Question: Which president was a licensed bartender?
Answer: Abraham Lincoln, who co-owned a tavern in Illinois.
In 1833, a 24-year-old Abraham Lincoln and his militia buddy William F. Berry obtained a tavern license for their general store in New Salem, Illinois, making the future president the only U.S. commander-in-chief to hold a bartender’s license. They sold half-pints of brandy for 25 cents and whiskey for 12.5 cents, but the venture was short-lived. Berry reportedly drank too much of the inventory, the partners fell into debt, and Lincoln sold his share within months. He spent the next 15 years paying off Berry’s debts after his partner died.
