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    Home » Liqueurs » Brandy Old Fashioned

    Published: Dec 13, 2022 by Lisa · This post may contain affiliate links, which means we make a small commission off items you purchase at no additional cost to you.

    Brandy Old Fashioned

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Cocktail in glass with orange peel.
    Low ball glass with cocktail and orange peel
    Low ball glasses filled with brandy.
    Brandy Old Fashioned in low ball glass.

    Calling all brandy lovers! This Brandy Old Fashioned recipe is a great way to elevate your home bartending skills. Filled with cherry flavor, this easy cocktail only uses 5 ingredients and takes just minutes to make.

    Cocktail in low ball glass with large ice cube and orange peel. this recipe

    Chilly evenings call for belly-warming cocktails and this Brandy Old Fashioned fits the bill perfectly!

    An old fashioned is a classic cocktail that every home bartender should know how to make. This twist on the classic drink recipe uses demerara syrup (which takes minutes to make at home) instead of the traditional sugar cube, so it's easy to mix one up on any given night. No special occasion required.

    Jump to:
    • Why you'll love this recipe
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • FAQs
    • Expert Tips
    • More Great Cocktails
    • Recipe

    Why you'll love this recipe

    ✔︎ Made with cherry juice and garnished with Luxardo cherries, this drink is filled with cherry flavor without being overly sweet.

    ✔︎ This brandy old fashioned is a delicious spin on a traditional cocktail for those who don't like whiskey (me!) but still want a "brown alcohol" sipper.

    ✔︎ Cherry + brandy are a match made in heaven and the orange brings every together perfectly. One sip and you will be in love.

    Ingredients

    You only need a handful of ingredients to make this classic cocktail.

    Bottles of ingredients needed to make Brandy Old Fashioned.

    Ingredient Notes:

    Brandy: Use your favorite brandy as this a spirit-forward drink. My current favorite is Driftless Glen.

    Cherry Juice: You can use the cherry juice from your jar of garnish cherries or buy cherry juice at the store. We always use the juice from the jar since it's already open.

    Demerara Syrup: It's easy to make it at home - just follow this recipe! Alternately, you can use a natural cane sugar cube and a tablespoon of water in its place. Regular simple syrup would work in a pinch, but you will lose some of the depth in the drink that the demerara sugar adds.

    Bitters: You can use cherry or orange bitters depending on your flavor preference. Both work great.

    Cherries: Use the expensive cocktail cherries (Luxardo or Bada Bing are a few favorites) and save the inexpensive bright red cherries for your ice cream. It's worth it, I promise.

    Instructions

    Grab your cocktail glass and muddler and you are ready to go.

    Orange wedge and syrup in bowl, muddled, and in jar with cherry juice being poured in.

    Muddle the orange slice with the demerara syrup in a small bowl. Discard the rind and place the orange/demerara syrup mixture into a mixing glass and add the cherry juice.

    Pouring brandy into jar, stirring and pouring drink over large ice cube.

    Next, add the brandy and a few dashes of bitters before filling the glass with ice and stirring. Strain the mixture into a low ball glass with a large ice cube. Garnish with cherries and orange peel if desired.

    FAQs

    Does it matter what kind of cherry juice you use?

    Use a cherry juice you like. We have made it with cherry juice from Maraschino cherries, Bada Bing Cherries and Luxardo Cherries. You can even use cherry juice from a bottle. All taste great, but my preference is the Bada Bing cherry juice, which is not too sweet and not too tart. Try them all and find your favorite!

    What is the best way to make the orange peel garnish?

    We use a citrus peeler to make the garnish for our cocktails. The oils the peel adds are the perfect finishing touch. Be sure you use a light hand to get the peel only and not much of the pith (white part) otherwise you will end up with a bitter taste in your drink.

    What are bitters used for in a cocktail?

    Think of bitters as a seasoning, like salt in food. The dash of bitters adds flavor and balance to the cocktail. Just a few dashes go a long way so don't overuse.

    What is a Wisconsin Brandy Old Fashioned?

    A Wisconsin brandy old fashioned can be ordered sweet (made with Sprite soda), sour (made with Squirt soda), or dry (made with club soda). This Brandy Old fashioned recipe is closer to your traditional Old Fashioned but uses brandy instead of bourbon.

    Brandy Old Fashioned with orange peel in a low ball glass with jigger in background.

    Expert Tips

    ✘ Buy the expensive cherries. They are worth it, I promise. Cherries are a key ingredient and make the difference between a good and great Brandy Old Fashioned.

