# What kind of Whiskey did cowboys drink?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-whiskey-did-cowboys-drink/264060>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [September 11, 2004, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-whiskey-did-cowboys-drink/264060 "2004-09-11T18:25:16Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![macmac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8dc957/32.png) [@macmac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/macmac)\
**Post date:** [September 11, 2004, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-whiskey-did-cowboys-drink/264060/1 "2004-09-11T18:25:16Z")

</div>

Since I’ve begun watching _Deadwood_ my curiousity has grown and I’ve questioned if I could’ve made it as a cowboy. The characters will occasionally finish two 750ml bottles a night (two fifths) but what proof are these guys drinking. Was whiskey any different then it is now?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\
**Post date:** [September 11, 2004, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-whiskey-did-cowboys-drink/264060/2 "2004-09-11T18:38:05Z")

</div>

See [(History of) North American Whiskey](http://www.tastings.com/spirits/american_whiskey.html)

Per the article, just based on proximity and timelines I would imagine most “old west” whiskey is/was primarily corn whiskey.