Bourbon drunk by vietnam soldiers

[otis60]

Question from a FNG: my uncle served in Vietnam and has commented about the American bourbon (though it may have been whisky) to be had at the PX: it was sold fairly cheap, but he said it was good. He cannot remember the name of it and has looked for it but never found it. We were wondering if anyone has any idea what it was...any brands to pass along from their experiences? It would be much appreciated.

[bobbyc]

I was told by people that went there their choices were Jim Beam and Barton.
I do know that Beam ran full tilt during that era.

[OscarV]

So then it could be Barton that his Uncle was drinking since he's looked and can't find it, because Beam is everywhere.

So otis60 where have you looked? Barton, I do not think, but I could be wrong is not widely available or I should say is not everywhere.
I put a pic below so you can see the labels, but these are new labels ofcourse.

[otis60]

thank you for the photos!

i will run these by him...i only know that he thought the name more exotic than Beam or Bartons.

thanks again

[Rughi]

I've seen military-specific labels on base, I think they were an HH product. Don't know if these were around during Vietnam.

I never got a photo, but I bet Bettye Jo has seen a bunch of mil-spec labels in the label room.

Surely someone on this forum can shop on base - what's available nowadays?

Roger

[boone]

Quite a bit of "Military Special"...the actual name.

There "used" to be a spot (in the book) for a "no face" label. It was shipped out that way but that was years ago.

[ACDetroit]

That's funny, I was talking to my dad a few weeks back and told him I picked up a bottle of Old Grad Dad Bonded. He laughed for a second and said while in Vietnam he turned 19 and drank a bottle for his birthday! Drank so much he spent 3 days in the infirmary, they thought he had malaria.
That might be one of a hand full of times I've heard him comment on his 2 terms over there !

[smokinjoe]

This probably is of no help due to timing, but my dad told me that while he was in the Army in Japan during the occupation, they used to get Green River Whiskey by the boatload. I believe it's a blend. Maybe, still left over 20+ yrs later?

JOE

[BourbonJoe]

Quite a bit of "Military Special"...the actual name.

I drank a lot of Military Special in the old days. It was cheap and I was poor. Yes, it was terrible.
Joe

[Stu]

I hate to throw a damper in the works, but I flew my first combat mission in 1964 and my last in 1972. Granted, I flew most of my missions from Thailand, but I was in Viet Nam TDY many times and I never saw hard liquor for sale at any of the bases, although I seem to remember that it could be purchased by the drink at the Officers Club. When I was on C-130s out of Taiwan I used to take an A-3 bag full of the cheapest hooch I could find (Hiram Walker Imperial, Dark Eyes Vodka, etc.) at the NEX and use it for trade goods at forward bases (because we were TDY, we weren't issued jungle fatigues, C rations, LRPRS, etc.). I wonder if he got it on the local economy? If so it could be anything, including empty club bottles filled with god knows what and re sealed.

Stu