Green’s Dictionary of Slang

(US) strong whisky or brandy; also attrib.

1891		W. De Vere ‘Jim Marshall’s New Pianner’ Tramp Poems 8: Walt Fletcher, a darned lively cuss, as funny and as frisky, Who at the best done nothing wuss than punish barb-wire whisky.
1912		R. Service ‘Barb-Wire Bill’ in Rhymes of a Rolling Stone 75: For ‘barb-wire’ was the brand of ‘hooch’ to which he most inclined.
1930		J. Lait Gangster Girl 149: [He] was just tossing off a barbed drink.
1949		R. Service ‘Montreal Maree’ in Songs of a Sun Lover (1955) 73: Fortified with barbwire hooch.
1951		R. Service ‘Dumb Swede’ in Lyrics of a Low Brow 19: With barbwire hooch they filled him full / Till he was drunker than all hell.
1957		E. & S. Deak Grand Dictionnaire d’Americanismes.
1960, 1975		Wentworth & Flexner DAS.