A brandy old fashioned sweet is the drink of choice at Wisconsin Supper Clubs. Made with maraschino cherries, oranges, sugar, bitters, brandy, and lemon-lime soda, this vintage cocktail recipe is a must-try!
Is it too early to have a guest writer? Since my husband is βMr. Wisconsinβ, this drink is near and dear to his heart. He had a lot he wanted me to tell you about this classic cocktail recipeβ¦so he guest-wrote the below introduction on making the PERFECT Brandy Old Fashioned Sweet.
Perhaps spurred on by hits like βMad Menβ, classic cocktails have been in vogue for the past few years; in particular, the Old Fashioned is back in a big way.
The truth is, though, in Wisconsin, we never stopped drinking them. Itβs not back in style because it never fell out of style here! That being said, if Don Draper walked into Wisconsin supper club for a Friday night fish fry and ordered an Old Fashioned, heβd be a bit surprised by what the barkeep would hand him.
The Wisconsin Old Fashioned has characteristics that set it apart from a classic Old Fashioned. First, the muddled fruit/sugar cube. Every Wisconsin Old Fashioned starts this way. Second, BRANDY. In Wisconsin, unless you say otherwise, itβs assumed you want your Old Fashioned made with brandy (instead of a spirit like whiskey). And third, soda. Every Wisconsin Old Fashioned cocktail recipe will have a healthy splash of soda (7Up if you want it sweet, or Squirt if you want it sour). Garnish with an orange slice and a cherry and youβre done!
All of these extras (muddled fruit, soda, garnish, etc.) are remnants of Prohibition. When making and selling alcohol was illegal, that certainly didnβt stop people from drinking. They would just make the stuff themselves or purchase it from a bootlegger. But the booze they may have made in their basements wasnβt up to the same quality assurance standards as the old distilleries; so, to cut the harsh taste of their homemade hooch, it became common practice to add things like sugar and fruit to mask the taste. Turns out, these additions are still enjoyed today, even with the good stuff!
Because Wisconsinites love this classic cocktail so much, it shouldn’t surprise anyone that Wisconsin is responsible for half the world’s brandy consumption. Wisconsin also consumes the most brandy in the United States.
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Why You’ll Love this Wisconsin Brandy Old Fashioned Recipe
Easy to Make. Making the perfect Wisconsin Brandy Old Fashioned Sweet isnβt difficult, but if you donβt have basic cocktail gear (like a muddler and a jigger), youβll have to improvise a bit.
Awesome flavor. Two main flavors shine through this classic cocktail: boozy brandy and sweet fruit.
Smooth and refreshing. Smooth with a crisp fizz from the lemon-lime soda.
Quick to mix up. From start-to-finish, it will take you approximately five minutes to mix up this Wisconsin Brandy Old Fashioned recipe.
Ingredients Needed
Brandy: A good brandy is key to the perfect Wisconsin old fashioned. You’re looking for a nice brandy that is smooth, sweet, and have a mild bite. Korbel is the go-to brandy for this drink.
Bitters: You might think that, since itβs only a few dashes, you can skip the bitters. Bitters are wonderfully aromatic, though, and since so much of our sense of taste is really our sense of smell in disguise, this cocktail is at itβs best when you use bitters. Angostura bitters is the most common for this drink.
Sugar:Β You know Iβm a huge fan of homemade simple syrup for cocktails, but it wouldnβt be a Wisconsin Brandy Old Fashioned if you didnβt muddle the fruit into sugar. While a muddled sugar cube (or granulated sugar in a pinch) is the classic way to make this cocktail recipe, I use brown sugar because it takes this drink to the next level.
Lemon-Lime Soda: The Wisconsin supper club version of the classic old fashioned is topped with a splash of lemon-lime soda. This cocktail recipe just wouldnβt be the same without it!
Fruit:Β Muddled cherries and an orange slice are staples in every Wisconsin Brandy Old Fashioned Sweet. While the bright red maraschino cherry is the standard, you can definitely go for a fancier cherry if you want (Luxardo cherries are my favorite).
See recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.
Different Ways to Enjoy Your Brandy Old Fashioned
Sweet, sour, and press are the main ways you can enjoy this signature cocktail.
Brandy old fashioned sweet tops the cocktail with lemon-lime soda (like 7up or sprite).
Brandy old fashioned sour tops the cocktail with grapefruit soda (like squirt or 50/50) or pre-made sour mix.
Brandy old fashioned press tops the cocktail with half lemon-lime soda and half soda water (club soda).
βIf you’re playing home bartender, adding a little splash of maraschino cherry juice to your cocktail is delicious (and something I do frequently when mixing up my own old fashioned cocktail).
Step-By-Step Instructions
- Place the sugar, cherry, orange slice and a few dashes of angostura bitters into your glass and muddle for about 10 seconds.
- Add ice and top with brandy and soda of your choosing. Stir to combine.
- Garnish with cherry and an orange slice.
- Enjoy!
