6 Bourbon Whiskey Quotes You Need to Read

Caroline Paulus

We love talking about Bourbon almost as much as we love drinking it, but we’re just not as eloquent as some of the great whiskey lovers in history. Read on for six of our favorite Bourbon quotes, or click here to shop our new rocks glasses all engraved with wise whiskey words!

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1. “Never delay kissing a pretty girl or opening a bottle of whiskey.” – Ernest Hemingway

The author’s proclivity for both women and whiskey is not exactly a secret – after four wives and a persistent folk tale that he “wrote drunk and edited sober,” its not surprising that Hemingway didn’t delay his gratifications. While collectors nowadays have shelves full of limited edition bottles, Hemingway’s advice to seize the moment should spur you to open the good stuff at your next gathering.

2. “Always carry a flagon of whiskey in case of snakebite, and furthermore, always carry a small snake.” – W. C. Fields

The vaudeville comedian had a way of making light of a bad situation – even if he created the situation himself. His famous “tramp juggler” act (complete with cigars, whiskey, and sarcasm) delighted audiences for decades.

 

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3. “I have never in my life seen a Kentuckian who didn’t have a gun, a pack of cards, and a jug of whiskey.” – Andrew Jackson

“Stonewall” Jackson had plenty of experience with The Hunters of Kentucky, including leading them into battle in the War of 1812. He’s also known to have killed Charles Dickinson in an illegal duel in Logan Co., Kentucky over a slight to his wife – maybe a bit more Bourbon and card playing would have calmed him down.

4. “Always drink your whiskey with your gun hand, to show your friendly intentions.” – Scottish Klondiker’s Proverb

The Scotch Irish who settled the Appalachian foothills of Eastern Kentucky brought more than flocks and folk music – they brought Whiskey making traditions stretching back centuries. As they moved across the country searching for their manifest destiny, they took that whiskey right along with them – to make friends, of course.

5. “Too much of anything is bad, but too much good whiskey is barely enough.” – Mark Twain

Mark Twain’s love affair with the South, the Mississippi River, and its Kentucky Bend on the western edge of the state is evident in his writing. He famously said that when the end of the world came, he wanted to be in Kentucky, as it was 20 years behind the times. Bourbon does it slower, Mr. Clemens.

6. “Civilization begins with distillation.” – William Faulkner

When nomadic tribes began to take up permanent residence in the cradle of civilization, they were only able to do so by planting grain. Faulkner understood that this excess grain, usually used for the production of spirits, was a binding force for these newly settled societies. He was known for his love of mint juleps – and, like Hemingway, wrote mainly next to a bottle of whiskey.

Caroline Paulus
Caroline Paulus is the Senior Editor for The Bourbon Review. She lives and writes in Lexington, Kentucky. Follow her on Instagram @misswhiskeyhistorian to keep up with her latest in bourbon news - and a few old finds, too.