Ingredients
- 2 oz Brandy
- 1 sugar cube
- 2 dashes of Angostura aromatic bitters
- 2 orange slices
- 1 splash of Club Soda
- Orange slice and maraschino cherry - for garnish, optional
Equipment
- Old Fashioned Glass
- Muddler
- Stirrer or Bar Spoon
Instructions
- Prep Glass: Place 1 sugar cube in your Old Fashioned glass.
- Add Bitters: Douse the sugar cube with 2 dashes of Angostura aromatic bitters.
- Add orange: Place 2 orange slices into the glass.
- Muddle: Use a muddler to crush the sugar cube and the orange slices together.
- Add Brandy: Pour 2 oz Brandy.
- Add Ice: Fill your glass with ice cubes.
- Stir Gently: Use a bar spoon to stir the ingredients until the sugar cube is dissolved.
- Top with Soda: Add 1 splash of Club Soda.
- Garnish: Place an orange slice and a maraschino cherry into the glass for garnish.
Notes
Substitutes:
- Brandy: If you don't have brandy on hand, bourbon is a great substitute that I often use. It gives the cocktail a slightly different flavor profile but still works wonderfully.
- Angostura Bitters: If you're out of Angostura bitters, try using orange bitters instead. They add a nice citrusy twist to the drink.
- Sugar Cube: If you don't have sugar cubes, use a teaspoon of granulated sugar or simple syrup as a substitute.
Making a Pitcher of Wisconsin Old Fashioned:
- Scale: To make a pitcher that serves 8, multiply all the ingredients by 8. That would be 16 oz of brandy, 8 sugar cubes, 16 orange slides, and 16 dashes of Angostura bitters.
- Mix: In a large pitcher, muddle the sugar cubes and the orange slices together with the Angostura bitters. Add Brandy and ice cubes. Stir well until the sugar is dissolved.
- Serve: Strain the mixture into individual ice-filled Old Fashioned glasses, add a splash of soda water, garnish with an orange slice and a maraschino cherry, and serve immediately.
Making it Non-Alcoholic:
- Brandy Substitute: Use a non-alcoholic brandy substitute available in most supermarkets and do a good job mimicking the brandy's flavor.
- Angostura bitters: use a non-alcoholic aromatic bitter alternative available on the market.
- Proceed As Usual: Use these non-alcoholic substitutes, follow the original steps, and enjoy a non-alcoholic version of this classic cocktail.
Making it Vegan:
- Sugar Substitute: Some sugars are not vegan due to the processing methods used. To ensure your cocktail is vegan-friendly, make sure your sugar is not processed using bone char or any other animal-derived products.
- Garnish: Ensure your maraschino cherries are vegan. Some brands use artificial colors or preservatives derived from animal products. Look for brands that specify they are vegan-friendly.
What is a Wisconsin Old Fashioned?
A Wisconsin Old Fashioned is a brandy-based cocktail made of brandy, sugar cube, Angostura bitters, soda water, and garnished with an orange slice and maraschino cherry. This drink is relatively easy to make but requires attention to detail in correctly muddling the sugar and bitters together with some orange slices before adding the other ingredients.
The Wisconsin Old Fashioned is indeed a variant of the well-known whiskey-based Old Fashioned cocktail. The substitution of brandy for whiskey gives this version its unique flavor profile.
An exciting aspect of this particular beverage lies within its regional popularity; it’s essentially the Wisconsin official drink, where locals often serve it “sweet” or “sour”. Sweet is mixed with Sprite or 7-Up instead of soda water, while sour involves using Squirt or similar citrus-flavored sodas.
What is a Wisconsin Old Fashioned made of – The ingredients
If you’re making a Wisconsin old Fashioned, here’s what you’ll need:
- Brandy: The cocktail’s base spirit provides a rich, warming depth of flavor.
- Sugar Cube: Adds sweetness to balance the strength of the brandy and the bitterness of the bitters.
- Angostura Bitters: A concentrated botanical extract that adds complexity and a bitter counterpoint to the sweetness.
- Orange Slice: Provides a citrusy note, enhancing the overall flavor profile.
- Maraschino Cherry: Offers a touch of fruity sweetness and serves as an attractive garnish.
- Soda Water is used to top off the drink, adding effervescence and slightly diluting the strong flavors.
