China Clipper, those old movies and tv shows may have fueled the (in my opinion, false) belief that people "back then" ordered liquor by type, not by brand, because of product placement rules. i don't think that happens in real life. well, maybe it does at korean bars, where they only serve one thing (e.g., crown royal).
my preference is for whiskey, especially those distilled in scotland, and there is so much variation by brand that it's impossible to order without specifying the brand and age.
but it annoys me when i go to a bar and they often ask me if i want my drink on rocks. no, i don't want my drink served on stones. but i would like ice, thank you.