# C.C. Waterback **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 14, 2003, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/c-c-waterback/188296 "2003-07-14T03:26:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Conti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c67d28/32.png) [@Conti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Conti)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2003, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/c-c-waterback/188296/1 "2003-07-14T03:26:32Z")
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 ---
**Author:** ![biqu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7feea3/32.png) [@biqu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/biqu)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2003, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/c-c-waterback/188296/2 "2003-07-14T03:44:10Z")
He’s an SDMB [member](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/member.php?s=&action=getinfo&userid=37140), recently registered, with an impressive post per day ratio. Sorry, not much help, I know. ---
**Author:** ![Rico](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rico/32/3582_2.png) [@Rico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rico)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2003, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/c-c-waterback/188296/3 "2003-07-14T03:49:12Z")
Canadian Club Whiskey, straight up, with a glass of water on the side. I must be getting old… ---
**Author:** ![ccwaterback](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@ccwaterback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ccwaterback)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2003, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/c-c-waterback/188296/4 "2003-07-14T04:00:34Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Conti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c67d28/32.png) [@Conti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Conti)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2003, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/c-c-waterback/188296/5 "2003-07-14T04:47:51Z")
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 ---
**Author:** ![Rico](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rico/32/3582_2.png) [@Rico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rico)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2003, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/c-c-waterback/188296/6 "2003-07-14T05:05:08Z")
Or how about SDMB members named: [Sex On The Pool Table](http://www.barnonedrinks.com/recipes/cocktails/s/sexonthepooltable.html) [Slow Fuzzy Screw Up Against The Wall](http://www.barnonedrinks.com/recipes/cocktails/s/slowfuzzyscrewupagainstthewall.html) [Pussy Paws](http://www.barnonedrinks.com/recipes/cocktails/p/pussypaws.html) [Purple Orgasm](http://www.barnonedrinks.com/recipes/cocktails/p/purpleorgasm.html) - are you listening, **Raisinbread**? [Pucker Fu\*\*er](http://www.barnonedrinks.com/recipes/cocktails/p/puckerfker.html) [Fat Titties](http://www.barnonedrinks.com/recipes/cocktails/f/fattitties.html) I’m ROFL here with some of the names of these drinks! ---
**Author:** ![KAnnDavis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecccb3/32.png) [@KAnnDavis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KAnnDavis)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2010, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/c-c-waterback/188296/7 "2010-12-08T15:05:52Z")
C C Waterback is Canadian Club and Water. It’s a drink. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2010, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/c-c-waterback/188296/8 "2010-12-08T15:31:19Z")
We figured that out 7 years ago. I swear, don’t the schools teach “reading for comprehension” anymore? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![lost4life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c4cdca/32.png) [@lost4life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lost4life)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2010, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/c-c-waterback/188296/9 "2010-12-08T16:13:10Z")
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? ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2010, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/c-c-waterback/188296/10 "2010-12-08T16:16:58Z")
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.” ---
**Author:** ![lost4life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c4cdca/32.png) [@lost4life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lost4life)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2010, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/c-c-waterback/188296/11 "2010-12-08T16:40:03Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > 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. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2010, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/c-c-waterback/188296/12 "2010-12-08T16:56:03Z")
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.” ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2010, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/c-c-waterback/188296/13 "2010-12-08T17:15:14Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![yabob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yabob/32/2821_2.png) [@yabob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yabob)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2010, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/c-c-waterback/188296/14 "2010-12-08T17:16:03Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > 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.” 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. ---
**Author:** ![tonytippler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc29f/32.png) [@tonytippler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tonytippler)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2011, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/c-c-waterback/188296/15 "2011-11-18T18:27:37Z")
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! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![yabob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yabob/32/2821_2.png) [@yabob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yabob)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2011, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/c-c-waterback/188296/16 "2011-11-18T20:02:41Z")
> [@Rico](#): > > Or how about SDMB members named: > > [Sex On The Pool Table](http://www.barnonedrinks.com/recipes/cocktails/s/sexonthepooltable.html) > > [Slow Fuzzy Screw Up Against The Wall](http://www.barnonedrinks.com/recipes/cocktails/s/slowfuzzyscrewupagainstthewall.html) > > [Pussy Paws](http://www.barnonedrinks.com/recipes/cocktails/p/pussypaws.html) > > [Purple Orgasm](http://www.barnonedrinks.com/recipes/cocktails/p/purpleorgasm.html) - are you listening, **Raisinbread**? > > [Pucker Fu\*\*er](http://www.barnonedrinks.com/recipes/cocktails/p/puckerfker.html) > > [Fat Titties](http://www.barnonedrinks.com/recipes/cocktails/f/fattitties.html) > > I’m ROFL here with some of the names of these drinks! 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. ---
**Author:** ![Saintly\_Loser](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saintly_loser/32/4045_2.png) [@Saintly\_Loser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saintly_Loser)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2011, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/c-c-waterback/188296/17 "2011-11-18T20:18:32Z")
> [@Mr.Moto](#): > > The depth charge was relatively unknown until the college kids latched onto it, from what I can tell. 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. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2011, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/c-c-waterback/188296/18 "2011-11-18T21:00:53Z")
Moving to Cafe Society from GQ. Responders please note this thread is 8 years old. Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![installLSC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/54ee81/32.png) [@installLSC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/installLSC)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2011, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/c-c-waterback/188296/19 "2011-11-19T03:48:13Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Taomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Taomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taomist)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2011, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/c-c-waterback/188296/20 "2011-11-19T05:52:57Z")
> [@Rico](#): > > Canadian Club Whiskey, straight up, with a glass of water on the side. > > I must be getting old… Can’t be THAT old, as I figured that out even though I don’t drink whiskey! And I’m not THAT old, damnit… [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/c-c-waterback/188296.md?page=2)