![]() ![]() You still see printed applejack on labels sometimes, just remember there’s no production-related difference from apple brandy. The term Applejack persists today presumably because it sounds cool (and very cool at that, that's the only reason I call it an Applejack Old Fashioned, as opposed to an Apple Brandy Old Fashioned). So hear that kids? Don’t try this at home. Aside from being prohibitively impractical on a large scale, it’s also quite dangerous because toxic higher alcohols like methanol aren’t removed as they can be with traditional distillation. No commercial apple brandy is made with this method today. The process can be repeated for further concentration, though it won't reach an ABV as high as a traditionally distilled spirit.Įventually, someone coined "jacked" cider, with the catchy name applejack. This ice can then be skimmed off leaving the remaining liquid at a higher proof. This is when a fermented beverage like hard cider, beer or wine is kept at freezing temperatures so the non-alcoholic elements solidify while the alcohol - which freezes at much lower temperatures - remains a liquid. But distillation requires a still, which not everyone had access to, so many who were in search of a stronger drink turned to a simpler method of concentrating the cider called jacking, aka freeze distillation. With no shortage of apples in the northeast, thirsty colonists made hard cider which could be then distilled into apple brandy. Though there used to be more of a distinction.Īmericans have been making booze from apples as far back as the 1600s. To be perfectly clear, Applejack is Apple Brandy, they are interchangeable terms. Looking for another delicious, unique spin on an old fashioned cocktail? Try this banana cocktail! It's an extra nutty old fashioned from walnut bitters, and it's full of rich banana notes from a quick banana simple syrup.Applejack vs. ![]() In the US, it’s almost entirely up to the producer to decide how to make their apple brandy. The variety of apples (with a few pears thrown in for good measure), fermentation methods, distillation parameters, spirit strength, and length of aging (minimum of 3 years in oak) are all regulated in the production of Calvados.įor applejack, however, this level of regulation doesn’t exist. The strict appellations of France guide the production and maturation of the spirit. If you discover you absolutely love applejack and want to explore the world of apple brandies, your first stop should be Calvados.Ĭalvados is made in Normandy, France, and is the most famous apple brandy. The oak gives the applejack a deep mahogany color, softens the bite and can add aromas such as vanilla, toast, spice, toffee, caramel, and coconut (to name a few)! These are just minimums, and many producers will age their spirits much longer. The rich apple flavor is the star of this drink!Īll applejack must be aged at least 2 years in oak and bottled at a strength of at least 80 proof. This makes them great for cocktails that may require a more subtle touch.īut for this old fashioned, use a pure applejack (made with 100% apple brandy) and not one that is blended. Because these spirits are mainly neutral spirit, they have a much lighter flavor intensity. There’s also a thing called “blended applejack." By law it must contain at least 20% apple brandy and the rest can be a neutral grain spirit. If you go to buy apple brandy, a lot of stores will lead you straight to a certain clear bottle with a green label (made by a company I used to work for, no less!). To clarify, it’s not grape brandy that has been artificially flavored with apple. It’s made by fermenting apple juice and distilling the resulting wine (called cider). so what is applejack, anyways?Īpplejack is apple brandy, simple as that. In this fall variation, I love the sweet fruit notes and the lighter body that come with the applejack. It’s a great example of simple done really well. The old fashioned is my favorite drink of all time. It’s filled with the sweet note of ripe apple and layered with rich, caramel-y brown sugar and a zesty spritz of orange. This applejack old fashioned is a smooth, rich, heady drink that my husband and I just can’t stop drinking.
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