How to Make a True Wisconsin Old Fashioned

I have an O-B-S-E-S-S-I-O-N with Wisconsin Supper Club Style Brandy Old Fashioned’s.

My parents have a home in the Western Upper Peninsula of Michigan which is right over the border from Wisconsin, the home of The Brandy Old Fashioned. Last year I even did an Old Fashioned Crawl through the Northwoods and wrote a blog post about it called “A Waitress Named Diane”.

It was fantastic.

Since I cannot permanently live in the Northwoods (although I wish I could) I decided I needed to perfect the Brandy Old Fashioned at home.

The drink itself does require more than a few ingredients, but they are fairly inexpensive and easy to find.

I headed over to my local Binny’s Beverage Depot and was able to find everything I needed to make this Wisconsin Classic Cocktail.

The ingredients are VERY important and if you don’t have them all, your Old Fashioned will be lacking.

I prefer a Brandy Old Fashioned, sweet and with olives. You can also order a Brandy Old Fashioned Sour and either drink can be garnished with cherries and orange slices.

Here is what you need for the Brandy Old Fashioned, Sweet with Olives:

Ingredients

• Good quality Brandy, I used Korbel
• Sugar Cubes, I used La Perruche
• Aromatic Bitters, I used Angostura Bitters
• Maraschino Cherries
• Pimiento Stuffed Olives
• Orange Slices
• Sprite

The drink is fun to make.

I would suggest getting a good muddler- I bought mine at Binny’s- and a long handled bar spoon.

The steps are easy:

Instructions:

1. Place one or two sugar cubes in the bottom of a rocks glass.
2. Shake 4 to 6 drops of Bitters onto the cubes.
3. Use the muddler to crush up the bitters soaked cubes.
4. Add one orange slice (about 1/4 inch thick) and one maraschino cherry.
5. Use the muddler to mash up the orange and cherry. This releases the oils from the orange rind.
6. Add about 2 shots of brandy to the glass and use the spoon to give it a good stir.
7. Add crushed ice to the glass until it is 3/4 full. Give the glass another good stir with the spoon.
8. Add one splash of sprite and a little bit more crushed ice.
9. Garnish with an orange slice, cherry, and two olives.

There you have it! A perfect Brandy Old Fashioned.

It is hard to describe how this drink tastes. If it is made perfectly it tastes like a grown up Dr. Pepper, to me.

The crushed ice is also a key ingredient. I used a ziploc bag to crush up the ice with a meat tenderizer. I will be ordering a Lewis Ice Bag and Mallet.

While it is not exactly the same as sitting in the picturesque Northwoods in a classic Supper Club, it comes pretty close.

You will also feel very grown up sipping this drink. It makes for a perfect cocktail hour and pairs well with a Meat and Potatoes type of Dinner!

If you make a Brandy Old Fashioned, post a picture of it on Facebook and tag me @tipsywife or on Instagram @thetipsyhousewife.

For more great cocktail recipes, check out my Favorite Frozen Drinks.