Bennett believes that applejacks history is a selling point. Because it is such a pure spirit they can only use whole ripe apples throughout the entire process. Applejack wine spirits shop all spirits spirits for. Cocktail book included no fewer than five apple brandy cocktails. Entries appear in washingtons diary in the 1760s referring to the production of cyder spirits. Popular in the american colonial era, the drink s prevalence declined in the 19th and 20th centuries amid competition from other spirits. Mark laird is a historic landscape consultant and garden conservator and teaches landscape history at the graduate school of design, harvard university. In 1717 the colts neck inn, colts neck, new jersey, was built by a laird ancestor as a stopping place for stage coaches and dispatch riders traveling from freehold to amboy, new jersey. Laird s applejack is a blend of 35% apple brandy similar to french style calvados and 65% neutral spirits think vodka, which they say provides a spirit that possesses a hint of apple flavor and aroma.
Believed to be a distiller by trade, he applied his skills to the most abundant natural resource available in this area of the new world apples. Meehans a big fan of laird s bonded apple brandy, an affordable, flavorful local option from americas first commercial distillery. Nine generations of lairds have run the company since then. Lairds applejack, which is a blend of 65% neutral spirits and 35% apple brandy, which has a light, delicate aroma and flavor. Applejack starts a diary to record all her hard work bucking fields at sweet apple acres. In search of not your toddlers apple cider the new. You take a sip and get notes of mixed green and red apples, vanilla, and a bit of spicy oak and raw alcohol in the finish. In september 2012 we incorporated as laird premium blend genetics inc. Blended applejack is a different category altogether, one that was created by laird s in reaction to america losing its taste for brown spirits. Oct 02, 2012 laird s applejack is a wonderful blend of 35% apple brandy and 65% natural spirit. The best applejack liquor recipes on yummly applejack sour, applejack cocktail, applejack rabbit. May 21, 2007 according to the federal regs, applejack is synonymous with apple brandy. Natural history of english gardening yale university press. To meet consumer demand for lighter, less alcoholic spirits, the laird family created the blended applejack spirit category in 1972.
George washington, who owned large apple orchards, wrote to the lairds around 1760 asking for their applejack recipe. Owner derek grout uses apples from his familys orchard, founded in the 1940sa relative newcomer in the world of applejack. Between great beers and wines is a fantastic selection of spirits. Jun 15, 2018 the lairds also operated the colts neck inn, a stagecoach stop on the popular new yorkphiladelphia route, as early as 1770. Robert incorporated lairds distillery in 1780 as the new nations first licensed commercial distillery.
As america evolved over the past 200 plus years, so has laird s applejack. Applejack is used in several cocktails, including the jack rose. As the name implies, it isnt blended with a neutral spirit and is 86 proof. The rules for blended applejack are the same as the rules for blended whiskey. The first physical records referring to the commercail distillation of sale of applejack was entered in robert lairds account book of operations in 1780. We offer thousands of titles to meet your book needs. Oct 21, 2011 the new pdt cocktail book, officially released november 1, is bound to become the tome tipplers reach for at happy hourits chock full of recipes for classic drinks dating back before prohibition as well as the innovative cocktails created over the years at jim meehans iconic east village bar. They also produce a 7 12 yearold apple brandy and 12 yearold apple brandy aged in. Why top bartenders are reclaiming a 350yearold american. Nov 27, 2011 laird s applejack pours a bronze, caramel color which could easily be mistaken for bourbon. Whenever her pony friends annoy her in the slightest, she writes about it. The company was founded by john laird in 1824 as birkenhead ironworks in liverpool.
Americas oldest distillery, the famed producer of applejack and apple brandy, has grown from obscure spirit holdout to bar. Applejack, known as, americas first spirit, has been a part of american culture prior to earning our independence. Lairds applejack by sam slaughter march 12, 2017 you might not know it, but former presidents george washington and barack obama have more in common than just being. The story of applejack and the history of the lairds are intertwined. To meet consumer demand for lighter, less alcoholic spirits, the laird. Eaudevie eauxdevie in the plural is french for water of life and refers to a wide variety of fruitbased distilled beverages. Laird s applejack is a sweet and intense apple brandy which offers a distinctive flavour and spicy notes to compliment the apple. I havent received my order yet, but i know there are unusually high order volumes because of. Lairds greatgrandson, robert laird, who served in the continental army, incorporated lairds distillery in 1780, after previously operating a tavern.
Beer cocktails are all the rage right now, and here s a superb example with applejack, lemons and maple syrup providing the flavored base, and hefeweizen providing the sparkling bubbles. The story behind lairds applejack brandy which has been. Laird books is saskatchewans largest online used bookstore. Apple jack apple brandy was a standard item on the colts neck inns menu.
