Wisconsin Brandy Slush Recipe (2024)

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This Brandy Slush recipe combines tea, orange juice, lemonade, and brandy. A classic Wisconsin co*cktail perfect for any holiday or celebration!

Living in Wisconsin, I can tell you, brandy slush is a regular guest during the holiday season. From Thanksgiving through Christmas and even Easter, this drink always makes an appearance. It’s a classic midwestern co*cktail that’s just part of the tradition here.

Wisconsin Brandy Slush Recipe (1)

Brandy Slush is this frozen boozy co*cktail whipped up in an ice cream pail. Yep, you heard that right—an ice cream pail! It’s just the Wisconsin way to make this slush recipe. The pail’s size fits everything perfectly and even comes with a handle for easy carrying. Talk about top-notch recycling!

Sipping on a brandy slush floods my mind with memories. I mean, I can’t think of a Christmas Eve as an adult without a serving of slush. Honestly, it’s one of my go-to co*cktails. Can’t wait for you to give this brandy slush recipe a whirl at your next special get-together!

Ingredients

  • 9cupswater, divided
  • 2cupssugar
  • 6teabags
  • 12ounceslemonade concentrate
  • 12ouncesorange juice concentrate
  • 2cupsbrandy
Wisconsin Brandy Slush Recipe (2)

Table of Contents

How To Make Our Brandy Slush Recipe

Step 1: Make the tea.

Bring 2 cups of water to a boil in a medium-sized pot. Place 6 teabags in the water and steep for 3-5 minutes. Allow to cool.

You can use green or black tea for brandy slush. You could even do 3 tea bags of green and 3 tea bags of black tea.

Step 2: Make simple syrup.

Add sugar and 7 cups of water to a large pot. Bring to a boil and let boil for 1 minute. Allow the simple syrup to cool.

PRO TIP: Use this simple syrup recipe any time you are making a co*cktail or mocktail.

Wisconsin Brandy Slush Recipe (3)

Step 3: Combine the ingredients.

In a clean, empty ice cream pail, add:

  • simple syrup
  • tea
  • lemonade concentrate
  • orange juice concentrate
  • brandy

Stir and then cover with the ice cream pail lid.

MIX IT UP: I used 2 cups of brandy for this recipe. However, adjust to your tolerance by reducing to 1 cup or increasing to 3-4 cups of brandy.

Wisconsin Brandy Slush Recipe (4)

Step 4: Freeze.

Allow the brandy slush to freeze for 24-48 hours. Remember that the slush won’t freeze solid due to the alcohol content.

Wisconsin Brandy Slush Recipe (5)

Step 5: Serve.

To serve, scoop the brandy slush into a glass leaving room to add soda. Top with Sprite, 7-up, or 50/50.

I have even made my Homemade Lemon Lime Soda recipe to add to this slush. It is a great way to cut back on sugar while keeping the flavor of the soda. Plus, my kids enjoy drinking the leftover lemon-lime soda!

Recipe Tips and Tricks

Alcohol Content:

Take care with the amount of brandy used. You can adjust the quantity to suit your preference for a stronger or milder alcoholic taste.

Presentation:

Use decorative glasses or cups to serve the slush. Brandy slush is always served with a drink straw.

Labeling and Date:

Label the container with the date of preparation to keep track of its freshness, especially if you plan to store it for an extended period. This will help ensure you’re serving the slush within its optimal timeframe.

Party Preparation:

Consider making a double batch for larger gatherings. This recipe is excellent for parties as it can be prepared well in advance, allowing you more time to focus on other aspects of hosting.

Wisconsin Brandy Slush Recipe (6)

FAQ

What is the best Brandy to use for Brandy slush?

Feel free to use whatever brand of brandy you’d like. While a good quality brandy is always preferred, this slush has lots of other flavors to blend with that any brandy works just fine.

Can I store brandy slush?

Yes! Brandy slush keeps well in the freezer year-round. Enjoy it around the holidays or during the summer months. It is a great poolside treat! I recommend labeling the ice cream pail if you have kids at home.

What if I don’t have an ice cream pail?

If eating the ice cream from the pail isn’t an option then you can use a freezer-safe container with a lid.

Is Brandy Gluten-free?

