Central Standard names 1st Brandy Old Fashioned Hall of Fame inductees

Less than two months after announcing it was creating a Wisconsin Brandy Old Fashioned Hall of Fame, Central Standard Craft Distilling has named the first group of inductees.

Central Standard Craft Distillery co-founders Evan Hughes and Pat McQuillan said they received more than 90 nominations from across the state, as well as far-flung locations like Colorado and Missouri.

The submitted nominations including everything from stories of recipes passed down across generations to dads famous for their muddling techniques to ex-pats who return to the Badger State to avoid bourbon in their cocktail of choice.

“We were floored by the sheer number of nominations and the quality of their stories,” said McQuillan. “Reviewing the submissions reminded all of us of the passion and love that everyday Wisconsinites and folks from across the country have for our state’s favorite cocktail.”

Here are your 2022 Brandy Old Fashioned Hall of Fame inductees, with details provided by Central Standard:

Tony Berg (Milwaukee)

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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.”

Charlotte Berndt (Raymore, Missouri)

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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.”

Karl Klatt (Madison)

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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 (Milwaukee)

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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.”

David Lardinois (Pewaukee)

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Received 11 nominations, including one from his daughter, Linda Reis, who wrote “Since the 1970s, 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.”

Eugene Kasprzak (Sussex)

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Nicknamed “Old Fashioned,” Eugene was nominated by his granddaughter Jessica Kasprzak. In her nomination, she wrote “My biggest memory of my grandfather will always be his love of Wisconsin Brandy Old Fashioneds.” Sadly, Eugene passed away at age 90 after he was nominated and two weeks before today’s announcement.

According to Central Standard, each of the inductees will receive a year’s supply of Central Standard’s North Wisconsin brandy; a custom bottle of North Wisconsin brandy with their photo on it; lifetime VIP status at the Central Standard Crafthouse & Kitchen, 320 E. Clybourn St.; and their name displayed in the Brandy Old Fashioned Hall of Fame, which is housed at the Crafthouse & Kitchen.

“Brandy Old Fashioned month and the new hall of fame were both designed to connect Wisconsinites with the great local distilleries we have here in the state,” said Hughes.

“The spirits industry in Wisconsin supports more than 39,000 jobs from family farmers and truck drivers to glass-bottle makers and those in the hospitality industries. In all, Wisconsin distilleries impact billions of dollars in economic activity every year in our state and beyond.”