Bourbon Break: Two Hunter S. Thompson Quotes and an Old Fashioned

After publishing another round of posts about a favorite song, poet, band, winter tradition, and sitcom, it’s time for a break.

In what has become a tradition after writing several blogs about things I’m passionate about, I’m taking a brief hiatus to regroup and contemplate my next round of topics to cover for “A Fan’s Notes.”

Before I head off for a long winter’s reset, I decided to kick back and relax with a drink (or several) and write briefly about something I love without exhaustively explaining why.

Welcome to my inaugural “bourbon break.” I called the first two installments of this occasional series “Beer Break”— click here for the first and click here for the second—but seeing as how winter is upon us, the days are shorter, and the holiday season is in full swing, bourbon seemed like a more appropriate drink of choice.

Despite the change in beverage, the spirit of this break remains the same: It’s a pause, a respite, a recess from the time and energy I typically spend on these entries. Unlike my usual lengthy commentaries, this is more of a vignette in which I pithily pay tribute to a favorite drink, quote, song, poem, whatever.

Today, I honor two famous passages from the pioneer of gonzo journalism, Hunter S. Thompson, and a cocktail from his home state of Kentucky, the Old Fashioned.

First, the drink.

I have become a huge fan of Old Fashioneds in recent years, even though I know nothing about bourbon and haven’t traditionally been a regular drinker of the so-called “brown water.”

But mix a quality bourbon like Knob Creek, Woodford Reserve, or Maker’s Mark with some simple syrup and bitters, pour it over an oversized ice cube, garnish it with an orange peel, and you’ve got the perfect cocktail for sitting in front of the fire and listening to, let’s say, Steely Dan’s “Countdown to Ecstasy” on vinyl.

A restaurant here in Louisville, Colo., called 740 Front (formerly the Old Louisville Inn) serves one of our favorite versions of the Old Fashioned. Here’s a picture of it—with a lemon peel rather than an orange peel, something our Kentucky-born bartender swears is the better garnish.

Now for the quotes. These are both famous utterances from Thompson because they speak to human beings’ desire—perhaps our need—to pursue our passions and make life worth living.

The passages below have taken on special meaning as I’ve grown older. I don’t have any great story of encountering these quotes; instead, they often appear in memes and other random posts about living this one life we have to the fullest. I became a fan of each the instant I read them.

Here’s the first one:

Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming, “Wow! What a Ride!”

In other words, carpe diem! This passage is an excellent reminder that we’ve got this one life to live. We’ll all end up in a box someday, so enjoy your time here and take chances—be it with relationships, jobs, or anything else that strikes your interest. Don’t live by anyone else’s rules. Don’t hold back. Don’t settle.

Is the sentiment a bit exaggerated? Perhaps. No one can live at breakneck speed all the time without consequences. Doctors would probably caution us to preserve our bodies somewhat if we want to live a decently long life.

Take Thompson, who committed suicide at age 67 after years of alcohol and drug abuse that led to chronic medical issues. He died too young but certainly honored that quote and lived his life to the extreme.

This leads to the second, shorter saying of Thompson’s I’ve also been a fan of for many years:

Buy the ticket, take the ride.

Whether taken literally—book the vacation, see the concert, etc.—or figuratively—go all in with everything you do and everything you are—this is about seizing opportunities wherever, whenever, and however they appear. Great advice no matter how you interpret it.

My experience with Thompson’s writing is similar to my experience with bourbon. I don’t know much, but I know I like it.

I haven’t read many of his books—primarily articles and short stories plus the obligatory “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas” years ago—but these quotes capture the spirit of what I’m trying to convey with “A Fan’s Notes.”

So, the great Hunter S. Thompson gets top billing here to close out 2024, my first year of writing this blog that started with a post honoring an equally cantankerous and talented drunken author, Fred Exley.

With that, I’m off for a spell. Over the next few weeks, I’ll be sipping an Old Fashioned and looking for the next ticket to buy, the next ride to take. I hope you do the same.

Cheers.