    ✘ Make sure you stir, not shake an old fashioned. Shaking brings air into the drink and dilutes the cocktail too much. Stirring gives you a velvety texture while chilling the drink at the same time.

    ✘ Use a large sphere or square ice cube when you serve a spirit-based cocktail such as an old fashioned or Manhattan. The large cube doesn't melt as fast so your cocktail is chilled but doesn't get diluted.

    ✘ Don't forget the garnish. The oils in the orange peel add flavor to the drink as well as a pop of color.

    Single Brandy Old Fashioned with cherry juice in low ball glass.

    More Great Cocktails

    Nothing warms the insides like a great cocktail. Try this Rum Old Fashioned or some of our other favorite drinks.

    • Bourbon Aperol Cocktails
    • Tequila Old Fashioned
    • Bourbon Elderflower Cocktails
    • Perfect Manhattan Cocktail
    
    
    Did you make this recipe? We'd love to hear your thoughts! 
    
    Please rate the recipe and leave a comment below. Your feedback helps us and your fellow readers! 
    
    
    

    Recipe

    Brandy Old Fashioned over ice.

    Brandy Old Fashioned

    Garnish With Lemon
    This Brandy Old Fashioned is a twist on the traditional cocktail and is made with brandy and cherry juice. A great after dinner sipper!
    5 from 3 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 mins
    Total Time 5 mins
    Course Liqueurs
    Cuisine American
    Servings 1 serving
    Calories 275 kcal
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Equipment

    • Cocktail Mixing Glass
    • Sphere Ice Molds
    • Low Ball Glasses

    Ingredients
      

    • ½ ounce demerara syrup
    • 1 slice orange
    • 1 ounce cherry juice
    • 3 ounces brandy
    • 2 drops cherry bitters, optional
    • 2 Luxardo cherries, for garnish
    • 1 orange peel, for garnish

    Instructions
     

    • Add demerara syrup and orange wedge to a small bowl and muddle to combine.
      ½ ounce demerara syrup, 1 slice orange
    • Pour mixture into a cocktail mixing glass and discard the orange slice.
    • Add cherry juice, brandy and bitters to mixing glass. Fill glass with ice and stir until well mixed.
      1 ounce cherry juice, 3 ounces brandy, 2 drops cherry bitters,
    • Fill low ball glass with large sphere or square ice cube. Pour drink into prepared glass. Garnish with cherries and orange peel, if desired, and serve.
      2 Luxardo cherries,

    Notes

    Ingredient Notes:
    Brandy: Use your favorite as this is a spirit forward drink. My current favorite is Driftless Glen.
    Cherry Juice: You can use the cherry juice from the jar of cherries or buy cherry juice at the store. We always use the juice from the jar we are garnishing with since it's already open.
    Demerara Syrup: Make your own at home in minutes! If you're short on time, you can also use natural cane sugar cube and a tablespoon of water in its place. Regular simple syrup would work in a pinch, but you will lose some of the depth in the drink that the demerara sugar adds.
    Bitters: You can use cherry or orange depending on your flavor preference. Both work great.
    Cherries: Use the expensive cocktail cherries (Luxardo or Bada Bing are a few favorites) and save the inexpensive bright red cherries for your ice cream. It's worth it, I promise.
     
    Tips for the best old fashioned cocktails.
    ✘ Make sure you stir, not shake, an old fashioned. Shaking brings air into the drink and dilutes the cocktail too much. Stirring gives you a velvety texture while chilling the drink at the same time.
    ✘ Use a large sphere or square ice cube when you serve a spirit-based cocktail such as an Old Fashioned or Manhattan. The large cube doesn't melt as fast so your cocktail is chilled but doesn't get diluted.
    ✘ Don't forget the garnish. The orange peel adds orange flavor with the oils from the peel so it completes the cocktail as well as adds a pop of color.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 4.5ouncesCalories: 275kcalCarbohydrates: 20gProtein: 0.3gFat: 0.02gSodium: 4mgPotassium: 80mgFiber: 0.3gSugar: 18gVitamin A: 32IUVitamin C: 7mgCalcium: 10mgIron: 0.3mg

    Nutrition info not guaranteed to be accurate.

    Did you make this recipe?Tag us on Instagram or leave a comment!
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    About Lisa

    Hi, I’m Lisa! Looking for the party? It’s probably at my house. Nothing brings me more joy than sharing good food with friends and family. That and a seriously good cocktail.

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