Our Wisconsin Brandy Slush recipe is a delicious blend of tea, orange juice, lemonade, and brandy, making it a perfect cocktail for any holiday or celebration. As a Wisconsin native, I can tell you this drink is a staple from Thanksgiving through Easter, always making an appearance during the festive season. It’s a classic Midwestern tradition that adds a special touch to gatherings!
Brandy Slush is this frozen boozy cocktail 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 cocktails. Can’t wait for you to give this brandy slush recipe a whirl at your next special get-together!
Ingredients
- 9 cups water, divided
- 2 cups sugar
- 6 teabags
- 12 ounces lemonade concentrate
- 12 ounces orange juice concentrate
- 2 cups brandy
How To Make Brandy Slush With Tea
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 cocktail or mocktail.
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.
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.
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.
FAQ
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.
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.
If eating the ice cream from the pail isn’t an option then you can use a freezer-safe container with a lid.
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
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 Cocktail 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.
Brandy Slush Recipe (Wisconsin Version)
Equipment
- empty ice cream pail
- large pot
- medium-sized pot
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
Nutrition
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Kent says
Just what I was looking for! I haven’t had a brandy slush for years, but made it this year. Just as I remembered!
Ann says
Black tea or green tea?
Jodi Danen, RDN says
Black tea!