Yes, pure, distilled brandy, is considered gluten-free. Brandy is made by distilling wine, grapes, or other fruit. Always watch out for hidden gluten in cognacs that add flavorings or other additives after distillation. There is also a risk for gluten cross-contact in facilities that process products containing wheat, barley, or rye.
Common Brands of Brandy:
Old Admiral
Dreher
Emperador
Paul Masson Grande Amber
Torres
Old Kenigsberg

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Storage Instructions

After preparing the brandy slush mixture, pour it into a clean, airtight container, ensuring there’s some headspace to allow for expansion as it freezes. Seal the container tightly to prevent freezer odors from affecting the flavor. Label the container with the date of preparation. Place the sealed container in the coldest part of your freezer, preferably in the back where temperatures are more consistent. To maintain the slush’s optimal taste and texture, avoid frequent thawing and refreezing. When serving, scoop the slush into glasses and return the remaining mixture promptly to the freezer for storage.

More Holiday co*cktail Recipes:

CKC Features both Gluten-Free Guidance and Kids Cooking Instructions: If you’re new to eating gluten-free we understand it’s overwhelming trying to figure out which foods may contain gluten and which ones don’t. All of our gluten-free recipes marked with this symbol ✅represent foods that need to be checked for gluten or cross-contamination.

The ⭐️ symbol in the recipe below denotes the steps in which kid cooks may need a helper (depending on age). If there is no ⭐️ symbol, that step (or recipe) doesn’t require a helper.

Wisconsin Brandy Slush Recipe (8)

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Brandy Slush Recipe (Wisconsin Version)

Brandy Slush is a Midwestern holiday staple – made with Brandy, lemonade and orange juice concentrates, tea, simple syrup frozen into an alcoholic slush recipe that gets topped with a touch of soda.

Pin RecipePrint Recipe

5 from 2 votes

Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 0 minutes mins

Total Time 2 days d 20 minutes mins

Servings 20 servings

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 9 cups water, divided
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 6 teabags
  • 12 ounces lemonade concentrate
  • 12 ounces orange juice concentrate
  • 2 cups brandy

Instructions

  • Make the tea. Bring 2 cups of water to a boil. Place 6 teabag in the water and steep. Allow to cool.

    6 teabags, 9 cups water, divided

  • Make simple syrup. Add sugar to a large pot. Add 7 cups of water. Bring to a boil and boil for 1 minute. Cool.

    2 cups sugar, 9 cups water, divided

  • Combine the ingredients. In a clean, empty ice cream pail, add simple syrup, tea, lemonade concentrate, orange juice concentrate, and brandy. Stir then cover.

    12 ounces lemonade concentrate, 12 ounces orange juice concentrate, 2 cups brandy

  • Freeze. Allow the slush to freeze for 24-48 hours. It won't freeze solid due to the alcohol.

  • Serve. To serve, scoop slush into a glass leaving room to add soda. Top with Sprite, 7-up, or 50/50. Serve with a drink straw.

Video

Notes

Pure, distilled brandy, is considered gluten-free. Always lookout for hidden gluten in cognacs that add flavorings or other additives after distillation. There is also a risk for gluten cross-contact in facilities that process products containing wheat, barley, or rye.

CCK Features both Gluten-Free Guidance and Kids Cooking Instructions: If you’re new to eating gluten-free we understand it’s overwhelming trying to figure out which foods may contain gluten and which ones don’t. All of our gluten-free recipes marked with this symbol ✅represent foods that need to be checked for gluten or cross-contamination.

Nutrition

Calories: 193kcal | Carbohydrates: 35g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 7mg | Potassium: 127mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 34g | Vitamin A: 64IU | Vitamin C: 26mg | Calcium: 10mg | Iron: 1mg

If you enjoyed these recipes make sure to leave a comment and a star rating below!

Then follow us on social media and tag #createkidsclub if you make the recipe. We love seeing what you come up with!

Wisconsin Brandy Slush Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How long can I keep brandy slush in the freezer? ›

The great thing about this Brandy slush is that you can keep it in the freezer until you are ready to make another glass. Simply keep the lid on the ice cream bucket and keep it in the freezer. It can be stored for up to 3 months. Keep in mind that over time, it may lose some of its potency.

