Applejack cocktail how to#

However, at least one independent distillery is still creating applejack the old-fashioned way. It may or may not be aged in bourbon barrels. In more modern times, the production of applejack has evolved, and distillers blend apple brandy and neutral grain spirits to produce a drink that’s usually around 80 to 90 proof and amber-brown in color. Removing water raised the alcohol content of the fermented apple cider from 5% to almost 40%. As the barrels froze during the harsh winter months, the ice was regularly removed - a traditional distilling process called jacking. With its rich history as a classic cocktail staple by pioneer pre-prohibition bartenders, applejack is a natural progression as enthusiasts look to expand their cocktail experience and repertoire.”ĭuring colonial times, applejack was made from fermented apple cider that was stored outdoors in barrels at the start of a fall harvest. “Cocktail enthusiasts have been enjoying spirits such as bourbon and rye for a number of years now. Why is applejack making a comeback now? Lisa Laird Dunn, the Executive Vice President and World Ambassador at her family’s famous applejack distillery, told SPY that applejack appeals to craft cocktail lovers who have developed a taste for American-made brown liquors like bourbon. Located in Scobeyville, New Jersey, the Laird & Company distillery has been making apple brandy for 12 generations, and it remains one of the oldest family-run businesses in the country. In fact, the first commercial distillery in the United States has been making applejack since its founding in 1698. Surprisingly, applejack has actually been around a lot longer than bourbon or whiskey. Technically, applejack is an apple brandy, and you can make it from pretty much every apple variety known to man, from Red Delicious to Winesap.

Typically, moonshine isn’t very easy on the palate, but modern applejack is sippable. If you were to imagine what a bourbon made from apples would taste like, you’re getting closer to the taste of true applejack. Notes of apple are definitely apparent in the smell and taste, and it reminds most people of bourbon or whiskey. To start, applejack is a powerful yet sweet spirit produced from apples (no surprise there). So What Is Applejack? And What Does It Taste Like?

Applejack cocktail how to#

In this article, we’ll explore the fascinating history of this moonshine and teach you how to enjoy it in modern times. I even judged an applejack cocktail competition in ye olde pre-pandemic days. Personally, I’m a big fan of this all-American spirit. Thanks to the rise of craft cocktails and independent distilleries, applejack is undergoing a revival in 2021, and a recent feature by The New York Times has a lot of people curious. This spirit was hugely popular in colonial times, and you can count Founding Fathers like George Washington among its fans.

She walked it over to me and asked a simple question: “What the hell is applejack?”įor the uninitiated, which is most people, applejack is the original American moonshine. If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, SPY.com may receive an affiliate commission.Īs I packed up my home bar for a recent move, my girlfriend came across a bottle of brown liquor that she wasn’t familiar with.