Last Updated on January 19, 2023
A few weeks ago while glamping at Camp Wandawega, we dined at The Duck Inn, a good old Wisconsin supper club, and I ordered a Brandy Old-Fashioned Sweet cocktail. Unless you live in Wisconsin, it’s hard to find a bartender who can mix a good one. In fact, on spring break during my college years, the bartender in Florida looked at me like I was from Mars when I ordered this boozy beverage. So I took matters into my own hands, and I’m spilling the passed-down cocktail recipe. Grab your bitters and cherries…let’s get mixing!

Back in the day, I was a bartender in Wisconsin Dells, and I must say, I could whip up a good one! It’s Wisconsin deliciousness in a glass! But before I give you the recipe, can we take a moment to soak in the beauty of that glass above? *sigh* You can find similar vintage cocktail glasses here.

A Wisconsin Bartender’s Brandy Old Fashioned Sweet Recipe
YIELDS 1 SERVING
Ingredients for a Brandy Old-Fashion
2 oz Korbel Brandy or whatever you preferred
A tiny spoonful of maraschino cherry juice (I’m suddenly singing Mary Poppins)
Cherries
1 sugar cube (Yep, Mary Poppins, firmly stuck in my head)
Splash of orange juice
6 dashes of bitters
Sprite, 7up, or some sort of lemon-lime soda
Ice
1 orange slice divided for garnish
1 maraschino cherry for garnish
Mixing Instructions
- Place the sugar cube in the glass. If you want to do this properly, muddle the fruit and bitters with sugar.
- Add the remaining ingredients. Stir. Add ice cubes. Stir again.
- Garnish with an orange slice and cherry. Boom! Welcome to Wisconsin baby.
All you need is Friday night fish fry at a supper club with the crunchy breadsticks and cheese spread and deep-fried cheese curds as an appetizer (BTDubs, sometimes I like to dip them in ranch because deep-fried cheese is not heart attack inducing enough…shhhhhhh, don’t tell).


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Thalia @ butter and brioche
Definitely going to be making this old fashioned brandy cocktail in the upcoming Christmas period. Thanks for the delicious idea!
kyla
Thalia @ butter and briocheExcellent! It’s a favorite of mine that is for sure! Glad you stopped by!
Champagne Smash {contributor Kyla} - This Silly Girl's Life
[…] two (okay, maybe three). The Indie Wild Mule is a favorite of mine during the summer months and the classic Wisconsin Old-Fashioned is a nice little heater on a cold winter’s night, but this one is kinda special. This one has […]
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[…] Brandy Old-Fashion Cocktail Recipe […]
Andy
Another good wisconsin twist is use one table spoon of pure maple syup instead of the sugar cube and use sun drop soda for that shawano twist