Marge's Brandy Old Fashioned Recipe
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In Wisconsin, the only way to make an Old Fashioned is with brandy, not whiskey. This break from tradition stems from the introduction of brandy by California’s Korbel company at the 1893 Columbian Exposition in Chicago. It was such a hit among the local German-Americans that they started drinking it in place of whiskey. My Grandma Marge enjoyed her brandy Old Fashioned with those cloyingly sweet, fluorescent red maraschino cherries that I loved as a kid. If you’re going for Wisconsin authenticity, use ’em. Otherwise, follow my lead and mash in homemade brandied cherries.
Game plan: Top off this cocktail with plain soda, or finish it “sweet” with lemon-lime soda, “sour” with sour mix, or “press,” which is a combination of pop and soda water.
This recipe was featured as part of our DIY Home Bar recipe slideshow.
- 1 sugar cube
- Several dashes angostura bitters
- Soda water
- 1 (1/2-inch-thick) orange slice
- 2 to 3 Citrus Brandied Cocktail Cherries or Maraschino Cherries
- Ice
- 2 ounces brandy
I have no idea how long ago this recipe was posted but ..wow..did it bring back memories. Growing up in Wisconsin and after 23 years as an Army wife living all over the world I ended up in Upstate NY, I was surprised and dismayed that wherever I lived it was hard to find a bartender that understood "Brandy Old Fashion Sweet" so I I switched to wine. Ahhh,,the good old days in Racine, Oshkosh and Madison. Maybe I'll try this again..