Start a new summertime tradition with the tart, sweet and satisfying people pleaser, the Brandy Slush.
Wisconsin has had a love affair with brandy since the 1940s. In the days following World War II, grain spirits such as whiskey were being restricted due to the war effort. As a result, certain alcohols were a little hard to come by. But fruit-distilled booze, like brandy, which is derived from grapes, ended up thriving and becoming popular. In the mid-1940s, both the Christian Brothers and the California-based company Korbel began to ship large portions of their brandy stock exclusively to the Badger State.
Cocktails like the Wisconsin Old-Fashioned or Brandy Old-Fashioned have their origins and roots in the state of Wisconsin, mainly because of the abundance of brandy there. It has been claimed that the state is responsible for consuming half of Korbel’s brandy production every year. Hey, when you like something and it works, you stick with it. I respect that.
Tonight’s concoction is another Wisconsin favorite, and summertime tradition, the Brandy Slush. A thirst-quenching combo that is comprised of lemonade, orange juice, black tea, sugar water, lemon-lime soda for topping and, of course, a brandy base, the Brandy Slush is said to have first popped up in the 1960s. Becoming a staple of backyard barbeques, by the 1970s the drink’s fame had grown so much that folks were requesting the recipe from their local newspapers.
You don’t have to live in Wisconsin to enjoy this refreshing classic. But when the Fourth of July rolls around this year, make a batch for you and your friends, and raise a few glasses to toast America’s Dairyland.
What Is The Best Brandy To Use In A Brandy Slush?
When choosing the best brandy to make this Wisconsin tradition with, why not go with their favorite spirit, Korbel brandy? Ironically enough, Korbel is a California company, and happily exports a good portion of their stock to the Midwestern state. When making the Brandy Slush, it’s probably best to go for one of their cost-effective VSOP, XS or Classic bottles instead of the more expensive aged varieties.
Ingredients
- 4 cups water divided
- 1 cup white sugar
- 2 black tea bags
- 6 ounces frozen orange juice concentrate thawed
- 6 ounces frozen lemonade concentrate thawed
- 1 cup brandy
- Lemon-lime soda for serving
- Orange slices for garnish
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, combine 3 cups of water with the sugar. Bring to a boil over medium heat and stir until the sugar dissolves. Remove from heat, set aside, and let cool slightly.
- Heat the remaining 1 cup of water until it boils. Pour the boiling water over the tea bags in a mug and let them steep for about 5 minutes. Remove and discard the tea bags.
- In a large freezer-safe container, combine the cooled sugar water, the brewed tea, the thawed orange juice concentrate, the thawed lemonade concentrate, and the brandy. Stir well to blend the flavors.
- Cover the container and freeze the mixture for at least 8 hours or overnight until slushy. To serve, scoop a portion of the frozen mixture into a glass halfway and top with lemon-lime soda. Stir gently before enjoying and garnish with an orange slice.
Nutrition
WHAT GLASSWARE AND GARNISH ARE USED?
You can serve your Brandy Slushes in rocks glasses, or plastic Solo cups if you need more to go around. Once you’ve gotten your mixture ready to hand out, garnish with an orange wedge or wheel on top.
WHAT OTHER JUICES CAN YOU USE?
If you’d like to change up your Brandy Slush a little, you can use limeade instead of lemonade, a different flavor of soft drink to top it with, and even other varieties of tea. Explore a little, that’s part of the fun.
Other Big Batch Recipes That’ll Please A Crowd
You have a party coming up, a lot of people have RSVP’d and now you’re beginning to panic a little. What will you make? Should you hire a caterer and a bartender? Or maybe you can whip up a bunch of alcoholic beverages yourself. If you’re feeling up to the challenge, let Twist & Toast lend a helping hand. Check out these recipes to get started.
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