In just about every western movie I've seen, the good guys, or the bad guys, walk into a saloon and order "whiskey". Is that the only alcoholic drink that was available in the mid 1800s 'Wild West'?

star_gazer

They had beer. Saloons also served up volumes of beer, but in those days the beer was never ice cold, usually served at 55 to 65 degrees. Though the beer had a head, it wasn't sudsy as it is today. Patrons had to knock back the beer in a hurry before it got too warm or flat. It wasn't until the 1880's that Adolphus Busch introduced artificial refrigeration and pasteurization to the U.S. brewing process, launching Budweiser as a national brand. Before then, folks in the Old West didn't expect their beer to be cold, accustomed to the European tradition of beer served at room temperature http://www.legendsofamerica.com/we-saloons.html Jan 05 11, 4:51 PM

author

They probably had rum, too. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rum#Colonial_America From 1884-85 also tequila was imported. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tequila Jan 05 11, 5:37 PM

author

Here is what you could find in a good 1800s bar or saloon. Distilled spirits: rum, whiskey, gin, bourbon, rye Wines: black currant, blackberry, currant, grape, gooseberry Brandies: blackberry, cherry Punch: claret, champagne Egg nog Sack Posset Shrub Beer Small beer: ginger beer, Ginger pop, spruce beer Mead (honey beer) Champagne http://www.foodtimeline.org/foodbeverages.html#pioneerdrinks Jan 05 11, 5:53 PM

queproblema

Author, I think those drinks were found on a typical homestead. Some of the time, some of the places, not all at once. Western saloons served primarily whiskey. Also tequila and beer and homemade liquor and worse. Remember, they were far from the madding crowd--no delivery trucks came barreling down the highway to deliver a wide assortment of drinks. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_saloon#Alcohol Jan 06 11, 12:04 AM