It has a pleasant, light apple flavor with a bit of subtle grain notes, and is drinkable on its own but better in cocktails. The sourcing of a bottle of lairds applejack, and my study of fiesta the sun also rises by ernest hemingway. A strict historical interpretation suggests that the term applejack for this. Buy laird s applejack at discount price from usa s best online liquor store. Laird s applejack is a blend of 35 per cent cider brandy and 65 per cent neutral grain spirit with the apple brandy element aged for 3 to 4 years in charred oak casks. The best applejack liquor recipes on yummly applejack sour, applejack cocktail, applejack rabbit sign up log in my feed articles meal planner new browse yummly pro guided recipes saved recipes. Applejack 86 has been nominated for the best new cocktail ingredient by tales of the cocktail, a global leader in spirits education. Laird s applejack is a unique alcoholic beverage in at least two major aspects. Since its inception, cammell laird has built more than 50 ships including many famous and innovative vessels. The laird family has produced applejack in new jersey since 1698, with the first commercial transaction, recorded in the family ledger, in 1780.
It is apple brandy, and this sprightly little product from lairds makes. Jun 16, 2015 a lot of the spirits ive talked about originate in europe, but lairds applejack is as american as it gets. The company produces the vast majority of all applejack and american apple brandy on the market, which have been enjoyed since colonial times and are equally prized by todays mixology community. Since the first production of applejack in the late 1600 s, the timehonored procedures and standards have been maintained, and applejack is a pure, native american spirit. We specialize in history, aboriginal and agricultural topics but also have a full range that includes fiction, educational books, military, religious titles and much, much more. Satisfied travelers increased the popularity of lairds applejack, but the inn also brought the family into contact with american revolutionaries, who used the location as a meeting point.
An applejack museum would contribute a needed chapter to the states history, and would recall a time when the fields teemed with apples, and one family churned out a drink for fit for the likes. Lairds applejack is a unique alcoholic beverage in at least two major aspects. Established in 1780 in scobeyville, new jersey, by revolutionary war veteran robert laird, lairds was the first distillery licensed by the united states government. Robert lairds account book of 1780 indicates a price of four shillings, six pence per gallon of cider spirits applejack. Shop all spirits spirits for sale applejack javascript is disabled on your browser.
In its production, it uses only whole apples with no additives of any kind. In the case of lairds applejack, this means their apple brandy is blended with neutral spirits. About the wine enthusiast buying guide tasting methodology and goals. Laird s applejack pours a bronze, caramel color which could easily be mistaken for bourbon. The distillation of the companys flagship product, lairds applejack, uses apples from central virginia at the companys plant in north garden. At this time he began the production of applejack for his own use, as well as, his friends and neighbors. The company produces the vast majority of all applejack and american apple brandy on the market, which have been enjoyed since colonial. The spirit of americana laird s applejack cookbook.
Applejack is a strong appleflavored alcoholic drink produced from apples. Lairds applejack apple spirit, new jersey prices, stores. Prior to 1760, george washington wrote to the laird family requesting their applejack recipe. The core is lairds blended applejack, an 80proof blend of apple brandy aged for three to four years and neutral spirits. The oldest family owned distillery drinking in america. Laird s is probably the most common brand of applejack youll see, and it. It retains a hint of the delicate aroma and flavour of the tree ripened apple from which it is made.
Jack rose drink recipe how to make the perfect jack rose. Prior to and post prohibition, american applejack was a straight apple brandy produced at the proof of 86. Laird emilie, the daughter of lisa laird dunn, of the ninth generation since the company was started, is the only one of the 10th generation bearing the laird name who might conceivably go into the business. What is the difference between applejack and calvados. Dec 31, 2011 a jack rose cocktail wouldnt be the same without this historic blended brandy spirit, blended from 35% apple brandy and 65% neutral spirits. Robert laird was a revolutionary war soldier under the command of george washington. The first physical records referring to the commercial distillation and sale of applejack were entered in robert laird s account book of operations in 1780. May 04, 2005 the story of applejack and the history of the lairds are intertwined.
Sipping it, you cant tell it contains liquor of any kind, let alone applejack. The label says laird s applejack in big letters and a smooth blend in small letters underneath. As america evolved over the past 200 plus years, so has lairds applejack. Laird straight apple brandy general nonwhiskey alcohol. Laird s straight bonded apple brandy, at 100 proof, is made entirely from apples. Applejack is like an american version of the french spirit calvados. Overflowing with all of the majesty and intrigue want to read. Others may use freeze distillation to create theirs, but once the brandy gets jacked, it becomes applejack. The jack rose manages to neatly combine two things that have been on my mind for some time. New jerseys lairds distills the pappy van winkle of the. A 750ml bottle of laird s applejack needs 6lbs of apples a 750ml bottle of lairds 7 12 year old apple brandy needs 16lbs of apples a 750ml bottle of laird s apple bond needs 20lbs of apples a 750ml bottle of laird s 12 year old apple brandy needs 30lbs of apples. What youre more likely to find in your store is the 80 proof applejack, which contains apple brandy and.
