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Great Writers and the Booze that Stirred Them: A Literary Cocktail Party

Gerald Parker

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Published in A Sidecar Named Desire: Great Writers And The Booze That Stirred Them

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Alcohol has been a muse, a crutch, and a curse to writers for centuries. From the days of William Shakespeare to the modern era, countless authors have turned to the bottle for inspiration, solace, and self-destruction.

A Sidecar Named Desire: Great Writers and the Booze That Stirred Them

by Greg Clarke

4.6 out of 5

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In this article, we'll explore the fascinating relationship between great writers and their favorite alcoholic beverages. We'll meet Hemingway, the daiquiri-loving adventurer; Fitzgerald, the gin fizz-sipping socialite; and Poe, the absinthe-addled master of the macabre. We'll also learn how booze shaped the literary masterpieces we love, from "The Great Gatsby" to "To Kill a Mockingbird."

So pour yourself a drink and join us for a literary cocktail party. Let's raise a glass to the great writers who have been stirred by the booze.

Hemingway's Daiquiri

Ernest Hemingway was a man of many passions, but his love of daiquiris was perhaps his most enduring. He once said, "I like to drink a daiquiri before dinner and another one after dinner. But I don't like them between meals. I like them in the glass."

Hemingway's daiquiri recipe was simple:

* 2 ounces white rum * 1 ounce lime juice * 1/2 ounce grapefruit juice * 1/4 ounce simple syrup

Muddle the lime and grapefruit juices with the simple syrup in a shaker. Add the rum and ice and shake vigorously. Strain into a chilled coupe glass and garnish with a lime wedge.

Hemingway loved his daiquiris strong and cold. He would often drink them in the afternoon while he worked on his writing. He claimed that daiquiris helped him to focus and to get into the writing zone.

Fitzgerald's Gin Fizz

F. Scott Fitzgerald was another great writer who loved to drink. His favorite cocktail was the gin fizz, a refreshing and sophisticated drink that was perfect for sipping on a summer afternoon.

Fitzgerald's gin fizz recipe was as follows:

* 2 ounces gin * 1 ounce lemon juice * 1/2 ounce simple syrup * 1 egg white * Club soda

Shake the gin, lemon juice, simple syrup, and egg white with ice. Strain into a chilled collins glass and top with club soda. Garnish with a lemon twist.

Fitzgerald often drank gin fizzes while he was working on his novels. He claimed that they helped him to relax and to get his creative juices flowing. He also enjoyed drinking gin fizzes with his friends and fellow writers.

Dickens's Port

Charles Dickens was a prolific writer who produced some of the most beloved novels in English literature. He was also a heavy drinker, and his favorite alcoholic beverage was port.

Dickens loved port because it was a strong and flavorful wine that could help him to relax and to forget his troubles. He would often drink port in the evening while he was working on his writing. He claimed that port helped him to think more clearly and to come up with new ideas.

Dickens's port recipe was simple:

* 4 ounces port * 1 ounce brandy

Stir the port and brandy together in a rocks glass. Garnish with a lemon twist.

Dickens drank port in moderation, and he never let it interfere with his work. He believed that port was a good way to relax and to unwind after a long day of writing.

Woolf's Whisky

Virginia Woolf was a brilliant writer who revolutionized the novel. She was also a heavy smoker and drinker, and her favorite alcoholic beverage was whisky.

Woolf loved whisky because it was a strong and stimulating drink that could help her to focus and to get her creative juices flowing. She would often drink whisky in the morning while she was working on her writing. She claimed that whisky helped her to think more clearly and to write more effectively.

Woolf's whisky recipe was simple:

* 2 ounces whisky * 1 ounce water

Stir the whisky and water together in a rocks glass. Garnish with a lemon twist.

Woolf drank whisky in moderation, and she never let it interfere with her work. She believed that whisky was a good way to relax and to unwind after a long day of writing.

Poe's Absinthe

Edgar Allan Poe was a master of the macabre, and his writing is full of dark and disturbing themes. He was also a heavy drinker, and his favorite alcoholic beverage was absinthe, a potent green liqueur that was popular in France in the 19th century.

Poe loved absinthe because it was a strong and hallucinogenic drink that could help him to escape from reality. He would often drink absinthe in the evening while he was working on his writing. He claimed that absinthe helped him to see into the depths of his own mind and to come up with new and innovative ideas.

Poe's absinthe recipe was simple:

* 1 ounce absinthe * 4 ounces water

Mix the absinthe and water together in a rocks glass. Garnish with a lemon twist.

Poe drank absinthe in excess, and it eventually contributed to his death. He died in 1849 at the age of 40 from alcohol-related causes.

Bukowski's Beer

Charles Bukowski was a hard-drinking poet and novelist who wrote about the dark side of the American dream. He was also a heavy smoker and gambler, and he lived a self-destructive lifestyle that led to his death in 1994 at the age of 73.

Bukowski's favorite alcoholic beverage was beer

A Sidecar Named Desire: Great Writers and the Booze That Stirred Them

by Greg Clarke

4.6 out of 5