How-To Make an Eagle River Old Fashioned

We stop by The Craftsman American Tavern in Eagle River to have them show us how-to make an old fashioned. Watch as their bar manager, Lucy takes us through the tasty steps.

[@heivain4330]

If I ordered an old fashioned and got this I would be beyond disappointed. But it's a nice looking Wisconsin old fashioned, although too heavy on the mixer in my opinion and a bit lazily stirred. And crushed ice fits a Wisconsin OF much better. But you should definitely specify that this is a Wisconsin style OF since a lot of people seem to be confused.

[@dennismonk9559]

why would an old fashion even have a mixer?

[@heivain4330]

@@dennismonk9559 Wisconsin OFs have a mixer/float although it can be ordered without. The options are selzer, sprite or a sour soda like grapefruit. All the variations have their own names too. If you want sprite, you order it "sweet". With grapefruit soda it is "sour". And finally with seltzer/soda the term is "press".

[@dennismonk9559]

@@heivain4330 that sounds awful. the point of an old fashion is to enhanced the whiskey, but you should still taste the booze. adding mixer takes that away. I thought a Wisconsin old fashion was just Brandy instead of Whiskey

[@heivain4330]

@@dennismonk9559 Exactly why (if I had to take one) I order it without a mixer but even still all the crushed ice and muddled fruit takes away from the booze so I don't really enjoy a Wisconsin OF that much. The beauty of an OF is the simplicity and as you said, the fact that it enhances the whisky. But then again, a Wisconsin version does feel nice sometimes on a really hot day. Just go light on that seltzer so it doesn't take away every bit of that booze.

[@PyrrhusBrin]

You do know that an Old Fashioned was traditionally made with muddled orange and cherry to hide the cheap whiskey that was used.

[@Mark_Wood]

This is a classic Wisconsin Old Fashioned. It's not what you're used to, but it's a thing and it's huge there. Maybe try it before you disparage it...

[@reyakarmakar4383]

Yep, it is a Wisconsin old fashioned. I was 'bout to type the same, but then found this comment. A guy once I was in love with, was from Milwaukee,WI. I learnt this from him.

[@slappy4braps20]

I’ve tried it and I will continue to disparage

[@azamayub]

@@slappy4braps20 LOL

[@jgdmlw]

I like the Wisconsin version which this pretty much is.

[@bcarss1970]

I will be sure to order a beer if I ever go there. That is one weak OF.

[@alexcamacho4880]

Well at least it titled "How To Make an Eagle River Old Fashioned" because that's not traditional. But like I always say to each there own.

[@ramymounir6946]

What is meant by sweet and sour in the end? You haven’t explained the difference!

[@achillespaparsenos5649]

No wonder the bartender would not even touch the drink.

[@christrotter3052]

Groovy music

[@williamcornelison4721]

What do you mean, add in mixer? I guess they don't give away any drink secrets. And was the sugar really desolved?

[@StevieThundr]

i believe "mixer" is there as it's dealer's choice - sprite/7up, grapefruit, tonic or club soda seem to be common choices researching this more online. But if i'm wrong hopefully someone else can chime in. Never seen this variation of old fashion. seems very friendly to those who may dislike the more booze forward traditional.

[@StevieThundr]

Also depending on how exactly you like your old fashion the sugar cube is meant to dissolve over time while you sip rather than right off the bat. Otherwise you could just use simple syrup.

[@tylerjasper2538]

@@StevieThundr Those are all optional floaters for a Wisconsin (brandy) old fashioned. Sprite for sweet, squirt or grapefruit for sour, otherwise club soda. Its definitely not a traditional old fashioned but it is good in its own way. Be warned; if you are in the upper Midwest, and especially in Wisconsin, ordering an old fashioned will get you one of these more often than not. Check out Charlie Berens how to video for how to make a brandy old fashioned if you are looking for a laugh. kzbin.info/www/bejne/qYGqo6mvot15pM0

[@scottcoen3703]

Not going to be nasty, but that would be a hard no for me!

[@sanchezjr13]

Never seen a drink muddled with the alcohol in it. To each their own.

