Laird's Straight Apple Brandy 100 Proof Bottled In Bond

Laird's Straight Apple Brandy 100 Proof Bottled In Bond shines when sipped neat or with a single large ice cube, allowing its rich apple character and warming spice notes to fully unfold. This robust spirit also excels in spirit-forward cocktails like Old Fashioneds or Manhattans, particularly on crisp autumn evenings, and pairs wonderfully with hearty dishes like roasted pork or sharp aged cheeses that complement its bold flavors.

Nose: Fresh apple orchard, with hints of baked cinnamon and nutmeg. A whiff of oak and vanilla from the barrel aging. Light caramel and toasted almond notes emerge as it opens up.

Palate: Rich, full-bodied apple flavor upfront. Not sweet, but concentrated and intense. Oak spice and warm vanilla balance the fruit. Touches of leather and tobacco add complexity. The high proof brings a pleasant warmth without overwhelming heat.

Finish: Long and dry. The apple flavor lingers, transforming into baked apple pie. Cinnamon and nutmeg spices resurface. A slight tannic grip from the oak, with a faint nuttiness on the tail end. The warmth from the alcohol persists, leaving a satisfying glow.

Laird's Straight Apple Brandy 100 Proof Bottled In Bond is crafted from a blend of apple varieties, distilled in copper pot stills, and aged for at least four years in charred oak barrels. What's fascinating about this process is that it adheres to the strict regulations of the Bottled in Bond Act of 1897, ensuring the brandy is produced in a single distillation season, by one distiller, at one distillery, and aged for at least four years under U.S. government supervision.

• Laird's Straight Apple Brandy predates the United States itself. The Laird family has been distilling apple brandy since 1698, making it America's oldest native distilled spirit. Their original distillery in New Jersey received License #1 from the U.S. Department of the Treasury in 1780.
• George Washington was such a fan of Laird's apple brandy that he requested the recipe from Robert Laird, a Revolutionary War soldier. The company still has a copy of Washington's request letter in their archives.
• Unlike most apple brandies, Laird's Straight Apple Brandy 100 Proof Bottled in Bond is made from 100% apples, with no additives or neutral spirits. It takes about 20 pounds of apples to produce one 750ml bottle, resulting in a pure, intense apple flavor that's rare in the spirits world.