LA CROSSE, Wis. — Around River City is shaking up the cocktail scene with the release of its new Old Fashioned Cards, inviting enthusiasts to enjoy 15 classic Old Fashioneds at top regional spots. For just $39, this $100-value deal celebrates a drink that’s practically a Midwestern institution, especially in Wisconsin, where brandy often takes the starring role.
The Old Fashioned’s history stretches back to the early 1800s, but it found a passionate following in the Midwest, particularly Wisconsin, where it’s less a cocktail and more a cultural touchstone. Unlike the whiskey-based versions elsewhere, Wisconsinites have long favored brandy, paired with sugar, bitters, and a generous garnish of cherries or oranges. Add a splash of soda—sweet, sour, or plain—and you’ve got a drink that’s as distinctive as the state itself.
“When there was a lot of bad booze going around, if you could get bad whiskey or good brandy, what were you going to drink?” said Jeanette Hurt, author of Wisconsin Cocktails. “You were going to drink brandy. So, people started drinking their cocktails with brandy.” This shift, rooted in post-World War II liquor shortages, turned brandy into a Wisconsin staple, especially in the Old Fashioned.
The Around River City Old Fashioned Card brings this tradition to life, offering one Old Fashioned (up to $10 value) at each of the 15 participating supper clubs, bars and taverns. From Schmidty’s Bar & Restaurant in La Crosse to Sullivan’s Supper Club in Trempealeau, these spots showcase the region’s flair for crafting this heritage cocktail. The card is dine-in only and valid through March 31, 2026.
Here’s where you can sip your way through the region:
- Ardie’s Flipside Pub & Grill – La Crosse, WI
- Blue Collar Bar & Grill – Sparta, WI
- Digger’s Sting Restaurant – La Crosse, WI
- Drugan’s Castle Mound – Holmen, WI
- Kickapoo Creekside – Reedstown, WI
- Little Miami Restaurant & Bar – Freeburg, MN
- Old Towne Inn Super Club – Westby, WI
- Pogreba Restaurant – La Crosse, WI
- Rockfilter Distillery – La Crescent, MN
- Schmidty’s Bar & Restaurant – La Crosse, WI
- Signatures Restaurant – Winona, MN
- Sullivan’s Supper Club – Trempealeau, WI
- Swing Bridge Pub – La Crescent, MN
- Wason’s Supper Club – Galesville, WI
- Westview Inn – West Salem, WI
“Brandy Old Fashioneds are Wisconsin’s signature,” said Around River City spokesperson Cedric Friesen. “This card lets you taste that tradition across some of the best places in the area—it’s a steal and a story in every glass.”
Wisconsin’s brandy obsession has roots in the late 19th century, when German immigrants brought their taste for the spirit to the state. By the mid-20th century, it was a supper club staple, outpacing whiskey in Old Fashioned recipes. Today, the state consumes more brandy per capita than anywhere else in the U.S., and the Old Fashioned remains its crowning glory—a sweet, strong sip of regional pride.
Grab an Old Fashioned Card online now and dive into this Midwestern ritual. It’s your ticket to savoring the finest Around River City, and a little Midwestern soul—one cocktail at a time.
