How the term “Shot” for a shot of whiskey started

[harrisonm]

We went to the Boot Hill museum at Dodge City, Kansas last week. A museum video told us that a serving of whiskey cost 10 cents back in the Wild West. Coincidentally, a rifle cartridge also cost about 10 cents also. Some saloons would trade a cartridge for a serving of Whiskey. That, they said, is where the term “Shot” came from.

 

[64longroof]

Did you ever notice that in movies, particularly old westerns, that the whiskey is always dark?

 

[toolmanmike]

Did you ever notice that in movies, particularly old westerns, that the whiskey is always dark?

It would have to spend almost a decade in a charred barrel to get that dark. Probably didn't happen. Although, charred barrels were started by Elijah Craig in 1789 and the movement Westward started for the most part, after the War of 1812 and the Louisiana Purchase. Barrels of whiskey were carried westward. I'm sure it was a popular drink during the Gold Rush around 1862. Cheers!

Think of how shook up it got traveling from Kentucky to California in a wagon on dirt paths taking 6 months or more.

 

[YY1]

That's because in the movies- it's tea.

 

[64longroof]

I was at a distillery tour, and they poured some aged whiskey out of a barrel. It was quite dark. At that point it was 126 proof. How long it was in the barrel, I don't know.