06/11/2026
For those who are local to Northeast Wisconsin, though - Did you know that we have Old Fashions available by the keg? Order ahead; we even have the novelty boxes!
After I shared my Wisconsin Style Brandy Old-Fashioned recipe yesterday, I realized a lot of people have never actually ordered one in Wisconsin, so I thought I'd give you a little crash course.
What makes a Wisconsin Old-Fashioned different from the classic version? During World War II, brandy became incredibly popular in Wisconsin, and somewhere along the way Wisconsinites decided bourbon could take a back seat. Instead of whiskey, most bars in Wisconsin make their Old-Fashioneds with brandy, and they've been doing it that way for generations.
Now, if you walk into a Wisconsin bar and order a Brandy Old-Fashioned, you're probably going to get asked one important question:
Sweet, Sour, or Press?
A Brandy Old-Fashioned Sweet is topped with lemon-lime soda, usually Sprite or 7UP. This is probably the most popular version and the one I usually order.
A Brandy Old-Fashioned Sour is topped with a sour soda, like Sq**rt or a sour mix style soda, giving it a more tart citrus flavor.
A Brandy Old-Fashioned Press is topped with half club soda and half lemon-lime soda, making it a little lighter and less sweet. Or all club soda.
Most people garnish theirs with maraschino cherries and orange slices, but I've always been a little different. My order is a Brandy Old-Fashioned Sweet with olives. Some places will even add marinated mushrooms. There is just something about that salty-sweet combination that I absolutely love.
I spent a lot of time in Northern Wisconsin over the years, and some of my favorite places to enjoy a Brandy Old-Fashioned are The Twilight Supper Club, Gateway Lodge, and The Brew Pub in Land O' Lakes. That's certainly not an exhaustive list. I could probably name another hundred places where I've enjoyed one.
If you'd like to make one at home, I'll link my recipe again in the comments. Now you'll know exactly how to order one the next time you find yourself sitting at a bar in Wisconsin looking like you know what you're doing.
