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(#5) Ernest Hemingway
- Dec. at 62 (1899-1961)
Years Active: American writer Ernest Hemingway claims he began drinking at the age of 15 in 1914, but his intake increased after his father took his life in 1937.
How Much He Drank: It's hard to separate fact from fiction about Hemingway's larger-than-life imbibing habits, but he was seldom without a drink. He once supposedly tossed back no fewer than 17 daiquiries at a Cuban bar.
His Legacy: Hemingway's love of alcohol is arguably as famous as his writing career. Alcohol made numerous cameos in his writings. But his love of alcohol weakened his body, and Hemingway had problems with his stomach and liver.
Signature Drink: Though he is reputed to have favored daiquiris from Havana's El Floridita bar, one of his favorite drinks was a rum-based cocktail conjured up by the skipper of his boat.
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(#11) Ulysses S. Grant
- Dec. at 63 (1822-1885)
Years Active: Ulysses S. Grant - hero of the American Civil War and 18th President of the United States - started drinking young. He secretly drank through his father's supply of medicinal blackberry cordial, probably in the late 1830s or early 1840s. Grant's heavy drinking began when he was serving in the Mexican-American War in 1848. He drank on and off the remainder of his life, which ended in 1885.
How Much He Drank: During his life and after his passing, debates have raged about the extent to which Grant drank. But it is likely he struggled with heavy drinking. Every time he tried to quit, he started drinking again. He seems to have imbibed more heavily when he was away from his wife Julia who, according to Susan Cheever, was able to "moderate his drinking."
His Legacy: Grant's drinking affected his career - at least temporarily. He was asked to resign his position in the Army after appearing drunk at a function in 1854. Though it's difficult to say how alcohol impacted his command of Union forces, many in Washington worried about his drinking habits.
Signature Drink: Grant loved Old Crow whiskey.
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(#2) Babe Ruth
- Dec. at 53 (1895-1948)
Years Active: Famed ballplayer George Herman Ruth - AKA "The Babe" - started drinking young. One story claims that Ruth, all of 7 years old in 1902, had been involved in a bar fight. The incident got him sent to reform school. Though he slowed his drinking for the sake of his health in the 1940s, he continued imbibing until his passing from cancer in 1948.
How Much He Drank: Everything about Babe Ruth was larger than life - including his drinking habits. He apparently drank so much that he developed a very high tolerance for alcohol. When a bartender tried to get him drunk before a game against the Chicago White Sox, the plan fizzled - the copious alcohol had no noticeable impact on Ruth, and his New York Yankees ended up winning the game.
His Legacy: He was known as much for his alcohol-fueled partying as his dominance on the diamond. During Prohibition, bootleggers personally delivered alcohol to the Babe's home.
Signature Drink: He never turned down a scotch.
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(#8) Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother
- Dec. at 102 (1900-2002)
Years Active: Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, AKA Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, grew up in the booze-soaked British aristocracy of the early 20th century. By the time she was in her early 20s, alcohol had become part of her daily ritual. A diary entry from 1923, for example, records that she usually enjoyed sherry at 4:30 am after returning home from all-night parties. She kept drinking until her passing in 2002 at the age of 101.
How Much She Drank: The Queen Mother maintained a rigid drinking schedule. She began with some gin and Dubonnet in the morning, had red wine and port with lunch, and drank two glasses of champagne with dinner.
Her Legacy: As an old-school royal, the Queen Mother seems to have held her alcohol remarkably well - though it's possible booze may have helped loosen her famously sharp tongue - so public incidents of drunkenness didn't really happen. But alcohol nonetheless kept her running, and she was known to bring Dubonnet with her on outings.
Signature Drink: Her beverage of choice was a blend of gin and Dubonnet - which is now known as the Queen Mother Cocktail.
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(#10) Alexander the Great
- Dec. at 33 (355 BC-322 BC)
Years Active: Alexander the Great - one of the ancient world's most prolific conquerors - probably started drinking at a young age in the 340s BCE. Alcohol was a part of his family's culture, and his father Philip II was reputed to have been a heavy drinker.
How Much He Drank: Drinking undiluted wine to excess was part of the social, civic, and ritual life of the Macedonian court of Alexander and his father. Alexander probably drank wine every day - especially since it was safer than drinking water.
His Legacy: Alexander's excessive drinking actually got people slain. He drunkenly javelined his friend Cleitus in 328 BCE - Cleitus had criticized Alexander's embrace of Persian culture. Alexander also routinely sponsored drinking contests - including some in which people perished - and destroyed the Persian city Persepolis after binge drinking.
Signature Drink: Alexander guzzled wine, the favorite alcohol of the ancient Mediterranean world.
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(#1) André the Giant
- Dec. at 47 (1946-1993)
Years Active: André the Giant was known to drink heavily when he was at the peak of his celebrity as a wrestler in the 1970s and 1980s.
How Much He Drank: André's legendary size was the result of gigantism - and one of the side effects was that he could drink a lot of alcohol without it significantly affecting him. Wrestling referee Tim White claimed that André drank wine "like most people drink ice water." He once downed "156 beers in one sitting."
His Legacy: Princess Bride co-star Cary Elwes believes André the Giant used alcohol to deal with the physical pain he was in following years of wear and tear on the wrestling circuit.
Signature Drink: He liked to drink "The American," a 40-ounce pitcher filled with a bunch of different liquors. And he wouldn't down just one "American," but several in one sitting.
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About This Tool
Alcoholic drinks have a long history, and the records of drinking around the world can be traced back to very ancient times. Most famous historical figures all like to drink, whether they are the most powerful political leaders or the world-famous literary giants. For these famous people, alcoholic drinks can be regarded as the best friends, even if they participate in an all-night drinking competition, people cannot guess who will be the winner.
The wine culture has undergone great changes in the past hundreds of years. It is undeniable that alcoholic drinks have affected the image, life, and work of these historical celebrities. We would like to introduce some great historical figures who would win an all-night drinking competition here.
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