But distilleries that make high-proof spirits remain heavily regulated at both the federal and state level. That clear spirit is applejack - not as strong as modern distilled spirits like vodka, but strong enough to last the winter.Īs microcideries open on farms, in cities and within microbreweries, hard cider and applejack are developing a stronger infrastructure, producers say. Each time the ice is skimmed off, the concentration of alcohol grows, until what is left in the barrel reaches about 40 proof. With each freeze, the water in the cider crystallizes into slushy ice. The original applejack, which many historians believe was invented by American colonists, was produced by a low-tech method called “jacking.” Jacked spirits are distilled not by the usual method of boiling, but by freezing, and any household with a supply of hard cider and cold weather could make applejack.
#Applejack whiskey drivers
Local Wilkes County bootleggers like Junior Johnson, the Thomas brothers and the Flock family famously became the first generation of NASCAR drivers in the 1940s and ’50s, and many of the sport’s first speedways, along with its Hall of Fame, are within 100 miles of here. Up to and through the Prohibition era, there were countless producers making and (illegally) selling applejack in the Blue Ridge Mountains, where roads were limited and trees provided thick cover from government agents.
As the leaves start to fall and the cooler weather sets in, Applejack is the new go-to liquor for autumn.In this cool, fertile Appalachian region, as in most of the Northeast, apples were then far more plentiful than the grains needed to make whiskey. Applejack is making a strong surge in the US where distilleries are focusing on local and traditional liquors. This is especially true for Applejack, which typically has higher ABV than Apple Brandy.Ĭheck out some of our favorite Applejack cocktails! Applejack & Apple Brandy PopularityĪpplejack and Apple Brandy have gone through difficult times in the last 70 years–many people in the United States turned their back on brown liquors during the mid-20th century. Older vintages tend to be designed as sippers, whereas newer vintages are often mixed into cocktails. Additionally, Applejack is often aged in Bourbon barrels, giving it flavors of burnt caramel, vanilla, and spice.Īging time also factors into the taste. However, Applejack traditionally has had a sweeter taste due to the apple varieties grown in the United states compared to those grown in France. Each distillery and orchard adds its own unique flavors through the distillation and aging process. How Do Apple Brandy and Applejack Taste?Īpple Brandy and Applejack taste very similar.
Most Applejack today is produced using traditional distillation methods instead of the jacking process, however the name Applejack continues and will always be associated with this traditional American liquor. The more ice removed, the higher the alcohol content, which makes Applejack much stronger than hard cider. Jacking, or freeze distillation, involves freezing the hard cider and removing the ice (frozen water) from the mixture, which increases the alcohol content. Applejack gets its name from the apples (of course), but also from the jacking process. Unlike its French cousin, Applejack is a truly American liquor. The mixture is then aged in new French Oak barrels, but is often transferred to older casks after a few months to stop the wood from dominating the flavor. Calvados is typically made with cider apples, but it can also be made with pears grown in the same region.Ĭalvados can be distilled with a continuous column still (similar to Armagnac) or double distilled in a copper pot just like cognac. The most common Apple Brandy is called Calvados, which is the Normandy region of France where the liquor originated. What is Apple Brandy?Īpple Brandy comes from France. pop–they are the same, but each variety has its unique qualities. They are technically the same type of liquor. The Difference between Applejack and Apple Brandy
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