The classic cocktail gets a sweeter makeover in the Brandy Old-Fashioned. This easy-to-make drink would be great for any beginning bartender! Make it spirit-forward or add a splash of soda to make it Wisconsin-style.
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About this Brandy Old-Fashioned recipe
Classic cocktails are classic for a reason. They’ve stood the test of time and remain popular choices at bars, restaurants and for home mixologists.
The old-fashioned is no exception. It has plenty of merits — simple to make, well-balanced and has plenty of twists — and yet the bourbon can be a bit bold for some palates.
Enter, the Brandy Old-Fashioned. This variation swaps the bourbon for brandy, a sweeter spirit that results in a lighter cocktail. Now, this swap doesn’t invite you to disregard my steps for the best old-fashioned (it’s different than what they teach in bartending school, trust me), but creates a hand-crafted drink I know you’ll love.
It’s especially beloved in Wisconsin, where it’s not just a drink but a tradition — often ordered with muddled fruit and a splash of soda. Personally, I prefer mine without soda for a stronger, more spirit-forward sipper — but if you love the classic Wisconsin take, go for it.
More brandy recipes: Vieux Carré • Brandy Alexander • Brandy Manhattan
Why you’ll love this recipe
- It’s a light, sweet twist on the classic old-fashioned recipe.
- This is an easy cocktail for beginners to mix up.
- There are plenty of ways to customize this cocktail for every taste.
What is brandy?
Brandy is a spirit that is made by fermenting fruit juices or wine. It can be made with almost any fruit, from pears to apples to cherries, with each providing a unique flavor profile. More expensive fruit is used for what is classified as fine brandy, while more common fruits become mass-produced brandy.
It can be enjoyed on its own as an after-dinner digestif, but is also found in cocktails as well, such as the Sidecar and Brandy Alexander. Cognac is the specialty type of brandy that is most commonly used in cocktails.
History of the Brandy Old-Fashioned
The Brandy Old-Fashioned is also known by the moniker Wisconsin Old-Fashioned, and with good reason.
It’s thought that drink originated in Wisconsin after the Korbel Brothers introduced brandy to the Midwest at the Chicago World’s Fair of 1893. According to BonApetit.com, Wisconsin was especially enamored by the spirit and shipped it by the truckload, until Prohibition halted things.
Bootlegging and moonshine became prominent in the area, with people adding fruits to the booze in order to make it more palatable. When alcohol became legal again, the fruity element stuck around.
The Brandy Old-Fashioned is a bit more sessionable than its bourbon counterpart — a nod to the legendary supper clubs in Wisconsin, where you’d sip one (or a few) while waiting for your fish fry or prime rib. Today, it’s still a beloved staple across the state.
Traditionally, Wisconsinites order theirs with brandy (often Korbel), muddled fruit and a splash of soda — sweet (lemon-lime), sour (sour mix) or press (half soda water, half lemon-lime). It’s a whole language of its own! As one Wisconsin reader shared, this ritual isn’t just a drink order — it’s a rite of passage, deeply tied to supper club traditions. (Thanks, Danielle!)
Tools & glassware
One of the things that makes this recipe great for beginning home bartenders is that it doesn’t require many fancy tools or equipment.
To make an old-fashioned, you’ll need a mixing glass and a bar spoon *. Some recipes call for using a muddler to smash the cherry, which is never necessary but certainly an option. A large, clear ice cube makes me feel like I’m sipping my drink at a classy cocktail bar rather than at home.
At bars and restaurants, it’s typical to see old-fashioneds served in either rocks glasses or old-fashioned glasses: short, heavy-bottomed tumblers. As with any drink, you can use whichever glass you prefer or have on hand.
favorite rocks glasses
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Ingredients
👇 For full measurements and step-by-step instructions, scroll down to the printable recipe card. It’s all there waiting for you!
My version of the Brandy Old-Fashioned closely follows the classic old-fashioned recipe, so if you like to enjoy those you probably have most of this in your home bar already.
- Brandy or cognac: Cognac is aged longer than brandy, giving it a more complex flavor. You can use either for this drink as they both provide sweet, fruity elements.
- Simple syrup: I prefer to make my own simple syrup — it’s so easy! You can even make a sugar-free simple syrup right at home.
- Aromatic bitters: Angostora is most common in an old-fashioned.
Garnishes
Orange zest: This orange accent creates an aromatic garnish that not only looks great, but enhances the flavor of the drink as well. The orange zest is only the outer portion of the orange peel, leaving the bitter pith (white part) out.
Cocktail cherry: Leave the maraschino cherries to Shirley Temples and opt for a true cocktail cherry *. You can make your own cocktail cherries or purchase some.
favorite cocktail cherries
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Large ice cube: When it comes to cooling things down, I prefer to use a large ice cube or sphere. I’ve found that since these melt more slowly, your drink doesn’t get watered down as quickly. Use the directional freezing method to create clear ice that feels like a fancy cocktail bar!
Best brandy for a Brandy Old-Fashioned
My go-to advice when it comes to cocktail is always to use the best spirit — in this case, brandy — you can afford. More expensive spirits have the best depth of flavor and create higher-quality drinks. In this case though, save the really expensive stuff to sip on in a brandy snifter.
Cognac is a specific type of aged French brandy that is made from distilled white wine and aged in French oak barrels. It’s the commonly-used liquor for cocktails and would work well in this recipe. You can also use Calvados (French apple brandy) or Armagnac (rustic French brandy).
