Classic: Brandy Old-Fashioned

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Preparation info
  • Makes

    1

    Drink
    • Difficulty

      Easy

Appears in
Spirits of '76: Celebrating 250 Years with Cocktails from Every State

By Kim Laidlaw

Published 2026

  • About

The brandy old-fashioned is Wisconsin’s unofficial state cocktail, a beloved twist on the classic. Popularized after World War II by returning soldiers and fueled by the state’s preference for brandy over whiskey, it’s traditionally muddled with cherries and orange, then topped with soda—sweet, approachable, and distinctly Wisconsinite in style.