Whiskey being the most poetic of all alcoholic drinks (because it is also the must sublime), it is only appropriate for particular whiskeys to be paired with particular poems, much as one would take care to select the perfect wine for the perfect meal. There is a website called “The Whiskey Corner” that endeavors to provide this service, by assigning whiskeys to various poetic classics. For some reason, the most profound of all the whiskey family (single malt Scotch) did not find its way into this list, and nor did the blended Scotch whiskeys. However, there are pairings for Irish whiskeys, corn whiskeys and rye whiskeys.

For instance, John Powers is assigned to “Whiskey in the Jar”- which seems appropriate enough for that rollicking outlaw ballad:

 

“Now some men take delight in the drinking and the roving.

But others take delight in the gambling and the smoking.

But I take delight in the juice of the barley

And courting pretty Jenny in the morning bright and early.”

 

Jim Beam is assigned to Poe's “The Raven”:

 

“And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor

Shall be lifted—nevermore!”

 

In my experience, Jim Beam should definitely be associated with ending up on the floor, so that one works too. Maker's Mark, my favorite bourbon, gets Psalm 23, which should probably be recited by anyone before an evening of drinking it:

 

“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me...”

 

I am a little more skeptical of The Whiskey Corner's association of Jack Daniels with “The Lamb” by William Blake. Does this sound like Jack Daniels to you?

 

“Little Lamb, who made thee

Dost thou know who made thee,

Gave thee life, and bid thee feed

By the stream and o'er the mead;

Gave thee clothing of delight,

Softest clothing, woolly, bright;

Gave thee such a tender voice,

Making all the vales rejoice?”

 

In this case, I think maybe Blake's “Tiger, tiger burning bright, in the forests of the night, what immortal hand or eye dare frame thy fearful symmetry” might possibly have been more appropriate. Still, I just have to appreciate the spirit behind this site. In a world of ugly hedonism on one side and self-righteous prudery on the other, how refreshing it is to see that there are still people out there with the carefree yet contemplative spirit required to truly understand either whiskey or poetry!