How to Make a Wisconsin-Style Brandy Old-Fashioned

While Wisconsin’s official state beverage may be milk, I’m here to argue that my home state’s signature beverage is actually the brandy old-fashioned. This cocktail is served in bars, supper clubs and legion halls from the shores of Lake Superior all the way down to the Wisconsin-Illinois border.

And, no, a brandy old-fashioned isn’t your typical old-fashioned. In the Badger State, we do things a little differently.

What Is a Wisconsin Brandy Old-Fashioned?

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A standard old-fashioned cocktail is made with whiskey, a splash of aromatic bitters and a bit of sugar. These classic cocktails are usually garnished with an orange peel.

In Wisconsin, however, bartenders swap out the whiskey in exchange for brandy. The cocktail also gets a little sweeter thanks to the addition of muddled orange, maraschino cherries and a splash of the mixer of your choosing.

That’s right: Brandy old-fashioneds are topped off with soda when you order them in America’s Dairyland. Why is that? The origins may be a little muddled, but according to Jeanette Hurt, author of Wisconsin Cocktails, this sweet addition was borne out of Prohibition. Adding a sweetened mixer helped to mask the flavor of the low-quality spirits of the time. Once Prohibition was repealed, Wisconsinites’ taste for sweetened old-fashioneds made with brandy stuck.

Types of Brandy Old-Fashioneds

After you find your spot at the bar and play a few pull tabs, your bartender will ask you how you want your old-fashioned. There are three takes on this drink, though the first two are the most common:

• Sweet: This means that your drink will be topped up with lemon-lime soda like Sprite or 7 Up.
• Sour: The brandy old-fashioned is finished off with sour mix or a grapefruit soda like Squirt.
• Press: This version of the brandy old-fashioned is not as prevalent, but it is an option! A brandy old-fashioned press is finished off with a combination of club soda and lemon-lime soda.

These drinks are typically served with an orange slice and cherries as a garnish. If that sounds too sweet for you, know that green olives and pickled mushrooms are also an option. I will say that these savory garnishes are more of an acquired taste.

If you ask me, a brandy old-fashioned sweet with extra cherries is the way to go. It’s the ideal drink to sip as you snack on a relish tray.

How to Make a Brandy Old-Fashioned

Sconnie bartenders can whip up one of these drinks in a flash. With a little practice, you can too!

Ingredients

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• 1 orange slice
• 1 maraschino cherry
• 1-1/2 ounces maraschino cherry juice
• 1 teaspoon bitters
• 1/4 to 1/3 cup ice cubes
• 1-1/2 ounces brandy
• 2 teaspoons water
• 1 teaspoon orange juice
• 3 ounces mixer of your choosing (lemon-lime soda for sweet, grapefruit soda for sour or a mix of lemon-lime soda and club soda for press)

Go to Recipe

Tools You’ll Need

• Cocktail jigger: A small measuring cup like this is just right for making cocktails. This OXO jigger allows you to measure up to two ounces of liquor—perfect for a brandy old-fashioned and other classic cocktails.
• Old-fashioned glasses: Make sure your bar cart is stocked with the right glassware for this drink. These old-fashioned glasses are literally made for this cocktail.
• Muddler: The first step in this cocktail is muddling. Grab yourself a muddler to make gently smashing the fruit easy. You can also use this tool to make a mojito.

Directions

Step 1: Muddle

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To make a brandy old-fashioned, start by adding an orange slice, cherry, cherry juice and bitters to the bottom of a rocks glass. Then lightly smash the ingredients with a muddler. If you don’t have a muddler, you can use a wooden spoon.

Editor’s Tip: Most Wisconsin bars and supper clubs will make a brandy old-fashioned with a bright red maraschino cherries. If you want to add a sophisticated spin to this humble cocktail, I suggest trying it with Luxardo maraschino cherries.

Step 2: Mix

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Next, add ice to the glass. Pour in the brandy, a touch of water and top with the mixer of your choice. Give the cocktail a quick stir and garnish with an orange slice and a cherry or two.

Tips for Making a Brandy Old-Fashioned

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What brandy is best for a brandy old-fashioned?

In most bars, these cocktails are made with Korbel brandy. This is the brand I typically stock on my bar cart at home, though I occasionally pick up a bottle of Central Standard North 40 Brandy. This brand is distilled in Milwaukee, where Taste of Home HQ is located.

Can you use flavored bitters in old-fashioneds?

Angostura bitters are the most popular type of bitters for old-fashioneds of all kinds. However, you can experiment with flavored options as well. Orange bitters and cherry bitters are a natural pairing for this fruit-infused drink.

Where can you get a Wisconsin brandy old-fashioned?

In Wisconsin, you can order a brandy old-fashioned anywhere liquor is served. They may not be listed on the menu, but believe me: these drinks are ubiquitous.

If you’re craving Wisconsin’s signature drink outside of state lines, my recommendation is to make one yourself. My experience is that only Midwesterners will truly understand what you want when you pull up to the bar asking for a brandy old-fashioned sweet—extra cherries, please.