With apples and artisanal apple cider replacing peaches and melon agua frescas at the local market, my thoughts have turned to applejack, one spirit that truly captures the essence of Fall in a bottle. But what exactly is it and is it really made of apples?
First enjoyed over 300 years a go, applejack is an alcohol beverage made by concentrating hard cider. It was extremely popular among early settlers of North America, including Johnny Appleseed and George Washington, and was thought to have originated from the French apple brandy known as Calvados.
Today, commercially produced applejack — like the one produced by New Jersey's Laird & Company, America's oldest family-run distillery — is composed of apple brandy diluted with grain spirits.
Much like the name implies, the tipple relies heavily on apples: a single bottle is produced with six pounds of the fruit, which imbues the spirit with a natural apple flavor. Have you ever had applejack? How did you enjoy it?
Argos
Applejack is still made by families living in the Appalachian Mountains of the U.S. It is used in recipes and drunk on holidays and other special occasions. It has little in common with Calvados, except, of course, apples. And I have never heard of grain spirits being used to produce Applejack in its original form - that must be something introduced by the distillery.
1I have to try this!! Sounds utterly delicious.
2I love applejack. I use it in a NYTimes recipe for an applejack-soaked apple-sauce cake. Mmm... boozy...
3oh i live really close to the laird's building! pass it dialy on the way to work. you would never expect applejack to be made around there because its all farmy and stuff
4I happened to buy my 1st bottle yesterday! It's very smooth and the apple taste is noticeable but not overpowering. The commenter with the recipe should post a link - I bet it would be amazing in several desserts or dessert sauces - bread pudding anyone??
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