Fruity and lightly sweetened brandy cooled and diluted with crushed ice. What's not to like?
The Brandy Old-Fashioned is usually made using Californian...
We drove through Wisconsin on our way around Lake Michigan. We thought an Old Fashioned was a safe drink to order at bars and were confused by questions like Sweet? Sour? Press? And then for the drink to show up with what looked like crushed up fruit cocktail, lots of ice, and a bright red cherry on top. And it was fizzy! Big nope. It has taken a month of REAL old fashioneds to rehabilitate us.
I was a little disappointed by this—at least the one I made, so pilot error is very possible. Can't help but wonder, having googled "Squirt drink" —safesearch ON for the love of God—if a wee splash of grapefruit soda might be fun. Next time.
I tried this last night. I thought it would be good smoked, so I added quite a bit of rosemary in the glass, lit it with a blowtorch and stuck a cloche on top. It was delicious.
If you ask for an Old Fashioned in Wisconsin they ask “brandy or whiskey” and “Sweet or dry”. The brandy is almost always Korbel. The sweet has some Seven Up (lemonade), the dry has sweet and sour mix added. Both are quite a long drink.
My family either uses 7-up or Sprite and it is a long drink. I have one aunt who refers to these as 'truth serums' because they will get tongues wagging after about two.
Spent most of my life in Wisconsin and observed this: When it comes to brandy old fashioneds bartenders in Wisconsin tend to offer 3 options: sweet, sour, or press. Korbel is the most popular brandy in Wisconsin for old fashioneds and will go with that by default, but people have widely differing opinions on whether to use sprite, 7-up, squirt, or 50/50. Basic maraschino cocktail cherries are generally preferred over luxardo or similar.