The Brandy Old Fashioned is a cocktail variant that is particularly associated with Wisconsin, where it is the preferred version of the traditional Old Fashioned. Unlike the classic recipe, which uses whiskey or bourbon as its base spirit, the Wisconsin Brandy Old Fashioned substitutes brandy, typically Korbel, a Californian brandy popularized in the region.
This preference for brandy has been linked to Korbel’s introduction at the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago, after which brandy imports increased in Wisconsin due to its large population of German immigrants, who favored fruit-based spirits.
The drink is commonly prepared with muddled sugar, bitters, fruit such as cherries and oranges, and is frequently topped with lemon-lime soda or sour mix, further differentiating it from its whiskey-based counterpart. The Brandy Old Fashioned has become a staple in Wisconsin supper clubs and bars.
A number of serving styles are commonly used in ordering the Brandy Old Fashioned:
- Brandy Old Fashioned Sweet is the most popular variant and is made by topping the muddled brandy mixture with lemon-lime soda such as 7UP or Sprite, imparting a sweet and effervescent finish.
- Brandy Old Fashioned Perfect, uses equal parts sweet (lemon-lime soda) and sour (sour mix or a splash of bitter lemon).
- Brandy Old Fashioned Sour substitutes sour mix or grapefruit soda, creating a tart contrast to the sweetness of the muddled fruit.
- Brandy Old Fashioned Press (which is sometimes claimed to be short for “Presbyterian,” a reference to the Presbyterian cocktail), combines lemon-lime soda and club soda
- Brandy Old Fashioned Soda uses only club soda for a drier profile.