The Barrister's Book of Old Fashioneds: Brandi the Oldfashioned Barister Makes the Case

Behind the Pour

Brandi — the Old Fashioned Barrister — is a Houston attorney who accidentally became one of the most passionate voices on the old fashioned in the United States. The name is a pun she has owned completely: a barrister is a lawyer, and she is both a lawyer and a barrister of cocktails. Her old fashioned journey started in New Orleans in 2017, when an elaborate presentation with a flaming orange peel made her think it was a New Orleans specialty. She came home to Houston, tried to find the same drink, and fell into a rabbit hole that eventually produced a book, a teaching role at Whiskey University, and this guest spot on TLC.

What You'll Discover

• The old fashioned is older than New Orleans: Brandi's entry point was a New Orleans bar that made it look like a local specialty. The old fashioned actually dates to the 1800s — one of the oldest cocktails in the canon.
• A whiskey education in the Houston Galleria: A friend took Brandi on a whiskey tour of the Galleria area and made her slow down. He asked: do you know the difference between a whiskey and a bourbon? She did not. That question changed everything.
• Whiskey University instructor: Brandi now teaches as an 'edicator professor' (combination educator and educator) at Whiskey University, a spirits education program she credits with deepening her knowledge of bourbons and whiskies.
• The book: Brandi's book on old fashioneds collects the variations, history, and technique of the cocktail she loves most. The episode tasting happens in honor of the book.
• Make it your own: Brandi's core philosophy for the old fashioned is personalization. She creates variations and teaches others to do the same, rather than insisting on one authoritative version.

A Moment of Pourspective

The best cocktail is the one that belongs to you — built on the classics, adjusted to your palate, and made with the same care you'd give a dish you were cooking for someone you love.

Explore the Conversation

The Barrister episode is built around a guest whose origin story is genuinely charming: a lawyer who needed a sophisticated drink for conversations with other lawyers and professionals, found an old fashioned in New Orleans, thought it was a New Orleans creation, and spent the next several years learning how wrong she was. That kind of origin story — curious beginner who follows the thread all the way to expertise — is exactly the TLC audience's story too, and the conversation is easy because Brandi is not presenting herself as an authority from outside. She is a person who loves old fashioneds and has been learning about them, and she wrote a book about the process. The Houston whiskey scene connection is also worth noting. Texas has developed a serious craft spirits audience, and the Whiskey University teaching role means Brandi is actively building that community — not just consuming from it. Crystal and Roger's Houston connection makes the conversation specific in a way that national media rarely is.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is the 'Old Fashioned Barrister'? Brandi is a Houston attorney (barrister = British/formal term for a trial lawyer) who became a cocktail educator and author focused on the old fashioned. The double meaning — law bar and cocktail bar — is intentional.
• What is Whiskey University? Whiskey University is a spirits education program where Brandi teaches as an 'edicator professor' — covering bourbon, whiskey history, and cocktail fundamentals.
• What makes a good old fashioned? Brandi's view: make it your own. The classic recipe (spirit, sugar, bitters, ice, citrus peel) is the starting point. Variations in the spirit choice, the sweetener, and the garnish are all valid expressions of the drink.
• Where can I find the book? Look for Brandi's work as the Old Fashioned Barrister online and on social media — the book and her educational resources are available there.

Episode at a Glance

• Guest: Brandi (The Old Fashioned Barrister)
• Hosts: Crystal and Roger
• Category: Spirits Education
• Theme: The old fashioned cocktail — history, variations, and the Houston whiskey education scene