Cocktails with Apple brandy
Apple brandy is a fruit brandy distilled from fermented apple juice or cider, unaged or oak-aged.
ABV40–50%Calvados and most American apple brandy sit at 40%; bottled-in-bond is exactly 50%.
Substitutes for Apple brandy
The best swap, use one for one. Young Fine or VS expressions work beautifully.
Another aged apple brandy
Bottles like Clear Creek work well. If using strong Laird's Bottled-in-Bond, expect a punchier outcome. Blended applejack feels lighter and less appley.
A solid backup if you have no apple spirit at all. You will lose some fruitiness.
Apple liqueur
Won't work. Sweet and light, it strips out most of the strength. However, a splash alongside Calvados or another stand-in adds an apple note, and you will need less syrup.
On the label
- "applejack"
- American apple brandy. It was once concentrated by freezing cider and pulling off the ice. Today it is distilled, and a bottle carrying the word is usually brandy cut with neutral spirit.