[@jakehanus3536]

I was so confused when I saw that a traditional old fashioned isn’t muddled

[@jayfin5507]

Same here, weird...

[@nickgamer123]

@@jakehanus3536 I drench the sugar cube in bitters then muddle it and add my aged bourbon

[@max917]

While I personally don't like fruit muddled in my OF (maybe the rind of an orange to express some of the essential oils), I think the only real controversy is that sugar cubes don't dissolve in alcohol very easily, found muddling it in the spirit a bit odd but of course to each their own.

[@michaelplunkett8059]

Alas, my dear 95 year old aunt would say. Don't drown it.

[@chuckandrews5339]

What's the "mixer"? Seltzer water?

[@Mastererik11]

Wisconsin Old Fashioned, look it up folks.

[@leebarker7700]

What’s the mixer? Lol

[@KingSosa-of5oe]

Nah it bugged me you muddled after putting the whiskey in.

[@ericktellez7632]

I mean you should’ve muddle it before adding the Whiskey and the stirring needed you now to be proper stirring not just move the ice around a little bit. Was that water? Dude

[@kelo2895]

so you know how to make an old-fashioned and still look for videos on how to make one?

[@bradschaefer9892]

Well done, I’m thirsty. I find removing the rind from the orange prior to malling gets the best results. Bitter is the rind, sweet is the meat … Granny Wisco

[@afgelocal801]

it was popularized at a worlds fair (same one with the serial killer hotel) forget which year traditionally made with brandy and very tasty but not by any means "traditional"

[@chrisjuravich3398]

This is garbage. I would send this back and never again trust this bartender to make me another drink.

[@dredaniels6903]

😂😂😂

[@seanfi]

any old fashioned topped up with soda water is sent back from me. no thanks

[@robertocalderonabogado1427]

That Cocktail is a joke. Too much water and worst part is the sugar not been diluted properly with the spirit.

[@Vindanae]

Guys chill ffs it's a Wisconsin Old Fashioned, it's legit, it's good stuff

[@bcarss1970]

WAF!

[@ronin7997]

This is more a whiskey high-ball cocktail, especially with the adding of seltzer/water (clarify what you mean by mixer). Not to dogpile with the other commenters, but the build and execution of this cocktail was terrible; the muddle and stir was very weak and superficial.

[@bcarss1970]

You took the words right out of my mouth.

[@javiercastrejon8102]

In my opinion there’s so many things wrong with this OF… the muddling, the ice, the mixer. To each their own I guess but I would be very disappointed if I get this old fashioned

[@chrissternfeld1306]

“stir well” *worst stir of all time*

[@mydogeatspuke]

Gently pat with spoon.

[@JamesRyhl]

i cringed when he added water

[@krisandersen8695]

You were doing good until you added the club soda.

[@JaromWorthen]

You do not muddle the orange you heathen! Oh and water it down Jeezust. why even put whiskey in a all.

[@kelo2895]

calm down...

[@jayfin5507]

Probably tastes good but going to be a bit to sweet for me. And too much soda added. You lose the whiskey flavor, which may be a good thing if you are using the cheap stuff!

[@jm4472]

This is wrong in so many levels….. so bad …. This looks like a drink you would get at a super cheap hotel bar….

[@deraltefux]

Stop That

[@diezmon]

Nope

[@pilotmburu]

ABSOLUTELY!!!! THIS IS HOW IT IS DONE!!!

[@slappy4braps20]

Yeah, in the 9th circle of hell. This is a terrible drink.

[@grantgordon3629]

Not an old fashioned

[@jessiehooten7458]

so much wrong in my opinion, which doesnt matter.... to each their own

[@Klemens123]

That is not even close to an actual old fashioned, I would be very disappointed to get one of those after ordering old fashioned.

[@Yurkevich22]

That's a fruit salad with booze, not even close to an old fashioned.

[@mannyvilla-goz1979]

Ruined the Old Fashion. This drink should be renamed to something else.

[@idkisaidit]

This is a fucking insult

[@Commish2009]

No no no, please no. Don’t call this an old fashioned!

[@dredaniels6903]

That must be a female makin that drank