Royals, rogues, and those with rugged charm. I’ve always said whisky is for the dangerously charismatic. These 5 fab and famous whisky lovers prove it.
Throughout this series, you’ve met monarchs, musicians, misfits, and mouthy writers who’ve all had a thing for whisky. But wait, there’s more! The whisky-soaked hall of fame is cavernous. Naturally.
This round, we dive into the lives of screen legends, literary titans, and a royal who could drink most of us under the table before noon.
5 fab and famous whisky lovers
Princess Margaret
If Queen Elizabeth II was duty and decorum, her younger sister was… well, less so. I haven’t seen The Crown, but I gather I don’t need to explain that to anyone who has. Regardless, I’m not here to judge. In fact, the opposite. It seems Princess Margaret was what I would call “a good pint”. She famously started her mornings with a splash of Scotch and a cigarette (turns out royal hangovers aren’t any different from regular ones… no? Just me?). Her drink of choice was a whisky and soda served before noon, thank you very much. The tabloids called her outrageous. I call her relatable.
David Niven
If David Niven had been any more British, he’d have been born in a teacup guarded by a bulldog. The moustachioed movie star was cool in that effortless way that infuriates all of us try-hards, which extends to his love of whisky. He travelled with a suitcase stocked with essentials: tuxedos, witty anecdotes, and a bottle of the good stuff. Proper stuff. Over the years he had ties to Ballantine’s, Passport… He even once claimed the key to life was “a sense of humour and a good single malt.” Wise words.
Ava Gardner
Ava Gardner was less a movie star and more a force of nature in a fine cocktail dress. On-screen, she stole hearts. Off-screen, she drank whisky, swore like a sailor, and lived entirely on her own terms. Or should I say, off-screen, she stole hearts. Gardner once declared, “I like to drink, and I like to dance. And if I want to do those things at the same time, who the hell’s going to stop me?” She even had a bourbon named after her a few years ago, produced by Seven Jars Distillery in partnership with the Ava Gardner Trust. “I wish to live to 150 years old, but when I die, I wish it to be with a cigarette in one hand and a glass of whiskey in the other,” was another one of her gems.
Nick Offerman
Nick Offerman isn’t just Ron Swanson – though, let’s be honest, Ron Swanson is Nick Offerman with the volume turned slightly down. The actor doesn’t just play a whisky lover. He is one. Swanson character traits, such as woodworking (the shop filmed in Parks and Recreation actually belongs to the actor), playing the saxophone, and drinking Lagavulin whisky, were all inspired by the actor himself. Since the show ended, Offerman’s partnership with Lagavulin has produced actual whiskies bearing his name and they’re pretty damn good. He treats the stuff with reverence and a twinkle in the eye.
Keef and his fave: Jack Daniel’s
Keith Richards
Ah, Keith Richards. The Rolling Stones legend is almost as famous for his liver as he is his licks, and for decades, his constant tour companion was a bottle of Jack Daniel’s. He was also known to enjoy a swig of Rebel Yell, and drinking with Billy Idol inspired the latter to write the song of the same name. Over the years, Richards has contributed more to the whisky’s music cred mojo than arguably anyone (Sinatra aside, perhaps?). To this day, the man remains a symbol of rock ‘n’ roll resilience. If you had a whisky that was aged as well as Keef in your hands, it’d be worth thousands.
