Choosing An Apple Brandy for Cocktailsįor a well-priced American apple brandy/Applejack that will add fresh apple flavor and hints of spice to your cocktails, go for Laird’s Apple Jack ($22-$25 for 750ml). In both cases, apple brandy develops stronger notes of oak, spice, caramel, and vanilla the longer it’s aged in barrels. American apple brandy tends to be more apple-forward and sweeter than Calvados, while Calvados is usually more earthy, spicy, and rich.

In general though, apple brandy tastes predominantly like apples with notes of baking spices from barrel aging and a brandy-like finish. What Does Apple Brandy Taste Like?Įvery apple brandy is unique, so the taste will vary depending on the region, production methods, aging process, and type of apple. The rest of the blend can be neutral grain spirit, which makes it mellower and less concentrated than straight apple brandy/Applejack made with 100% apple distillate. It has to contain at least 20% apple brandy and be aged a minimum of two years in oak. To make matters a bit confusing, blended applejack has a specific federal definition. ABV will vary between 35%-60% depending on the bottle. You can find apple brandy distilleries all over the States, and while most are aged at least two years in charred bourbon barrels, there are very few specific production or geographic rules. Nowadays, apple brandy and Applejack are synonymous terms in the USA. Jacking separates the frozen ice from the hard cider, which increases the alcohol content of the apple brandy. Made with approved apple and pear varietalsĪpplejack is a historical term that comes from the freeze distillation process used to make apple brandy in colonial times called “jacking”.Aged a minimum of 2 years in oak barrels.The main requirements are that it has to be: Since it has an Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée status, Calvados has far more requirements and regulations when it comes to production than American apple brandy. CalvadosĬalvados is apple brandy from Normandy, France made with cider apples or pears and aged in french oak barrels. The three main types of apple brandy are Calvados, American apple brandy aka Applejack, and blended Applejack. NINE YA’LL! I can barely make it to my family reunion and they’ve been doing this for more than two centuries 😂 Types of Apple Brandy That’s nine generations of Lairds holding it down for apple brandy. Without a steady supply of wine and Cognac, people turned to Calvados and it experienced a huge surge in popularity.Īpple brandy in the States ( also known as Applejack) was first produced in 1780 when a Scottish immigrant named William Laird started the first apple brandy distillery - Laird & Company - in New Jersey, making it the oldest licensed distillery in the USA.įast forward to today, and Laird & Company is STILL the top producer of apple brandy in the states. However, it only had its golden age after the 19th century Phylloxera epidemic decimated vineyards all over Europe. In France, they’ve been making apple brandy ( called Calvados) since the 16th century. While all apple brandies are distilled from apples, there are differences depending on the region, production method, aging process, and type of apples. These classic apple brandy cocktails are so easy & delicious that they’re sure to make you “fall” in love! Bad puns aside, apple brandy - specifically Applejack and Calvados - is a wonderful cocktail ingredient if you’re craving a drink that tastes like fall in a glass! What is Apple Brandy?Īpple brandy is a tasty spirit made from apples that has a long history in both France and the USA.

Apple jack mixed drinks