Laird's Applejack

An older bottle remaining on liquor store shelves from a past era when a $30 bottle was considered a premium item. Ha, what has my dedication to niche interests led me to? Began thinking about brandies, so I chose this for a simple comparison. It's quite thin, light, and distinctly one-dimensional, but it captures the pleasant, classic essence of apple, albeit somewhat muted - slightly sweet, crisp, tart, and bitter. I must reconsider my biases against the main component (65% of the blend)... this is nothing like a low-quality blended tequila. There is absolutely nothing harsh present, no "cheap vodka" burn. I've excused more expensive whiskies for greater flaws. Straightforward, sufficiently enjoyable, and perfectly adequate for the cost. In summary, you could certainly make poorer choices.

I sampled this neat at room temperature. The aroma of Laird's Applejack has a resemblance to dark rum, with a touch of tart Granny Smith apple. It has the taste of apple pie filling that's not too sweet, offering tartness and zest, along with prominent vanilla and cinnamon, and a crisp, peppery finish that lingers. It carries hints of the cherry-like booziness found in traditional brandy, as well as a molasses undertone similar to rum, which isn't overwhelming here. While not my first choice for sipping, it's a pleasant drink on a chilly evening.

Very tart and much more reminiscent of wine than I anticipated. Faint bitter notes similar to those found in unripe grapes are also present. An intriguing beverage, but I don't believe I prefer it over a quality cider. I realize expressing this opinion about Applejack means I'll have to have my birth record altered to show I'm no longer a resident of New Jersey.

The apple notes took some time to detect. Initially, I perceived woody tones, with a character more akin to whisky than brandy. Upon revisiting, a subtle apple essence is present, though very dry, lacking acidity, and not delivering a strong apple impact.

A standard for apple brandy. It’s approachable and mellow, with just enough smoky wood sugars to hold your attention when sipped straight, yet not so overpowering that you cannot combine it equally with ginger beer and indulge guilt-free, without upsetting any of your sophisticated whiskey snob buddies.

I do not detect any apple flavor from this whatsoever. It's acceptable as a brandy. However, I anticipated an apple flavor and was let down. Smooth and easy to drink, with a subtle oak barrel aged taste. It genuinely resembles a whiskey.