Brandy instead of bourbon? Yes, Wisconsin makes an Old-Fashioned differently

To most of the cocktail-drinking universe, the recipe for an Old-Fashioned is the distillation of simplicity: bourbon or rye, sugar syrup, a dash of bitters and an orange peel for a garnish. It’s a drink formula that has held up for more than 200 years – except in Wisconsin.

At some point around the turn of the last century, the local Sconnies decided to blend up a unique take on the Old-Fashioned, substituting brandy for bourbon and adding carbonated soda and a fruit mash to create a sweeter drink to appeal to immigrants from brandy- and schnapps-loving countries like Germany and Poland...