipling reading to Twain at Quarry Farm.
Sometimes too much to drink is barely enough.”
– Mark Twain
‘Livy my darling, I want you to be sure & remember to have, in the bathroom, when I arrive, a bottle of Scotch whisky, a lemon, some crushed sugar, and a bottle of Angostura bitters. Ever since I have been in London I have taken in a wine glass what is called a cock-tail (made with these ingredients) before breakfast, before dinner and before going to bed… To it I attribute the fact that up to this day my digestion has been wonderful – simply perfect. It remains day after day and week after week as regular as a clock.’”
– Mark Twain
Today the ‘Mark Twain Straight Bourbon Whiskey’ is distilled at the Heavens Hill Distillery and bottled at Mark Twain Distilling Co. The bourbon has an alcohol strength of 40%.
And, one last quote…
Water, taken in moderation, cannot hurt anybody.”
– Mark Twain
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