Central Standard Craft Distillery is partnering with Leinenkugel’s on a new ready-to-drink canned old Fashioned cocktail.
The RTD Old Fashioned uses Central Standard’s North Brandy, as well as flavors – like orange, cherry and cranberry – familiar to Leinie’s fans.
“The flavors of Wisconsin are as bold as they are distinctive, cherished by all who experience them. Our pride in both our state and its rich heritage runs deep, and this cocktail was designed to serve a true taste of home,” said Evan Hughes, co-founder of Central Standard Craft Distillery.
“The brandy old fashioned is at the heart of our story, and introducing a product with a local legend like Leinenkugel’s, a decade into our journey, adds an extra layer of significance to that story and the work we’re devoted to doing locally.”
The canned cocktail is 8 percent ABV and when it hits shelves by March 1, it will be packaged in 12-ounce four-packs at retail. You should also be able to find it at bars, restaurants and other venues around the state.
“Our history at Leinenkugel’s is rooted in innovation. We’ve taken a lot of pride in the choices we make with our recipes,” said Tony Bugher, president of Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Co.
“Combining the award-winning Central Standard North Brandy with our own flavors to deliver a Brandy Old Fashioned for Wisconsin made sense on so many levels. We both share a deep appreciation for our home state and the audience of local craft fans.”
Expect details soon on a kickoff event to be held in March at the Central Standard Crafthouse & Kitchen in Downtown Milwaukee.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
