Top 10: Legendary Drinkers

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The true drinking man is downright repulsed by the revolving-door rehab stints of modern-day celebrities. These amateurs obviously don’t know how to hold their liquor and their profession simultaneously. On that note, let’s look at the 10 most legendary drinkers who were able to carry notoriety in one hand and a glass of scotch in the other.



Number 10

Dean Martin

J&B ScotchAlthough we more recently heard tales that Dino’s mandatory drink-in-hand was either non-alcoholic or a real one that he nursed for hours, you still wouldn’t have wanted him to be the designated driver. Dean favored Jack Daniel’s — though usually not during working hours or into the wee hours like his Rat Pack buddies. A morning round of golf was usually more precious to him than sleeping off a night of partying. Despite these revelations, he was exceptionally convincing in his persona, and that deserves placement in our cast of legendary drinkers.

I can’t believe he drank the whole thing: Our favorite Dean Martin remark: "I'd hate to be a teetotaler. Imagine getting up in the morning and knowing that's as good as you're going to feel all day."



Number 9

Benjamin Franklin

Number 8

Edgar Allan Poe

Madeira wineThe guy on the $100 bill developed his own list of 13 virtues to follow through life. No. 1 read: “Temperance. Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation." So why do we consider him a legendary drinker? Well, he wasn’t exactly a teetotaler. When he wasn’t busy inventing, innovating or hanging out in Europe, he was professing his love for potent potables, gushing, “Behold the rain which descends from heaven upon our vineyards; there it enters the roots of the vines, to be changed into wine; a constant proof that God loves us, and loves to see us happy.” Either that, or he toasted, " Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy." There’s now debate over which words he actually spoke or penned, but you know what? It doesn’t matter. The words ring true, and we hold these truths to be self-evident.Philadelphia bars marked Franklin’s 300th birthday in 2006 by concocting specialty drinks like the “Franklin Royale” and "Printer's Pickle” martini. A brewery even introduced an ale named "Poor Richard's Tavern Spruce."Brandy, gin

“Nevermore” or “I’ll have one more”? The man who gave us The Raven and so many other timeless works labored hard to earn his status as a legendary drinker. We’re not sure of his sobriety level when he married his 13-year-old cousin (take that, Jerry Lee Lewis), but we do know he operated with a persistent buzz for much of his adult life. And though his days on Earth ended far too early — in 1849, at the age of 40 — Poe’s mystique and influence are as strong as ever. As a couple of many examples of his influence, unknown individuals visit Poe’s grave site every January 19th, the poet’s birthday, drink a toast and leave roses. And what about that NFL team from Baltimore with the three mascots named Edgar, Allan and Poe?

I can’t believe he drank the whole thing: While some believe it to have been the ultimate pub crawl, the events leading up to Poe’s demise remain disputed. And the man passed on too soon to regain coherence and clear the air — or at least explain why he was reportedly found wearing another man’s clothes.

More of the world's most legendary drinkers...