Wisconsin Brandy Old Fashioned (Sweet)

When it comes to iconic cocktails, the Brandy Old Fashioned holds a special place in the hearts of Wisconsinites. This unique twist on the classic Old Fashioned combines the warmth of brandy with muddled oranges, cherries, and a touch of sweetness.

Whether you're a resident of the Badger State or simply curious about regional cocktail traditions, this beloved drink is a must try. Your taste buds will thank you!

Jump to:

• Wisconsin vs Classic Old Fashioned
• The origins of a Wisconsin Old Fashioned
• Wisconsin Old Fashioned Recipe Ingredients
• How to Make a Wisconsin Brandy Old Fashioned (Sweet)
• Wisconsin Brandy Old Fashioned Sweet Variations
• Frequently Asked Questions
• More Recipes to Enjoy
• More Favorites from Ovenspiration
• 📖 Recipe

Wisconsin vs Classic Old Fashioned

Yes, I live in Wisconsin, and the phrase "brandy old fashioned sweet" will always remind me of my mom. It was her favorite cocktail, a love shared with many others in our state.

A typical Old Fashioned is mostly bourbon or whiskey, sweetened with sugar and flavored with bitters. The Wisconsin Old Fashioned is a little different.

In addition to using brandy, the Wisconsin Old Fashioned prescribes muddling fruit (orange slice and cherry) in the glass before adding the ice and liquids, and also requires topping with a mixer. Typically this is lemon-lime soda, but there are options as you will see below.

The origins of a Wisconsin Old Fashioned

There are differing opinions regarding how this version of an old fashioned came to be.

Some say that it all started at the Chicago World Fair in 1893, when the Korbel brothers brought many cases of brandy for attendees to sample. Many Wisconsinites were in attendance! The brandy reminded them of their European roots, so they brought the Korbel back to Wisconsin.

Others say that the drink really developed during prohibition. The only alcohol available then was of lower quality, therefore people started adding more sweeteners to mask the taste. Even after prohibition lifted, the cocktail still maintained its popularity.

Side note: per my family's verbal history, and verified by a third party, the way our family farm survived the Great Depression was through the sale of moonshine. I still have trouble picturing my grandfather as a bootlegger......

Wisconsin Old Fashioned Recipe Ingredients

• Orange slices
• Cherries
• Sugar cube
• Sugar
• Angostura bitters
• Brandy Korbel
• Lemon lime soda

How to Make a Wisconsin Brandy Old Fashioned (Sweet)

1. It starts with fruit. In an old fashioned glass (rocks or lowball glass) place a couple cherries and orange slices (minimum one but I use two of each). Add a couple dashes of bitters and sugar. Traditionally, this is a sugar cube and Angostura bitters. If you can't find sugar cubes, use one teaspoon of table sugar.

2. Now, muddle (mash) the fruit until the juices are released and the sugar is dissolved. I always like to muddle the orange peel a little in order to release the orange flavor hiding there. 😁
3. Add the ice and pour the brandy over it. The traditional brandy is Korbel, for reasons explained above. Adding it after the ice helps cool it down.

4. Now for the final Wisconsin twist: top with a mixer. This is usually lemon-lime soda. The correct way to order this drink is: Brandy Old Fashioned , Sweet. The sweet specification is to ensure there is no confusion with any of the variations available, per below.
5. Give your cocktail a stir, and garnish with an orange slice and cherry.

Wisconsin Brandy Old Fashioned Sweet Variations

We are all about choices here in Wisconsin, and this brandy old fashioned is no exception. When you order, you need to specify your "wash" - i.e. the topper in the drink. Here are the 4 main ways to order:

Brandy Old Fashioned Sweet - made as described above, and is the most common.

Brandy Old Fashioned Sour - instead of lemon-lime soda (7-Up or Sprite), the drink is topped with grapefruit flavored soda. Think 50/50 or Squirt.

Brandy Old Fashioned Press - in this option the bartender presses both the seltzer (soda water) and the sweet (lemon-lime soda) buttons on the dispenser to top the glass. This cuts the sugar a little, which is nice.

Brandy Old Fashioned Soda - I think this is less common, but you can order with just seltzer as the topper.

If you have a favorite brandy, of course you can use that instead of Korbel. Cognac is popular with some. I also knew someone "back in the day" who always ordered a Southern Comfort old fashioned. Lots of possibilities!

Another variation I found was with bitters. Angostura bitters are the traditional choice, and I found that they sell an orange version of their bitters.

Having made both, I'll say that the orange bitters are similar but do impart more of the sweet orange essence to the drink. I'm thinking you could use this and reduce the sugar added and still have a drink that is sweet enough.... must try!

When making this at home, you also have the option of using diet soda to help cut the sugar. I've done this and it is quite excellent!

The garnishes are another popular variation. Traditionally this is an orange slice and cherry, but some bars (and stores) offer pickled mushrooms and Brussels sprouts. So you can very easily make it your own!

Frequently Asked Questions

More Recipes to Enjoy

If you're trying to embody the experience of a Wisconsin supper club, the brandy old fashioned is a great starting point. You could serve it with potato crusted cod for the whole "Friday night fish fry" experience!

Maybe you need a quick appetizer - mix up some beer cheese dip for dipping those pretzels!

And for dessert? Nothing beats a slice of old fashioned carrot cake. After all, how often can you claim that your cake counts as a vegetable? 🤪

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📖 Recipe