Because of whiskey’s tremendous impact on culture, it should come as no surprise that singers, songwriters and other artists have included references to it in their melodies. It’s one of the most romantic and revered drinks in the world, famed for its rich flavors and strong punch. From drinking songs to love songs, here’s a list of the top ten country songs about whiskey ever written_
1. Cheap Whiskey – Martina McBride
Martina McBride might be a little old-school, but her classic Cheap Whiskey is still around today. It tells the tale of a brokenhearted man who chose hard liquor instead of love.
2. Whiskey’s Gone – Zac Brown Band
Brown’s vocals help to cement the fact that when the whiskey’s gone, it’s not good. His song describes a lone trip to the bar after a breakup.
3. Whiskey and You – Darius Rucker
Darius Rucker has an uncanny way of bringing nostalgia into his songs. He offers clear listening with a voice that is almost as smooth as the drink itself.
4. Whiskey, Whiskey – Kris Kristofferson
Kris Kristofferson does a good job of leaving the audience wondering whether he’s talking about a woman or whiskey. “She’s a little bit of the sunshine” could equally be a reference to his other half or his favorite bottle.
5. Drowns the Whiskey – Jason Aldean
Jason Aldean’s Drowns the Whiskey, has the somewhat strange theme. It takes the form of informing Jack Daniels employees that their drink doesn’t quite live up to his hopes. He tries to find excuses for them throughout the song, such as the bar stool he’s sitting on, but nothing, it seems, can distract him from his misery. The drink just isn’t working.
6. The Whiskey Ain’t Workin’ – Travis Tritt
Travis Tritt takes a similar tack. This classic honky tonk talks about a time when he could drink his troubles away. Now, though, he’s feeling heartbroken that it isn’t working anymore, and that he has to face challenges in life by himself.
7. Jack Daniels – Miranda Lambert
Miranda Lambert is another artist who personifies whiskey. She describes how she fell in love with whiskey again (after a troublesome breakup).
8. Whiskey’s Lullaby – Brad Paisley
Whiskey and breakups seem to be inextricably linked, and Brad Paisley makes that point clear in his Whiskey’s Lullaby. It’s supposed to be a consoling track, but it reveals how the pain of a breakup runs deep, and how bad feelings rarely go away.
9. Whiskey’s River – Willie Nelson
If you’re looking for a pure Texas country sound, then Whiskey’s River is the track for you. It has simple instrumentation and revolves around Willie Nelson’s simple plea_ “whiskey river don’t run dry, you’re all I’ve got to take care of me.”
10. Tennessee Whiskey – Chris Stapleton
Chris Stapleton’s Tennessee Whiskey officially released in 2015, but it has been around since 1981 when David Allan Coe released the Linda and Dillon Hargrove-penned song. Stapleton co-performed the track with Justin Timberlake at the 2015 CMA Awards.