Let’s begin with this. When you walk into a bar in Wisconsin and order an old fashioned, you only have two choices. Sweet or Sour. In a pinch the sweet is 7-up and the sour mix is Squirt.
They aren’t going to ask you if you want brandy or whiskey. It’s brandy here. Also, they aren’t going to ask you what brand. It WILL be Korbel. Wisconsin alone is responsible for 50% of the worldwide sales of Korbel brandy.
There is SLIGHT chance they will ask you what garnish you want. If you say nothing and they don’t ask, it will be Marichino cherries and perhaps a thin slice of orange. If they DO ask, it’s because they are one of the few places that offer a choice, and the choice is either cherries, olives, or pickled mushrooms. If you are in REAL old-school bar, you could also ask for pickled Brussels sprouts.
We are not saying this is the best way to make an old fashioned. We’re just sharing facts here.
Also check out Five Fast Facts about Brandy.