The Old Fashioned is a contentious drink. Few others (and I say that with the certainty of someone who has done no research) have such distinct geographic divisions.

Not every article on the history of the Old Fashioned acknowledges this, so I refuse to link to a single one that didn’t do their homework on the northern Midwestern niche of Wisconsin’s brandy Old Fashioneds. Slate, though, did do some pretty great homework on the topic.

As have millions of salt-of-the-earth brandy drinkers:

Having reached the age of my majority in this little pocket of reality where Korbel is king, my interest is piqued by variations on the Old Fashioned. Here are some menus I’ve encountered:

 Old Fashioned menu at Melrose Umbrella Company, Los Angeles, CA, 2016.

Above: Old Fashioneds on tap at Branchline in Emeryville, CA, 2015.

Old Fashioneds at the Old Fashioned in Madison, WI, 2016 Image courtesy of Ginmill Scribbles.  This menu most clearly acknowledges warring traditions.

Coupe Tales will continue to provide updates on this very important topic.