The Genius Who Powered the Modern World Swore by a Daily Dram of Whisky (Did you know)

Whisky is a popular drink,there’s no denying it. Some even believed it could help you live longer. One of those believers was Nikola Tesla. Did you know he enjoyed a daily dram because he thought it would help him reach the age of 150?

Nikola Tesla is one of the greatest inventors of all time. He’s a major reason we use electricity the way we do today. How? By inventing the alternating current generator and other foundational elements of modern electrical systems. Think of everyday innovations like fluorescent lighting and major breakthroughs like the induction motor.

The inventor began his career in Germany and Austria, but ultimately emigrated to the United States in 1884. There, he joined Thomas Edison’s company, but not for long. After a dispute with Edison, Tesla struck out on his own and founded his own company.

Tesla was a singular character who insisted on doing things his own way. He struggled with various neuroses, had an obsession with the number three, and often found collaboration difficult due to severe germophobia. For his era, he lived remarkably healthily. Although vegetarianism was uncommon at the time, he ate little to no meat. He also stayed very active.

His job had a lot to do with that. He traveled the world giving lectures. During one of these talks, he met Sir James Dewar, the founder of Dewar’s. Through Dewar, Tesla was introduced to the drink of the gods. Although Tesla was meant to head off to his next engagement, Dewar invited him for a drink: whisky. It was love at first sip.

Tesla didn’t describe it as a mere beverage, but as an elixir of life. In fact, he claimed coffee, tea, and tobacco might someday be forgotten, but not whisky. He also believed a daily dram could help you live to 150. Even so, Tesla stopped drinking when Prohibition began. Alcohol was outlawed and hard to come by. In the end, Tesla passed away in 1943 at the age of 86.

Photo: Pixabay