Thirsty Thursday: Brandy Old Fashioned

Hello Vintage-istas,

For this week's Thirsty Thursday recipe, we are going to visit a drink that is considered to be one of the original "classic" cocktails. This drink is so classic, one of the most standard styles of bar glassware is named after it: The Old Fashioned.

By this definition, the Old Fashioned is rightfully regarded as the grandfather of all cocktails! While this drink's exact origin is a bit "muddled" (pun most certainly intended), it is an American cocktail in both history and character. In the bartender's bible, Mr. Boston, Anthony Giglio suggests that, "we can trace [the Old Fashioned] back to as far as 1806...in a popular New York publication called The Balance and Columbian Repository." In this publication, the term "cocktail" is officially defined for the first time ever in print, as "a stimulating liquor, composed of spirits...sugar, water, and bitters."

This drink has inspired its share of spinoff cocktails over its two-century life. Despite this, if you go into a bar and order an "Old Fashioned" any respectable bartender will whip you up something that largely conforms to the above definition. However, as the temperatures continue to rise outside, we here at The Vintage Chanteuse are always looking for ways to lighten our cocktails up a bit to keep with our summertime mood. So we've taken the whiskey out of the equation and instead have opted for brandy, which takes a little bit of the edge off of the drink while still delivering much of the drinks original character!

Keeping that in mind, let's take a look at what ingredients you'll need:

• 1.5 oz brandy
• 2 to 3 dashes of bitters
• Splash of club soda
• 1 Sugar cube
• Lemon twist for garnish
• Maraschino cherry (optional)

Preparation:
In the bottom of an Old Fashioned glass, muddle one sugar cube with a couple dashes of bitters and a splash of club soda. Next, add one shot of brandy and a couple of ice cubes, stir gently. Finally, top off with a cherry, garnish with a lemon, and enjoy!

Recommended accompaniment:

Enjoy your Old Fashioned alongside a truly American old fashioned, Glen Miller!

Salut!

The Vintage Chanteuse