Best Wisconsin Old Fashioned - history & recipe

Today I'm mixing up the best Wisconsin old fashioned! Of course in Wisconsin it's just called an old fashioned, but if you've had one, you know it's very different from a classic old fashioned. This drink is special to me because it reminds me of home. Highly customizable, there's a version of this cocktail for every drinker out there. You choose the level of sweetness and the garnish (anything from fruit to pickled vegetables!). I owe my personal philosophy of cocktails to this drink. I believe we should all drink what we like, and this is what I like. Cheers!

TIME STAMPS
Intro: 0:00
The History: 0:51
The Booze: 2:26
The Recipe: 4:00
Sips: 7:19

THE WISCONSIN OLD FASHIONED RECIPE
2 oz. (60 ml) Korbel Brandy
1/4 oz. (7.5 ml) Semi-rich simple syrup (1.5:1)
4 dashes Angostura Aromatic Bitters
2 small wedges of orange
1 cocktail cherry
Topo Chico sparkling mineral water
Cocktail cherry and orange slice for garnish

THE TOOLS

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Co-produced with the lovely Azusa "Az" Inaba 🎥 🎨

[AndersErickson]

So many ways to have this cocktail. How do you like yours?
** ALSO apparently the 1893 PBR Blue Ribbon claim is up for debate - 🤔if anyone knows more about the topic feel free to drop a comment!
Time stamps below! 👇👇👇😊🥃

The History: 0:51

The Booze: 2:26

The Recipe: 4:00

Sips: 7:19

[mattgritzmacher]

As a fellow Wisconsinite, I believe every year is a big year for drinking.

[hotramen]

as the chef of a supper club in wisconsin, this recipe is legit. remember, drink wisconsinably!

[mgweir]

I had once heard a story about someone that toured Korbel's winery in California where they also do their brandy production. They had two dock doors in their shipping department. One door was for shipments to Wisconsin and the other door was for everywhere else.

[wallstreetwayne]

My wife just walked in and asked “what are you doing?” and I said “watching my guy make drinks”. So apparently I like watching your drink videos so much that you’ve become “my guy”. Keep up the good work. Very entertaining and interesting at the same time. Cheers!!

[judithmorse]

I want to give you an elitist thumbs up for this. I went to school In Milwaukee as an expatriate from Philadelphia and fell in love with this. It really is the tiki version of an old fashion and I don’t care what they say, I have introduced this to my friends in the northeast and they all love it, Viva Milwaukee!

[wiscobuckeye]

As a Wisconsin resident - you nailed the drink perfectly. So good!

[FightScene]

This video was mind blowing for me. I visited Madison Wi a few years back and was at a bar with some Wisconsin colleagues. I mentioned i had just learned to make an old fashioned, and they said "Wisconsin is known for their old fashioned, you have to try one". So I did, and the bartender asked me if I wanted it sweet or sour... i was so confused. So I watched him put 7up, and was mortified. For the past 7 years, I've often thought about how it was the worst old fashioned I've ever had... little did I know it's actually a different drink all together.

[MUrules]

Went to a wedding once in Seattle and the bartender was very confused why he was making so many brandy old fashioneds - over half the wedding party were Marquette alums 😂

[scottduke]

I'm a bartender in Miami and if you're ever in town i sure would love to sit with you and have a drink and a good ole chat! really enjoy your videos.

[krazmokramer]

In the 70s, I was a bartender in some really nice restaurants in Lincoln Nebraska. We made OF very similar to your way. Except we used whiskey and a cane sugar cube instead of simple syrup. We muddled the orange, cherry, sugar and bitters (Angostura of course - 2 shakes), added the ice and whiskey. Topped with a small splash of seltzer and a lemon twist. Garnished with the orange and cherry like you did. One of my favorite drinks to this day!! Thanks for this video!

[stevencrawford]

Anders, your home state pride shows in this video. My wife and I just finished our first “Wisconsin” Old Fashioned’s and it truly is a delight. Made ours with Korbel’s to uphold the tradition and based on your enthusiasm and now can’t imagine making one with anything but Korbel’s. I have bottles of Remy Martin VSOP and Pierre Ferrand 1840 on the shelf but this jewel demands Korbel’s. The other YouTuber’s treat this one too haphazardly. You and Oz nailed this one 👏👏👏. Yes this will be a two cocktail evening for us.

[tombrown]

My goodness. I spent my honeymoon moving to Milwaukee from Ohio. Korbel and I became fast friends in the land of cheese. My favorite was a Brandy Manhattan. "Brandy and sweet.". You never hear that anywhere else. I'm a confirmed Beefeater Martini man now. In Wisconsin, that's called a "see-through.". Great video!

[bgres]

Wisconsin born and raised. My preference is whiskey old fashioned, sweet, garnished with a pickle. It may be different, but it is very much Wisconsin. Your version of the Wisconsin Old Fashioned looks incredible, thanks for giving it a go!

[rhihodag]

I'm a Hodag! I grew up with these. The Best!

[verruckterwissenschaftler]

Brandy Old Fashioned with Cheese Curds and pretzels please. Love your videos Anders!!!

[joegeiselman]

This explains why I was so confused when I ordered an Old Fashioned when I was in Wisconsin recently.
Bartender: Sweet or Sour?
Me: Uh, neither?
BT: Confused look
Me with glass of crushed ice and obliterated orange and cherry: Confused look

[jkmac]

I'm from KY. My bourbon Old Fashioned game is pretty strong, if I do say so myself. 😅
I did a travel nursing contract in the Northwoods of Wisconsin in 2021/2022. While I was there, I fell in love with the Wisconsin Old Fashioned. Our favorite hangout was Beachcomber Lounge in Rhinelander, WI. The people there were great... just a lot of fun, and the bartenders, Tom and Deb, were just the best! I tried several different variations on the Old Fashioned there...sweet, sour, press, garnished with cherries, mushrooms, etc. I'll just say.... they were ALL good in their own ways. We loved going there and being accepted as 😂
I loved this video! Thank you!!!

[jasonethridge]

Wow. Recent subscriber here, exploring the back catalog, and BAM! The memories! My aunt owned The Silver Dollar Saloon, in Pittsville (center of the state!) Two tap bar (PBR and Schlitz, as if) and if you weren’t drinking one of those, you were almost certainly drinking an old fashioned just like this. (The old men would say, “If you’re putting whiskey in your drink, you’re a southerner, and surely not Lutheran!”) Loving your channel! The production is fantastic and you’re a hoot!

[heatherhill]

I found your channel recently and as an 18 yr old bartender from Up North 20 years ago. I can still make these in my sleep! 100's of them served while waiting for the fish fry!