In Wisconsin, old fashioneds come with brandy; lawmakers make it somewhat official (2024)

WCCO digital headlines: Afternoon of Nov. 9, 2023

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — In Wisconsin, the old fashioned cocktail comes with brandy, not bourbon.

Now, state lawmakers are making it somewhat official.

A bipartisan resolution declaring the brandy old fashioned as the official Wisconsin state cocktail won approval Thursday in the state Assembly.

It's a resolution, not a bill, so even if passed by the Senate the brandy old fashioned won't make it onto the list of other official state symbols that include milk as the official beverage, kringle as the official pastry and corn as the official grain. Getting that level of recognition, enshrined in the state's "Blue Book," requires introduction of a bill, a public hearing and then the signature of the governor.

Only two states have gone that far: both Alabama and Virginia have whiskey as their official state spirit.

Some efforts to declare official state symbols in Wisconsin, like Colby as the official cheese, have run into opposition. The Colby proposal, around since 2019, has been shredded by those concerned that naming just one official cheese would hurt the sales, or reputation, of others.

But the old fashioned resolution will have a much smoother path. Because it is a resolution, and not a bill, it carries no weight of law. The Legislature can adopt it without a hearing or any public input.

So far this year, the Assembly has passed more than two dozen resolutions for everything from condemning the Hamas attack on Israel to proclaiming June as dairy month.

For the unfamiliar, the old fashioned cocktail 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. Depending on how sweet or sour the imbiber likes it, the concoction is then topped with a lemon-lime soft drink, sour mix, club soda, or some combination.

It is typically garnished with a cocktail cherry and orange slice, but is also sometimes served with olives, pickled mushrooms and even pickled brussels sprouts.

Democratic Rep. Ryan Clancy, in a pun-filled and lighthearted speech, said that adding savory ingredients to an old fashioned, like pickled vegetables, is an "abomination" that should be a felony offense.

"I felt stirred to speak today as a father, as a bartender, as an American," Clancy said. "I need to be on record as saying there is only one acceptable style of drink — the brandy sweet old fashioned."

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 Cocktails."

"How have we not done this before — passed a resolution making the brandy old fashioned the state cocktail," said the measure's sponsor, Republican Rep. Jon Plumer before the vote. "There's a thousand things in the state of Wisconsin that make us special, and this is just one of them."

Plumer said that skeptics of the brandy old fashioned shouldn't knock it until they try it.

"For you whiskey folks, I'm sorry if you're offended," he said to laughter during debate.

In Wisconsin, old fashioneds come with brandy; lawmakers make it somewhat official (2024)

FAQs

In Wisconsin, old fashioneds come with brandy; lawmakers make it somewhat official? ›

Now, state lawmakers are making it somewhat official. A bipartisan resolution declaring the brandy old fashioned as the official Wisconsin state cocktail won approval Thursday in the state Assembly.

What is the difference between an old fashioned and an old fashioned in Wisconsin? ›

For the unfamiliar, the old fashioned cocktail 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.

What is Wisconsin's official drink? ›

Lawmakers in Wisconsin have passed a resolution declaring the state's official cocktail: the brandy old fashioned. ARI SHAPIRO, HOST: How do you mix an old fashioned?

Is an old fashioned made with brandy or whiskey? ›

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

What brandy is best for Wisconsin Old Fashioned? ›

brandy: It's traditional to use Korbel (Core-bell) brandy in a Wisconsin old fashioned, but at the end of the day, any decent brandy will do. If you really can't stand to use brandy, just swap for bourbon. 7-up, sprite, squirt, or club soda: Totally your choice here based on whether you want it sweet, sour, or press.

Why does Wisconsin make Old Fashioned with brandy? ›

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 Cocktails."

What state drinks the most Old Fashioned? ›

Wisconsin drinks more brandy than any other state, and most of our brandy consumption goes into the Wisconsin old fashioned – a muddle of sugar, bitters, orange and maraschino cherries topped with brandy and then sweet or sour soda and a bevy of garnishes.

What is Wisconsin's signature drink? ›

Wisconsin's Twist on a Classic — The Brandy Old Fashioned

Did you know Wisconsin consumes the most brandy per capita in the country? Part of the reason is due to our official state cocktail, the Brandy Old Fashioned. It's the Old Fashioned cocktail you know and love, with brandy in place of whiskey.

What is the state's official drink? ›

California: Wine

Continue reading to see other signature drinks in your region.

What is the difference between cognac and brandy? ›

Examples of brandy include pisco, armagnac or Obstler (a brandy produced in Austria and Switzerland). Cognac, however, is always made with grapes and has a very specific distillation and blending process located in a small, protected area in the southwest of France. considered as brandy, but not all brandy is cognac.”

Why does Wisconsin drink so much brandy? ›

Brandy's popularity in Wisconsin started when a large number of German immigrants moved here in the 19th century and couldn't find their favorite drink, brandewijn. This prompted Korbel to start distilling for the public in 1889. Small-batch local distilleries produce – or have produced – brandy, too.

What is the best alcohol to make an Old Fashioned with? ›

With that said, bourbon is often the go-to whiskey choice for an Old Fashioned. The relatively heavy body of the mostly corn-based spirit creates structure within the cocktail, and its natural sweetness helps counterbalance the more astringent elements of bitters.

What are brandy and coke called? ›

Scan QR Code. For Recipe. More than a simple brandy and cola concoction, the Cuba Libre is a marriage of the robust Mansion House French Brandy with sweet cola and the tart lime.

What is the top selling brandy in Wisconsin? ›

It may surprise some to learn that the Badger State consumes more brandy than anywhere else in the United States. In 2019, Wisconsinites accounted for more than half of the worldwide sales of Korbel brandy.

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

'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 Cocktails, and owner of Settle Down Tavern in Madison. “Most people opt for 'sweet' or 'press.

What whiskey do bars use for Old Fashioned? ›

Best Overall Bourbon for an Old Fashioned: Old Grand Dad 114

Orange zest, cinnamon, and burnt sugar are the signature tasting notes of Old Grand Dad 114 Proof . A few drops of water and muddled sugar help dial down the heat to form a cocktail as accessible as it is memorable.

Did the old fashion originate in Wisconsin? ›

The cocktail itself goes back to the early 1800s, though the Pendennis Club in Louisville, Ky., claims it originated at least a version of it in the latter half of the century. Brandy old-fashioneds have a long history in Wisconsin, the resolution notes.

Is it an Old Fashioned or an Old Fashioned? ›

As a noun, an old-fashioned refers to an alcoholic beverage which contains whiskey, sugar, bitters and pieces of fruit. Occasionally one sees old fashioned without the hyphen, but dictionaries list old-fashioned with a hyphen. Old fashion is a corruption of the term old-fashioned.

Is an Old Fashioned a Midwest drink? ›

Today, the Brandy Old Fashioned is tied to Wisconsin more than any other locale, and the fruit and soda are nonnegotiable.

What are the types of Old Fashioned? ›

12 OLD FASHIONED VARIATIONS
  • Elderflower and Peach Old Fashioned. Put a sweet, spring twist on an old classic with the peach old fashioned. ...
  • Honey Old Fashioned. ...
  • Winter Spiced Old Fashioned. ...
  • Chocolate Orange Old Fashioned. ...
  • New Fashioned. ...
  • Sazerac. ...
  • Old Fashioned Godfather. ...
  • Marmalade Fashioned.

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