Applejack is a potent spirit made from apples, originating in colonial America. It typically has an alcohol content of 25-40%.
How it is made
The traditional method involves freezing fermented cider and removing ice to concentrate the alcohol. This process, called jacking, can produce spirits with 25-40% alcohol. Modern commercial production typically blends apple brandy with neutral grain spirits rather than using the jacking method.
History
First produced in colonial New Jersey in 1698 by William Laird, applejack was once known as Jersey Lightning. The Laird family established their distillery in 1780. The drink declined in popularity in the 19th and 20th centuries with the rise of other commercially produced spirits. During Prohibition, Laird's temporarily stopped production and began making apple juice, later obtaining permission to produce apple branddi for medicinal purposes.
How it is served
Applejack is used in various cocktails including the Snowball, Apple Martini, Black Apple Old Fashioned, and Edgar Allan Poe. It can be served neat, on the rocks, or mixed in cocktails.
Adapted from the Russian Wikipedia article Эпплджек (напиток), available under CC BY-SA 4.0.