Although not widely available, Laird’s Straight Apple Brandy has a reputation for being excellent apple brandy. Unfortunately, it’s distribution isn’t available in all states, so until a friend was able to help me try a bottle I had always found the love for this brandy a mystery. So is it worth the hunt?
Laird’s Straight Apple Brandy
- Distillate – 100% Apples
- Proof – 100 (50%)
- Age – Minimum 4 years
- Cask – Oak
- Bottled In Bond
Sight: Amontillado Sherry
Smell: Fresh sliced apples lace with vanilla and oak. The apple notes get a slight tint of baking spice and a lightly roasted character. It has elements of brown sugar and fruity candied apple. There’s a bit of floral in here too, and more than a little whiff of alcohol.
Sip: Bright floral apples and fresh sliced apple lead. The medium body gives forth a bit of vanilla and a hint of spice. The flavors are lean toward caramelizing apples in the oven, but without the sweetness. Oak comes in and there’s just a hint of the smell of the apple of the farm as flavor here too.
Savor: The ending leans into apples with a bit more skin and vanilla laced oak. The finish is short, and has a vaguely apple character.
Laird’s Straight Apple Brandy is little rough on the nose, but delivers a warm and well constructed apple flavor. The flavors aren’t super complicated or robust, but they are nicely orientated toward the apple orchard. The subtle floral notes go well against the more vanilla and oak undertones. This is a nice solid apple brandy that seems well suited for cocktails.
In Cocktails
In a Jack Rose it lends a fresh apple note to the lemon and pomegranate notes. It’s robust as a base, featuring the subtle oaky flavors and hints of vanilla behind all the fruitiness. While the depth could be deeper, it is very tasty. It works similarly as well in both a Honey Moon Cocktail and an Applejack Rabbit.
In Review – Laird’s Straight Apple Brandy
Laird’s Straight Apple Brandy is nicely constructed and works well in cocktails. Is it life altering? No, but the advantages that it has over Laird’s Blended Applejack are two fold. First, the proof helps to bring the flavors of the apples forward. Secondly, the lack of neutral grain spirits is evidence in a side by side. The result is a more apple orientated drink with none of the off flavors, while only being around $30. For these reasons, this is our new recommendation for an apple brandy when looking to make any cocktails.
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