Expert Tips
What do I do if I donβt have a muddler? Iβd encourage you to find a muddler at your local liquor store if you donβt already have one. This common bar tool is not expensive, and youβll release the most flavor from your fruit if theyβre properly muddled. But, in a pinch, you can use the back of a sturdy spoon (one that wonβt bend) to crush the cherry, orange, and sugar in step one of this classic cocktail recipe.
What is the best brandy to use for this cocktail recipe? Why, Korbel of course! And why Korbel? In 1893, just as the classic Old Fashioned was experiencing a resurgence in popularity, the Worldβs Fair in Chicago brought Korbel brandy to the midwest. Wisconsinites tried brandy in their Old Fashioned cocktail recipes then and never went back! To this day, according to the Korbel Company, Wisconsin alone drinks more than half of all the brandy they sell worldwide.
I donβt have brandy, what liquor should I use instead? While brandy is very common in Wisconsin, I know that isnβt the case everywhere. In fact, most restaurants and bars outside of Wisconsin will serve you an Old Fashioned made with whiskey! Your favorite whiskey or bourbon are great options for this cocktail recipe.
If Iβd prefer a less-sweet cocktail, how can I modify this recipe? If youβre not into the sweetness that comes along with this version of the Brandy Old Fashioned, you can change it to a Brandy Old Fashioned Sour by swapping out the lemon-lime soda for Squirt or 50/50. Less common, but another option, is to make a Brandy Old Fashioned Press, which is done by using half 7Up and half soda water in lieu of only lemon-lime soda.
Helpful Equipment
Old Fashioned Glass: also knowns as a lowball glass, or rocks glass. These lowball glasses are similar to the ones shown in the photos and have a classic old fashioned glass design
Muddler: youβll need this to crush the fruit at the beginning – this is a great muddler.
Jigger (or shot glass): measuring your liquor helps give you a consistently great cocktail – this jigger is my favorite!
Cocktail Picks: for skewering the cherry and orange slice to garnish – we have and love this set of cocktail picks.
Recipe FAQs
A traditional old fashioned cocktail is made with bourbon or whiskey. The Wisconsin old fashioned is made with brandy (typically Korbel).
The brandy old fashioned. In Wisconsin, you can get your brandy old fashioned sweet, sour, or press.
Brandy old fashioned sweet tops the cocktail with lemon-lime soda (like 7up or sprite).
Brandy old fashioned sour tops the cocktail with grapefruit soda (like squirt or 50/50) or pre-made sour mix.
Brandy old fashioned press tops the cocktail with half lemon-lime soda and half soda water (club soda).
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π Brandy Old Fashioned Sweet
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon brown sugar*
- 2-3 orange slices
- 2-3 maraschino cherries
- 4-5 dashes Angostura bitters
- ice cubes
- 1, 1.5 oz jigger of Brandy (I recommend Korbel)
- lemon-lime soda to top (I recommend 7-Up)
Instructions
- Place sugar, 1 orange slice, and 1 cherry in your glass. Shake in bitters, and muddle
- Add ice on top of muddled ingredients
- Add brandy and top with soda
- Stir to combine
- Garnish with a cherry and orange slice
Jenny says
Love this drink!! Wisconsin staple!
ourlovelanguageisfood says
π Definitely a WI staple! Glad to hear you loved it too.
Erika says
Loved this version. Original and tasty!
ourlovelanguageisfood says
I’m so glad you enjoyed it Erika! Thank you for making my old fashioned recipe π
Victoria says
This Wisconsin supper club Sweet Old Fashioned made me wish I was drinking it at a Wisconsin fish fry! Making it at home is the next best thing! Thanks for the “Sweet” recipe!
ourlovelanguageisfood says
Oooooh yes, brandy old fashioneds + fish fry is the perfect Wisconsin combo! Glad you enjoyed your homemade version too!
Vivienne says
Love the sweetness and the brandy! I actually use extra cherries. Hurray for Wisconsin! Perfect for the Up North summer.
ourlovelanguageisfood says
Extra cherries is always a good add! Happy to hear you enjoyed it – cheers!
M. says
Just as good as the supper club! 5-stars, hands down.
ourlovelanguageisfood says
πππ so glad it passed the supper club test! Cheers!
Laura says
This recipe is delicious!
ourlovelanguageisfood says
I’m so happy to hear you enjoyed it! Thanks for making my recipe – cheers!
Maren says
One of my favorite drinks!!
ourlovelanguageisfood says
So glad you love it too! Thanks for making my recipe of this Wisconsin classic π
Mike G says
Have used this recipe many a time, both solo and provided to others to follow. Consistently delicious!
ourlovelanguageisfood says
So glad to hear you love it too. Cheers!
Deb says
As a Wisconsinite, I fully approve. If I want one in a restaurant where I live in Georgia I have to explain it. This is my all time favorite.
ourlovelanguageisfood says
π Wisconsinite approved!! YAY! I’m so glad you love them too.
David says
Makes me wish I was at a supper club!
ourlovelanguageisfood says
So glad you liked it! Hopefully we can return to the supper club life soon!