Why Wisconsinites Drink Brandy Old Fashioneds (2024)

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Why Wisconsinites Drink Brandy Old Fashioneds? ›

Another common tale says brandy became so popular in the Badger State out of necessity. In her book “Wisconsin co*cktails,” Jeanette Hurt explained that when whiskey and other spirits became harder to find during World War II, brandy was still widely available.

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.

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."

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.

Wisconsin crowns the brandy old fashioned as the official state co*cktail : NPR. Wisconsin crowns the brandy old fashioned as the official state co*cktail Lawmakers in Wisconsin have passed a resolution declaring the state's official co*cktail: the brandy old fashioned.

Because of brandy's natural warming properties, it helps induce healthy sleep. In addition to that, the antibacterial nature of the drink makes it great for strengthening the immune system. Brandy can help eliminate pathogens from a person's system and can boost the immune system thanks to its many antioxidants.

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.

To this day Wisconsin buys copious amounts -- roughly a third of the brandy Korbel produces every year goes to Wisconsin. Now, if you remember, the liquor in the Whiskey co*cktail/Old Fashioned was interchangeable, so those brandy-loving Wisconsinites swapped out whiskey for brandy and the Brandy Old Fashioned was born.

Ever since then, writes Robert Simonson in the book ``The Old Fashioned; The Story of the World's First Classic co*cktail,'' Wisconsin has been the top consumer of the brandy in the US, ordering about 140000 cases of the 323000 made in 2012.

Which state drinks the most brandy? ›

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.

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.

According to the Wisconsin State Assembly's resolution, the co*cktail variation dates back to post-WWII, when the US sent grain to war-torn Europe, and spirits like whiskey became scarce in Wisconsin. The Christian Brothers flooded the Wisconsin market with 30000 cases of brandy, making it the perfect substitute.

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 co*cktail, the Brandy Old Fashioned. It's the Old Fashioned co*cktail you know and love, with brandy in place of whiskey.

The recipe is linked to bartender and bourbon distillery, James E. Pepper. Rumors link Pepper to The Pendennis Club before he allegedly brought the co*cktail to the Waldorf-Astoria hotel bar in New York City. Some claim Louisville as the home of the Old Fashioned while others maintain it's really NYC.

1. 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 co*cktail, the Brandy Old Fashioned.

Wisconsin has historically ranked as one of the heaviest drinking states in the United States with a persistent drinking culture. Few studies have documented the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on alcohol consumption after the first few months of the pandemic.

The state with the biggest co*cktail culture has an enduring affection for the spirit. Most of the world drinks brandy—if they drink it at all—as an after-dinner digestif, and in most of the United States, its popularity is limited. But Wisconsinites love the stuff.

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.