Catoctin Creek Quarter Branch Apple Brandy

While numerous apple brandies exist, this one, though not the absolute best (largely due to its price), is unique enough to be worth trying. It's difficult to definitively say which is superior between this and the peach brandy, but given the rarity of peach brandies, I'd lean towards purchasing that one over this. Regardless, you can't go wrong with either. The aroma offers notes of chocolate, alongside oak and tropical fruits. The apple character, more akin to cider, comes through on the palate, with a hint of sweetness, oak, and vanilla. The finish is a bit swift, with a touch of pepper and almost no warmth. The cost is genuinely the sole factor preventing a higher rating. I believe it's a very well-crafted apple brandy and certainly worth a taste if you encounter it. I'm uncertain if it will displace Laird's apple brandy in my collection, but it's a pleasant change of pace.