This Brandy Slush recipe combines tea, orange juice, lemonade, and brandy. A classic Wisconsin cocktail perfect for any holiday or celebration! Gluten-free.
Living in Wisconsin, brandy slush shows up every holiday season. From Thanksgiving to Christmas to Easter, this slush makes an appearance. It is a classic midwestern cocktail.
Brandy Slush is a frozen alcoholic cocktail made in an ice cream pail. Yes, an ice cream pail…it’s the Wisconsin way of making this alcoholic slush! The ice cream pail is the perfect size to fit all the ingredients and has a handle for transport – it’s recycling at its best!
Enjoying a brandy slush brings back so many memories. I can’t recall a Christmas Eve without slush being served. Honestly, it is one of my favorite cocktails. I can’t wait for you to try this version of alcoholic slush for your next special occasion.
Follow this step-by-step video to learn how-to create a brandy slush!
How To Make
Equipment
- empty ice cream pail
- large pot
- liquid measuring cup
- medium-sized pot
- stir spoon
Ingredients
- 9 cups water, divided
- 2 cups sugar
- 6 teabags
- 12 ounces lemonade concentrate
- 12 ounces orange juice concentrate
- 2 cups brandy
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.
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!
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
More Holiday Cocktail Recipes:
- Crockpot Mulled Cider
- Vodka Cranberry Cocktail Spritzer
- Holiday Irish cream
- Easy Blender Eggnog
- Holiday Sangria
- Warm Christmas Drinks
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 (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.
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!