How to turn a drink into slushy? ›

Pour the drink over an ice cube to get it to freeze. Another option is to slowly pour the soda into a clean cup, keeping it liquified. Drop a piece of ice into the soda to initiate freezing. Here, you can watch the crystals form outward from the ice cube.

Why do they drink so much brandy in Wisconsin? ›

Brandy's popularity in Wisconsin started when a large number of German immigrants moved here in the 19th century and couldn't find their favorite drink, brandewijn. This prompted Korbel to start distilling for the public in 1889. Small-batch local distilleries produce – or have produced – brandy, too.

How long does it take for a drink to become slushy? ›

You will need to leave it in the freezer for at least 2 hours so that it can freeze properly. You can, however, check your slushie every 30 minutes, and then take it out when it reaches the consistency you like. It might be after 1 hour and 30 minutes, or it might be after 3 hours.

Why is my brandy slush not freezing? ›

The high sugar and alcohol content keep the slush from fully freezing, but you should seem fairly solid and you'll get some pretty crystals when it's ready. What is this? To serve: place a scoop or two in a co*cktail glass and top with seltzer or soda. Garnish with an orange slice and serve immediately.

Why is my slush not freezing? ›

Slush machine not freezing or producing slush:

Verify that the mix is at the correct temperature and consistency. Clean the condenser to improve cooling efficiency.

What are alcoholic slushies called? ›

A frozen, also called an alcoholic slushy, is a type of slushy made with alcohol. The alcoholic and non-alcoholic ingredients are processed in a blender to create a slush texture. Frozen alcoholic drink. A frozen daiquiri bar in Louisiana.

Can alcohol turn into a slush? ›

The pressure inside the sealed bottle keeps the beer from freezing, then, when you open the container and insert a straw or pour the beer into a glass, its equilibrium is disrupted, causing tiny ice crystals to form instantly while the alcohol stays fluid. The result: beer slushy.

What is the best selling brandy in Wisconsin? ›

It may surprise some to learn that the Badger State consumes more brandy than anywhere else in the United States. In 2019, Wisconsinites accounted for more than half of the worldwide sales of Korbel brandy.

What is Wisconsin's favorite brandy? ›

Given Germans' cultural preference for brandy over whiskey, they bought Korbel brandy by the case at the World's Fair and took it home to Wisconsin. To this day Wisconsin buys copious amounts -- roughly a third of the brandy Korbel produces every year goes to Wisconsin.

What state is top brandy drinking? ›

Wisconsin drinks more brandy than any other state, and most of our brandy consumption goes into the Wisconsin old fashioned – a muddle of sugar, bitters, orange and maraschino cherries topped with brandy and then sweet or sour soda and a bevy of garnishes.

Why do slushies give you brain freeze? ›

Brain freezes happen when something very cold comes into contact with the roof of your mouth. Your blood vessels shrink, then relax again, and that relaxation results in a rush of blood to the brain, causing the sensation of your gray matter being squeezed in a vice.

Do slushies hydrate you? ›

Icy drinks and slushies are great tools when it comes to keeping young athletes cool and hydrated during hot summer competitions and practices.

What temperature is a slushie drink? ›

Ice slush, or slurry, is a very low temperature (0-1 °C) drink made with blended ice and liquids.

Can you freeze alcohol slushies? ›

Just blend and keep in the freezer or an ice-packed cooler. Your slushies will stay cold but not completely frozen thanks to the alcohol.

How long does it take alcoholic slush to freeze? ›

A high alcohol slush may just thicken a bit…generally the water content in the slush will freeze, but the alcohol won't. If you want to eat it as a slushy, a few hours should do it. Overnight will give a 'harder freeze', but still may not get completely frozen.

Can you freeze a slushie for later? ›

So, you get home and you'd like to save the remaining Slurpee/Icee for later. Forget it. Once you put it in the freezer it will become a nasty ice cylinder. It will lose all of its pseudo carbonation, lie flat, and die a frozen death.

Can you keep brandy in the freezer? ›

If you're storing booze in your freezer, you're doing yourself a disservice. Technically, you can get away with it since the ethanol content in a bottle of liquor prevents it from freezing over in a household freezer, but just because you can do something doesn't mean you should do it.

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