George Jones and Merle Haggard performed a duet called “C.C. Waterback” in the early 80’s. It was written by Haggard and is obviously a drinking song. But what in the world is a C.C. Waterback? I’ve searched everywhere and cant find the answer. I assume it’s a drink, but i might be mistaken.
Thanks, Conti
He’s an SDMB member, recently registered, with an impressive post per day ratio.
Sorry, not much help, I know.
Canadian Club Whiskey, straight up, with a glass of water on the side.
I must be getting old…
LOL. It’s me!!!
Hard core drinkers will order a shot of booze with a “backer” (something to wash it down). Like maybe Jack with a coke back. So, CC with a water back is just a shot of CC (Canadian Club whiskey) with a glass of water on the side. It seems to be understood that if someone orders a shot with a backer that what they really want is a couple shots of booze straigh-up with a small glass of the backer on the side (as opposed to simply ordering a shot). The booze and backer seem to usually be served without ice. As with many drink orders, the process of ordering this type of drink gets abbreviated to CC water back.
Thanks for the info people. I also was not aware that a SDMB member had that name…haha, welcome to the board ccwaterback. Maybe TequilaSunrise will be the next member.
Conti
Or how about SDMB members named:
Slow Fuzzy Screw Up Against The Wall
Purple Orgasm - are you listening, Raisinbread?
I’m ROFL here with some of the names of these drinks!
C C Waterback is Canadian Club and Water. It’s a drink.
We figured that out 7 years ago.
I swear, don’t the schools teach “reading for comprehension” anymore? 
It’s a drink, Canadian Club with a water back.
Dang, too slow. Rico beat me to it! 
Since the zombie is unleashed, I remember ordering a shot of whiskey with a beer back (or wash) and they’d give you a very small glass of beer to go with your shot for free. I’ve asked a few younger bartenders about this practice and they’ve never heard of it.
Anyone else heard of/remember this?
Yep. “Bourbon, beer back” would get you a good-sized shot of bar bourbon and an 8 ounce glass of draft. Known in some regions as a “boilermaker.”
Small difference, but I thought a Boilermaker was when you combined the two, dropping the shot into the beer. I guess it could have varied by region.
Funny thing when I mentioned the beer back to younger bartenders, a couple had this “yeah right” attitude like I was trying to scam a free beer.
Edit: According to Wikipedia, it’s both, but they also included tequila and vodka which I’ve never heard associated with a boilermaker.
We’ve tried to track the regional variations around here, and could never lock down anything definitive. To me, dropping the shot into the beer made it a “Depthcharge.”
In Pittsburgh, a boilermaker is pouring the shot into the beer. Ordering a shot-and-a-beer is also quite common. For some reason the Imp 'n Arn was a popular choice - Imperial whiskey and Iron City beer.
shudder
The depth charge was relatively unknown until the college kids latched onto it, from what I can tell.
Yeah. FWIW, the way I tend to view it:
Beer + a shot, kept separate: “A shot anna beer”, or “A beer anna bump” according to Garrison Keillor.
Whiskey poured into the beer: a boilermaker.
Shot glass of whiskey dropped into the beer: a depth charge.
Funnily enough, I was looking for the same thing.
The answer, I believe, is a straight Canadian Club - no water, no ice.
Hopefully you can now have a restful night!
OK, as long as this has stumbled to life:
Somebody once gave the advice “Never order a drink with a name you’d be ashamed to say to your mother.” Because usually these names are attached to alcoholic popsicles, not real drinks.
As long as this zombie has lurched back to life, I’ll join in.
I remember my grandfather serving depth charges (yes, that’s what he called them) at a family gathering back in the sixties. He and his sons were all hard drinking working men. Definitely not likely to learn about drinks or their names from the college kids.
Moving to Cafe Society from GQ.
Responders please note this thread is 8 years old.
Colibri
General Questions Moderator
Here’s the definitive answer: an old Billboard book about country music mentions that when “C.C. Waterback” was released Haggard bought five thousand servings of this drink at Billy Bob’s in Fort Worth. What did he buy? Canadian Club with a water chaser. It took forty gallons of whisky and cost $13,000.
Can’t be THAT old, as I figured that out even though I don’t drink whiskey!
And I’m not THAT old, damnit…