The Brandy Old Fashioned Sweet is one of my favorite classic co*cktails! I first discovered this twist on the Classic Old Fashioned when I lived in Wisconsin and would order the co*cktail in the (supper) clubs. Since I’m partaking in my 5th annual Dry January, I decided it was time to up my beverage game. My first foray? To create a Virgin Old Fashioned Recipe inspired by a Brandy Old Fashioned Sweet.
Jump to my Virgin Old Fashioned Recipe
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What is an Old Fashioned co*cktail?
The old fashioned is a co*cktail made by muddling sugar with bitters and water, adding whiskey, and garnishing with orange slice or zest and a co*cktail cherry.
There are a few differences between a classic Old Fashioned and the Wisconsin version. In Wisconsin whiskey is replaced with brandy and topped with lemon-lime soda instead of water. Since brandy is made from wine or fermented fruit, this makes for a sweeter, less strong, co*cktail.
Why is it called an Old Fashioned co*cktail?
Like most things, there are varying accounts of when and who created what we know today as an Old Fashioned. What doesn’t seem to be disputed is the first definition of the word co*cktail, which was in the early 1800s and was defined as a drink made of spirits, sugar, water, and bitters.
As drink-making became more sophisticated and new co*cktails emerged, the ‘Old Fashioned’ sticks to its roots of spirits, sugar, water, and bitters. So a Brandy Old Fashioned is as much of a traditional Old Fashioned as the popular Whiskey Old Fashioned and Bourbon Old Fashioned.
For Dry January, not only is the intention to make a Non-Alcoholic Old Fashioned, but it was to make it a little cleaner than the traditional recipe too. Some substitutions we’ll be making are using organic apple juice instead of brandy (both are made with fruit after all), skipping the added sugar, and using a high-quality ginger beer instead of the lemon-lime soda.
What exactly are Bitters?
You’ll notice that we aren’t using Bitters in the recipe, even though they are a key component to an Old Fashioned. Although considered non-alcoholic, alcohol is the #1 ingredient in bitters before the herbs and spices. You can’t really create an Old Fashioned Mocktail Recipe if one of your ingredients is alcohol, can you?
However, if the 2 dashes of bitters that you would use won’t bother you, then this is the gold standard brand to use in the mocktail.
Muddling not only the inside of the orange but also the peel gets some of the bitter oil into the drink, achieving a “bitters” flavor.
Non-Alcoholic Spirits
In this Old Fashioned Mocktail recipe, I’ve chosen to use apple juice as the alcohol substitute. The other option is to use a non-alcoholic spirit. With the emergence of the sober curious movement, many zero-proof companies have popped up. I haven’t personally tried these, but if you are interested, some of the more well-known companies are Lyre’s, Ritual Zero Proof, and ArKay.
What bar tools do you need to make an Old Fashioned Mocktail?
Muddler | You’ll really want to muddle the orange peel to work those oils. This is a great option since the tip won’t damage your glass.
Jigger | Part of every well-equipped bar, and makes measuring a breeze.
co*cktail Picks | Not only used for the cherry garnish, you can use this to stir the drink as well.
I recommend getting large ice cube molds – the larger the ice the slower it melts and waters down the drink
If you are looking for an alcoholic version of the classic co*cktail, check out the Brandy Old Fashioned Sweet Recipe
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Looking for other Mocktail recipes? Check these out!
That's all it takes! Add simple syrup and bitters into an old fashioned glass and then add a dash of plain water (you can also use a sugar cube as your sweetener and saturate it with the bitters). Muddle and mix the ingredients. Fill glass with ice and add Ritual Whiskey Alternative.
“Dirty” because it involves the orange of an Old Fashioned as well as the cherry juice that is usually a ghost of a flavour from the cherry at the bottom of a Manhattan. These two elements combined add the sweetness of the drink and provide the “dirty” element, similar to the olive juice in a martini.
It's also known as a mocktail. Often, when making mocktails and virgin drinks, one will replace the alcohol with a flavored mixer like ginger ale, ginger beer, or tonic water. This creates a similar flavor to the original, without having to add any alcohol.
Similarly, for the past few decades, the old-fashioned has been seen as a man's drink, but after Prohibition, the old-fashioned was one of the most popular drinks ordered by women. Understanding this connection between women and co*cktail culture places women back into a story that popular culture has removed them from.
Kentucky 74 is a non-alcoholic spirit that comprises the familiar notes of oak, vanilla, caramel, and smoke–reminiscent of an excellent bourbon. Kentucky 74 is completely "spiritless" and the perfect fit for a non-alcoholic bourbon co*cktail. “I like Kentucky 74 a lot.
Reach for an aged rum or even gin. Or add a mix of tequila and mezcal. And use whichever bitters you have: Angostura, orange or otherwise. Needless to say, a rye old-fashioned and a rum old-fashioned taste quite different, but both work.
There are few drinks manlier than an Old Fashioned. But the simple syrup in this staple (as well as co*cktails like a Whiskey Sour) isn't so simple, nutritionally speaking. “Just 1-ounce packs in over 5 teaspoons of added sugar,” Holthaus says. “And a 6-ounce Old Fashioned will cost you around 260 calories.”
The term you are looking for is 'old-fashioned'. The hyphen is needed because 'old' and 'fashioned' go together to make a single word meaning 'of days gone by'. 'Old fashioned' could be used if you want to describe something that was 'fashioned' (made) and is now old.
A craft, ready-to-drink Old Fashioned made with Rye Whiskey, Housemade Bitters of Filber & Fir, Simple Syrup. Stir over ice and (if you're truly civilized) and garnish with a twist of orange.
Combine bourbon, black cherry syrup and bitters in a mixing glass with ice.Stir for 30 seconds and strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice.Garnish with a black cherry and orange peel.
(A triple old fashioned glass exists and is used mostly in tiki bars, as far as I can tell.) The size merely indicates, roughly, the capacity of the glass. A traditional old fashioned glass holds 6–8 ounces, whereas a double can hold 12–14. Use an old fashioned glass for drinks built in the glass.
If you're looking for a classic that makes a good base for mocktails and Bloody Marys, you've come to the right place. Made with highland spring water, it's based on single grain vodka, so you get the same taste you'd expect from this spirit, but with no trace of alcohol.
This herb closely mimics the effects of alcohol. A member of the pepper family, kava-kava has been used for centuries as a recreational drink and ceremony in Oceania.
You can also ask the bartender to make you a mocktail if you don't see alcohol-free options on their menu. If you do get some hesitation when inquiring about mocktail options, you could ask them to make you a “virgin” version of your favorite co*cktail.
Traditionally made with either bourbon or rye whiskey, a dose of sugar—either via simple syrup or a muddled bitters-soaked sugar cube—Angostura aromatic bitters, and some ice to chill and dilute, the Old Fashioned co*cktail has been a mainstay at bars for more than a century and is one of the most popular co*cktails in ...
Introduction: My name is Greg O'Connell, I am a delightful, colorful, talented, kind, lively, modern, tender person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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