It’s said that Wisconsinites drink more brandy than any other state.
California’s Korbel calls Wisconsin its top market, with officials saying they ship approximately one-third of its annual output to the state. No one is quite sure why Wisconsinites developed such a deep thirst for this sweet, brown liquor.
Brandy is distilled from wine or a fermented fruit mash. The term used alone traditionally refers to the grape product. Brandies made from other fruits often have different names, like eau de vie or kirsch. Most brandies are aged in barrels for two or more years.
Dutch traders are said to have invented brandy in the 16th Century, though distillations of fruits had been common in Europe for centuries. According to one story, a Dutch captain found he could ship more wine if he removed the water. He intended to add the water back when he reached his destination but the concentrated drink quickly won admirers. The name brandy comes from the Dutch "brandewijn," or “burnt wine,” which referred to the use of heat in the distillation.
Conventional wisdom holds that Wisconsin’s love of brandy comes from its alcohol-loving immigrants, namely the Germans. Or maybe it’s the long winters where a cocktail provides the warmth that the climate doesn't.
Another common tale links Korbel brothers’ appearance at the 1893 Columbian Exposition in Chicago. The brothers brought their struggling brandy business to the fair in hopes of boosting sales. Wisconsin visitors to the fair sampled the brandy and liked it so much that they brought it home.
Whatever the story, brandy has never gone out of style in Wisconsin where it plays a prominent role in favorite cocktails like the Old Fashioned and Manhattan.
In recent years, the rise of craft distilling has brought brandy a little closer to home. Old Sugar Distillery in Madison and Prairie du Sac’s Wollersheim Winery both make traditional grape brandy. Others like Great Lakes Distillery in Milwaukee make fruit brandies from pears, peaches, and other fruit mashes. Grapes can be a tough crop to grow in the Wisconsin. Most Midwestern grapes are grown on small vineyards where they are harvested by hand. These grapes tend to be hardy, cold-resistant hybrids optmized to shine in our short growing season.
