I heard it referred to as "Hush water"

That is actually a reasonable use. An occasional strong dose to release pain and promote sleep. You just really can't do it that often and still have it work well for that.

In a pinch, brandy and a dollop of honey works as cough syrup if it's the early 80s, your family lives in the sticks, and the nearest drug store is an hour away uphill both ways in the snow

Just don't be surprised when your stash of bizarrely potent booze that could probably double as industrial solvents ends up exacerbating a house fire. RIP, grandpa's stash of imported hooch.

That or maybe they kept accidentally drinking anti-freeze.