Today we have a couple of recipes for classic cocktails with a Wisconsin twist from everyone’s favorite bartender, John. We also have a few upcoming events we want to highlight to make sure they’re on your radar heading into the holiday season!
Why do Wisconsonites prefer Brandy?
In his latest recipe video, John shows you how to make a classic Manhattan with a Wisconsin twist: Brandy instead of Whiskey.
Brandy Manhattan, Brandy Old Fashioned – what’s with all of the cocktails in Wisconsin substituting Brandy for other spirits? There are a few factors at play when it comes to Wisconsin’s unique spin on the Old Fashioned, including the muddling of fruit in the cocktail during prohibition to hide lower-quality spirits.
But when it comes to substituting Brandy, that can be traced back to WWII, when Whiskey production was reduced (and in some cases halted) in order to send grains to Europe to help feed people as part of the war efforts. Whiskey was harder to come by, and what you could find was often of poor quality. As luck would have it, Wisconsin distributors learned that a cache of 30,000 cases of aged Christian Brothers Brandy was available–and decided to buy all of it. This high-quality brandy was used in drinks as a substitute, and the rest is history.
To learn more, check out this article in the Green Bay Press Gazette. And for John’s Wisconsin Old Fashioned recipe, see below.
Upcoming events.
There are a few events coming up that we wanted to make sure you know about, from Thanksgiving catering order deadliens, to wine dinners and sales, to Breakfast with Santa.
Continue reading for more, or click here to download a PDF events calendar for November and December.
Thursday, November 14th
- Wine Dinner – 6 PM
Friday, November 15th
- Bishops Bay Kids Club – 5 PM
Saturday, November 16th
- Thanksgiving catering orders due
Thursday, November 21st
- Family: Bingo Night – 5 PM
- Golf Pro Shop Sale – 5 PM
- Holiday Wine Sale – 5 PM
Friday, November 22nd
- Bishops Bay Kids Club – 5 PM
Tuesday, November 26th
- Bishops Bay Euchre Tournament – 6 PM
Friday, November 29th
- Bishops Bay Kids Club – 5 PM
Sunday, December 1st
- Breakfast with Santa – 9:30 AM
Friday, December 6th
- Bishops Bay Kids Club – 5 PM
Tuesday, December 10th
- Kids Gingerbread Houses – 4:30 PM
Thursday, December 12th
- Grinch Gives Back PJ Party – 5 PM
Friday, December 13th
- Bishops Bay Kids Club – 5 PM
Saturday, December 14th
- Adult Holiday Cocktail Party – 6:30 PM