A Brandy Old Fashioned…With a (New) Twist

I love everything about fall; crisp weather, bonfires, comfort foods simmering on the stove, and heartier, old-school cocktails like a Brandy Old-Fashioned. This new twist on the traditional cocktail came about purely by accident. I have to give credit to my son, Alec, who improvised when we didn’t have any lemon-lime soda for the traditional recipe. We did have Passionfruit flavored LaCroix, so that’s what he used and let me tell you… magical! It’s a less sweet, lighter version of the original and it’s delightful. Perfect for a chilly fall evening, or any upcoming holiday gathering. I highly recommend you try this and let me know what you think. Cheers!

cocktails, brandy old-fashioned, entertaining

Ingredients for the Brandy Old-Fashioned

Ingredients:

1 teaspoon sugar (optional; you can leave out if you like it less sweet)
1 teaspoon maraschino cherry juice
3-4 dashes aromatic bitters
6 ounces LaCroix Passionfruit, chilled (3/4 cup)
Ice cubes
2 ounces brandy (1/4 cup)
Orange twist
Maraschino cherry (I prefer the more artisan, dark cherries)

Directions:

In a 12-ounce highball glass, add sugar, maraschino cherry juice, aromatic bitters and a splash of LaCroix. Muddle mixture together using a spoon or a muddler. Fill glass with ice cubes. Add brandy. Fill space with the remaining LaCroix; gently stir to combine. Garnish drink with an orange twist and a maraschino cherry on a cocktail skewer.

Simple cherry and orange slice garnishes add a touch of elegance

A perfect cocktail for entertaining

This cocktail would pair very nicely with a charcuterie board (see post here) or any hearty appetizer. Have you created any new twists on old cocktails? I’d love to hear about it in the comments!