Brandy Old Fashioned Hall of Fame
2023 nominations Now open
It's That Time!
Central Standard Craft Distillery Co-Founders Evan Hughes and Pat McQuillan are launching a month-long campaign encouraging Wisconsinites to request hand-crafted brandy from local, family-owned distilleries in their Wisconsin Brandy Old Fashioned cocktails.
“We’d love for everyone to ask for our North Wisconsin brandy when ordering their Old-Fashioned cocktails,” McQuillan said. “But more importantly, we want to encourage people to drink locally, support hard-working Wisconsin families and taste brandy from local distillers.”
To build awareness for their drink-local crusade, Hughes and McQuillan worked with the Wisconsin governor’s office to proclaim September as Wisconsin Brandy Old Fashioned month and the first day of fall (Sept. 23) as Wisconsin Brandy Old Fashioned Day.
Oh, The fame
The inaugural class was inducted in 2022 and currently resides in perpetual fame in our Founder’s Room. Now it’s time to nominate the new class of Hall of Famer’s and bring them into Central Standard esteem.
The Haul
This year’s class of Hall of Fame inductees will relish in the fame and receive:
- A year’s supply of Central Standard Brandy (2 cases)
- A custom bottle with their photo
- Lifetime Crafthouse & Kitchen VIP status
- Recognition in the Brandy Old Fashioned Hall of Fame in the Founders’ Room at the Crafthouse
Let’s just say we’re going to make this a big deal.
*state restrictions apply for some prizes
2022 Brand Old Fashioned Hall Of Fame Inductees
Anthony Berg
Tony received 12 nominations. In one, his brother Nick noted “While ice fishing on Round Lake, Tony created possibly the world’s largest Brandy Old Fashioned.”
David Lardinois
David received 11 nominations, including one from his daughter, who wrote “Since the 1970’s, my dad has been known for his Old Fashioneds. They were a must on ski trips, while boating and during holidays. He even created his own labels for his mix.”
Charlotte Berndt
Charlotte was nominated by her daughter Lisa Macy, who said “The bane of her existence is that she can’t get a Brandy Old Fashioned sweet worth anything outside of Wisconsin. She now lives in Missouri and comes back often to Wisconsin to get a decent cocktail.”
Eugene Kasprzak
Nicknamed “Old Fashioned,” Eugene was nominated by his granddaughter. In her nomination, she wrote “My biggest memory of my grandfather will always be his love of Wisc. Brandy Old Fashioneds.” Sadly, Eugene passed away after he was nominated and two weeks before he was announced as an inductee.
Karl Klatt
Karl was nominated by his wife, who wrote “To say my husband is passionate about Old Fashioneds is an understatement. He muddles his $20 cherries and puts his heart into it. For Karl, the Wisconsin Brandy Old Fashioned is a lifestyle.”
Tim Vertz
Tim was nominated by seven including his wife, Joy, who wrote “Tim won as the top amateur for his Brandy Old-Fashioned at the 2016 State Fair and turned this talent into fundraising for Wisconsin nonprofits, raising over $75,000 in the past 10 years.”