The Return of 'The Squadron Bottle,' a San Francisco Tradition

The InterContinental Mark Hopkins San Francisco has been a prominent luxury hotel since its opening in 1926, hosting numerous presidents, premiers, and celebrities. During World War II, the hotel's Top o' the Mark bar on the 19th floor became a popular spot for military personnel before shipping out to the Pacific Theater. The bar offered a stunning view of the ocean, and servicemen would often wait hours to take the elevator up to the bar. A tradition emerged where servicemen would buy a bottle of bourbon, write a note on it, and leave it with the bartender, allowing fellow squadron members to have a shot from the bottle. The tradition eventually stopped, but it was revived in 2009 by a cadet named Lieutenant Mike Hall. Today, the Top o' the Mark bar has a collection of around 80 bottles, each with notes and photographs, and guests can leave a bottle behind and have a drink from any bottle with a military ID. The collection includes various types of liquor, but the majority are whiskey or bourbon. The tradition has become a meaningful way for servicemen to reunite and remember those who didn't return from the war. During Fleet Week, the bar hosts an influx of guests, and some may even buy a bottle to leave behind. The tradition is open to anyone, and civilians can also participate by leaving a bottle or having a drink from one of the existing bottles.