All tastings reported in the buying guide are performed blind. Whether paired with rye whiskey, sloe gin, bright citrus, or maple syrup, this 100proof spirit, along with laird s applejack, offers complex flavor to a wide range of autumnal cocktails. The product i bought is and must be labeled as blended applejack. To meet consumer demand for lighter, lower proof spirits, the laird family created the blended applejack spirit category in 1972. Oct 08, 2018 a substantial gap separates calvados from the grapebased gnacs on the french brandy hierarchy. In any case, the jack rose is an effective testament to its namesake. William laird, a county fyfe scotsman, emigrated from scotland in 1698 and settled in monmouth county, new jersey. Laird s applejack is a wonderful blend of 35% apple brandy and 65% natural spirit. William laird, a county fyfe scotsman, settled in monmouth county, new jersey in 1698.
John prebbles book charts very effectively this shameful chapter of our history drawing on contemporary accounts of the privations visited upon a population who i had assumed that they were an extension of the brutality meted out by cumberlands royalist army after the battle of culloden. They use whole tree ripened apples and naturally occurring yeasts, pot distillation and charred barrels to produce their brandy which is then blended with grain spirit. Robert lairds account book of 1780 indicates a price of four shillings, six pence. Lairds straight applejack 86 represents the return to the laird familys historic roots. Here are five great apple brandy cocktail recipes for fall, plus a chance to win the book. Boar health, boar comfort and staff efficiency were the driving design factors of the new barn and we could not be more pleased with how it has turned out. This is an especially significant factor in today s trend toward natural, additivefree foods and beverages.
As we look at historical cocktail books, you come across applejackthere are so many classic applejack cocktails, laird dunn says. Nov 08, 2018 the company produces the vast majority of all applejack and american apple brandy on the market, which have been enjoyed since colonial times and are equally prized by todays mixology community. Talking applejack with the ninth generation distiller of americas oldest distilling family. George washington famously asked the lairds for, and received, their applejack recipe. It smells a lot like cheap brandy with a vague hint of apples. Laird s was historically a producer of straight applejack, but drinkers today may be more familiar with their blended applejack. Seventeen pounds of fresh treeripened apples are needed to produce each single bottle. Around 1760, washington wrote to the lairds asking for the applejack recipe. Laird s, we think you deserve to be in the history books. New jerseys lairds distills the pappy van winkle of the north.
As a revolutionary soldier serving under george washington, robert laird and his family provided the troops with applejack. This distillery has been making killer apple brandy since before. But like the fall leaves, that all seems to be changing. The first physical records referring to the commercail distillation of sale of applejack was entered in robert laird s account book of operations in 1780. Applejack has been around for years and the amazing selection is definitely the reason. As the days pass, applejacks journal entries start to read like lists of complaints when she writes honestly about whatever is bothering her. Lisa from laird s applejack will join us to share the history of this famed monmouth county family business. Lairds bonded apple brandy, a 100 proof workhorse, lairds 7. It is the spirit that basically founded our country, he. This book tells the story of tibet from the arrival of buddhism to the current day well, 2008 as the olympics are just about to happen in beijing.
It is a story in the sense that it is largely about how the dalai lama understands the history of his country. Its cornelius applejack is a sophisticated take on what was once known as jersey lightning, distilled three times and aged in woodford reserve bourbon barrels. The company was founded by robert laird williams grandson who served in the revolutionary war under general george washington. Stores and prices for lairds applejack apple spirit, new jersey prices, stores, tasting notes and market data.
Currently, lairds produces six types of applejack and apple brandy. Applejack is a calvadosstyle apple brandy, which has claims to being the oldest american spirit due to its roots in the colonial period. History of cammell laird known across the globe, the company was founded by scottish entrepreneurs william laird and his son john, and has been operating since the late 1820s. If you are in lakewood or golden this is the best option all around. Lairds is one of the oldest distilleries in the united states dating from 1698. A beautifully illustrated exploration of the quest for order within the garden, and within the natural world inspired by the pioneering naturalist gilbert white, who viewed natural history as the common study of cultural and natural communities, mark laird unearths forgotten historical data to reveal the complex visual cultures of early modern gardening. Lairds applejack, an apple brandy blended with spirits and distilled since the. In 1976 its transport division, which traded as metrocammell, secured a major order to build mass transit railway carriages for the hong kong mass transit system. To view this site, you must enable javascript or upgrade to a javascriptcapable browser.
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