What is the difference between Brandy Old Fashioned sweet and sour?

“ 'Sweet' is with 7-Up, 'sour' is with Squirt soda or pre-packaged sour mix , and 'press' is half 7-Up, half club soda,” says Brian Bartels, author of The United States of co*cktails, and owner of Settle Down Tavern in Madison. “Most people opt for 'sweet' or 'press. ' ”

What is a Brandy Old Fashioned made of?

Steps. Add the bitters, orange slices, cherries and sugar cube to an Old Fashioned glass and muddle to combine. Add ice to fill the glass, then add the brandy. Top with the 7UP, Sprite or club soda, and stir to chill.

What brandy is best for old fashioned in Wisconsin?

Nationally, Old Fashioneds are typically made with rye or bourbon whiskey, but the true Wisconsin Old Fashioned is made with brandy -- Korbel by tradition .

How to order a sweeter old fashioned?

If you want a more sweet Old Fashioned, ask for less bitters in your drink . Typical Old Fashioneds don't have much more than a splash of bitters in them. However, every bartender is different, and your bar could use more bitters on average.

What is the best brandy for an old fashioned?

Brandy Old-Fashioned Tips In most bars, these co*cktails are made with Korbel brandy .

Should an old fashioned be sweet?

The best old fashioned recipes call for sugar to balance the alcohol . I use simple syrup, which quickly dissolves and is simple to make. It also allows us to play around and use brown sugar instead of white sugar for the syrup, giving our co*cktail a caramel-like flavor that works well with whiskey or rum.

What is the difference between an Old Fashioned and a Wisconsin Old Fashioned?

For the unfamiliar, the old fashioned co*cktail in just about every place other than Wisconsin is traditionally made with a whiskey, like bourbon, sugar and bitters. But in Wisconsin, brandy usually replaces whiskey — and it's most often poured over a mixture of muddled cherries, orange slices, sugar and bitters.

How to order a Brandy Old Fashioned?

If the Brandy Old-Fashioned is ordered “sweet,” top with a splash of 7-Up or Sprite . If it is ordered “sour,” top with a splash of Squirt. If it is ordered “press,” top with a combination of 7-Up/Sprite and soda water.

Why are Brandy Old Fashioned popular in Wisconsin?

The Wisconsin variation came about post-World War II when liquor distributors in Wisconsin found a cache of around 30,000 cases of quality brandy that they sold , which became more popular than the bad whiskey that was sold during the war, according to the book "Wisconsin co*cktails."

What are the three categories of brandy?

Common types of brandy include: Cognac: This brandy is made from grapes in the Cognac region of Southwest France. ... Armagnac: Armagnac is made from grapes in the Armagnac region of Southwest France. ... Applejack: This American fruit brandy is made from apples and was created in New Jersey in 1968. More items... Jun 7, 2021

What are the two types of brandy?

Different Types of Brandy COGNAC. ARMAGNAC. CALVADOS. Jul 22, 2022

What are the different tastes of brandy?

The taste of brandy varies depending on the fruit it's made from and its age, but generally, they are sweeter than whiskey and taste of flowers, fresh and dried fruit, and citrus zest . The flavour of brandy is fruity and somewhat sweet. Additionally, it may have an oak flavour, often aged in wooden barrels.

Brandy Old Fashioned Sweet Recipe (2024)

When I moved to Milwaukee 14 years ago I learned a lot about Wisconsinites. They love beer, cheese, and a good Brandy Old Fashioned Sweet. I learned to appreciate a steak and discovered what a Supper Club was.

While my wheat and dairy sensitivities have made the first two more infrequent than I’d like, luckily the Wisconsin Brandy Old Fashioned Sweet has become a go-to co*cktail. My love of steak has only deepened and whenever I find something that claims to be a supper club, I try it. I learned that nowhere else in the world does supper clubs and old fashioneds the way Wisconsin does. Tip: If you ever find yourself in Milwaukee, the best supper club hands down is Five O’Clock Steakhouse.

When I left Milwaukee to move to Manhattan (the city not the co*cktail), I was shocked, SHOCKED that I could not find a good brandy old fashioned and that’s when I started making them myself. I knew what went into a good co*cktail, I had ordered them countless times. That’s when I also decided to invest in a proper bar, another milestone in adulting.

Jump directly to my Brandy Old Fashioned Sweet recipe.

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What Is an Old Fashioned?

After Mad Men debuted the old fashioned co*cktail had a major resurgence, especially amongst the hipsters.

While official origins are somewhat disputed, the old fashioned has been around since at least the 1850s and was created to go back to the basics of co*cktail making. According to Wikipedia, traditional co*cktail ingredients were spirits, sugar, water, and bitters. That’s exactly what is in the brandy old fashioned sweet, and then some.

Brandy Old Fashioned vs. Whiskey

The typical old-fashioned is made with whiskey, but what I discovered in Wisconsin is that an old fashioned made with brandy has a different, more mild flavor.

Whiskey is made from grain and brandy is made from fruit…so there you go. Beer vs. Wine (I’m kidding, but not really). Brandy is naturally gluten-free so if you order this out you don’t have to worry if you have a sensitivity, if you order a whiskey old-fashioned you can get gluten-free, but you’ll need to be brand specific.

Many people wonder if brandy is a sweet drink. It’s not sweet per se, although you can get brandy in different fruit variations, but it is usually sweeter than whiskey.

Why is the Wisconsin Old Fashioned Made With Brandy?

Fun fact, Wisconsin is the #1 consumer of brandy in the U.S. according to Korbel.You may know that Wisconsin is most definitely not the #1 most populous state in the U.S and I like to think its high ranking in brandy consumption is due to the unofficial co*cktail.

According to the Green Bay Gazette (that’s pretty Wisconsin, right?) brandy became very popular during the war when grain was being shipped to feed Europe and it basically has stuck around ever since.

Best Brandy for an Old Fashioned Sweet

Korbel is the largest producer of Brandy in the U.S. and it is served in bars and restaurants all across Wisconsin. When using alcohol in a mixed drink, instead of drinking neat, there is no need to go for the most expensive top-shelf choice. Korbel is a perfect brandy for the Old Fashioned. If you are in Sonoma, California you can even visit the distillery.

What Bar Tools Do You Need to Make a Brandy Old Fashioned?

Muddler | Dissolving the sugar cube and breaking up the cherry and orange flavors are key to this co*cktail.
Jigger | An easy way to measure, and part of any well-stocked bar.
D ouble Old Fashioned Glasses | The drink is in the name! These cut crystal glasses are made for this co*cktail. They’re pricey but gorgeous and make great gifts!

Enjoy!