Keep in mind that American brandy tends to be fruitier and less oaky than Cognac or Armagnac — this can be an approachable alternative.
Substitutions & variations
- Mix your spirits. If you’d prefer more of the classic old-fashioned flavor with some sweetness, you can make your drink with half brandy and half bourbon.
- Try a different bitter. Angostura is the traditional choice, but use your favorite bitters to customize the flavor of your old-fashioned.
- Make it booze-free. Choose zero-proof spirits and non-alcoholic bitters to create a mocktail version of this popular sipper.
- Add flavor. Simple syrup is an easy way to switch up your drink. Try something that pairs well with the fruitiness of brandy, like lavender or cherry.
- Step up your presentation. Try different fruits and herbs as a garnish, add a special cocktail pick, or try making berry ice cubes or flower ice cubes for a gorgeous presentation.
Sip it Wisconsin-style. In Wisconsin, this drink is more than a cocktail — it’s part of the supper club experience, often paired with a fish fry and a visit to the salad bar. Garnishes can range from cherries and oranges to olives and even pickled mushrooms. Want it lighter? Add a splash of soda (you’ve got options) and sip it the Wisconsin way:
- Sweet: lemon-lime soda (like Sprite or 7Up)
- Sour: sour mix
- Press: half lemon-lime soda, half club soda
One of my readers, Danielle from Wisconsin, shared her go-to order: a brandy sweet Old-Fashioned with olives, always made with Korbel.
Instructions
Now that we have the details down, let’s make a Brandy Old-Fashioned!
First, fill your mixing glass * with ice. This is how you’ll cool down your drink. Add your brandy and simple syrup, stirring gently to combine and chill them.
Strain your mixture into a rocks glass * with a large ice cube. Then, you’ll drop your bitters in — they’re measured in dashes — to your liking.
Garnish with a piece of orange zest and add a cocktail cherry *. Then, you’re ready to enjoy!
Tips & tricks
- No shaking here! Spirit-forward cocktails get diluted quickly so stir them instead.
- Experiment with different bitters. I think orange bitters or cherry bitters would work well!
- Soda or no soda? Wisconsin-style Old-Fashioneds often include a splash of soda, but I prefer mine spirit-forward. Your drink, your rules!
Food pairings
With a sweeter drink, a menu heavy with salty and cheesy foods balances things out. Try a simple cheese and charcuterie board or pizza dough breadsticks (with pepperoni dip).
Need something sweet to end the meal? Shortbread matcha cookies or bourbon ginger ale cake are both great options as they aren’t overly sweet.
FAQ
The traditional Wisconsin Old-Fashioned is made with brandy and does typically use a splash of lemon-lime soda (like Sprite or Squirt) or club soda to finish the drink. I don’t recommend this as it dilutes the drink and alters the taste.
While whiskey is the traditional choice for an old-fashioned cocktail, this brandy old-fashioned is a sweeter, more palatable version for some drinkers.
More old-fashioned recipes
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Brandy Old-Fashioned
ingredients
- 2 ounces brandy
- ¼ ounce simple syrup
- 2 dashes aromatic bitters such as Angostura
- 1-2 ounces lemon-lime soda or club soda (optional, for Wisconsin-style)
- 1 cocktail cherry for garnish
- 1 piece orange zest for garnish
- 1 large ice cube for garnish
instructions
- In a mixing glass * filled with ice, combine brandy and simple syrup.
- Use a bar spoon * to gently stir the mixture until chilled.
- Strain into a rocks glass * with a large ice cube. If desired, top with 1 to 2 ounces of soda for a Wisconsin-style variation.
- Garnish with a cocktail cherry and a piece of orange zest.
notes
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Danielle Coykendall says
I’m a big fan of your blog—thank you for sharing your creative takes on classic cocktails!
As a proud Wisconsinite, I had to chime in on your Brandy Old-Fashioned post. I totally get that for those outside our state, the idea of topping off an Old-Fashioned with soda might raise a few eyebrows. But here in Wisconsin, it’s practically a rite of passage—and it comes with its own language!
When you order an Old-Fashioned here, you have to be specific:
• Brandy or whiskey?
• Sweet, sour, or press?
• Garnish—cherries, olives, or even pickled mushrooms?
My go-to? A brandy sweet Old-Fashioned with olives, always made with Korbel (fun fact: over 50% of Korbel’s brandy sales come from Wisconsin!). The Brandy Old-Fashioned isn’t just a drink—it’s a symbol of Wisconsin culture.
You’ll still find it front and center at our iconic supper clubs, where folks pack into the bar area shoulder-to-shoulder, sipping Old-Fashioneds and placing their dinner orders before even being seated. Once called, you head to the table, hit the salad bar, and before long your fish fry (or prime rib) arrives piping hot. That experience—complete with the drink—is a time-honored tradition.
As we like to say around here: “Fridays are for fish frys and Old-Fashioneds.” Cheers to that!
Susannah says
Danielle, thank you so much for this thoughtful comment — I absolutely loved reading it! I’ve added a few of your tips and regional insights to the post to help others understand just how special the Brandy Old-Fashioned is in Wisconsin. I really appreciate you sharing and for being a longtime reader. Cheers to Friday fish frys and Old-Fashioneds!