The History of Applejack

Once America’s most popular spirit, Applejack is making a strong return to its original glory days. When did Americans start drinking Applejack and what makes it such a popular drink today? Let’s break down the history of Applejack and how it truly is America’s spirit.

Colonial Seeds

The history of Applejack dates back to the first settlers in the new world. Early American colonials had grown used to drinking beer or wine with their meals, especially because water was often unsafe to drink in Europe. But after arriving in America, it was too expensive and dangerous to transport large quantities of beer or wine from Europe. The British provided a supply of Rum from the Caribbean, but when the taxes were raised too high, Americans started looking for other options for their spirits. Early American farmers had something on all of their farms: Apples. 

Apples grow naturally in the United States and they were plentiful. Early settlers pressed the apples and let them ferment, resulting in hard cider - America’s first spirit. It was the harsh winters of New England that turned that hard cider into Applejack.

What is Applejack? How is it different from Hard Cider?

Applejack gets its name from the apples (of course), but also from the jacking process. Jacking, or freeze distillation, involves freezing the hard cider and removing the ice (frozen water) from the mixture, which increases the alcohol content. This jacking process came about when the early settlers left their cider out in the cold and then removed chunks of the ice from the spirit. 

The more ice that was removed, the higher the alcohol content - which made Applejack much stronger than hard cider.

Applejack became so popular in early America that George Washington often cited it as his favorite spirit and documents in his journals about the making of “cyder spirits” at Mount Vernon before the Revolutionary War.

Applejack in Pennsylvania

Applejack was legally and illegally produced in Pennsylvania all the way back into the mid-18th century. The distillers would produce and sell it all across the state.

One of these distillers was Frederick Leaser, who was transporting Applejack near Bethlehem, Pennsylvania in the year 1777. In September of that year, Philadelphia fell to the British during the Battle of Brandywine. After this battle the colonists feared the British would steal all the copper and brass from Philadelphia - including the Bells. 

Colonists smuggled the Liberty Bell from Philadelphia and eventually made their way to Bethlehem where the Liberty Bell was given to Frederick Leaser, who had just emptied his wagon of Applejack. Frederick Leaser moved the Library Bell to the Zion Reform Church in Allentown where it stayed until the British left Philadelphia and the Bell was returned.

Although Applejack has a rich and fascinating history in Pennsylvania, the historic drink did have some challenging side effects. The jacking, or freeze distillation process had a dangerous byproduct: Methanol. Methanol, at too high of quantities, results in blindness or death. So in order to assure a safe drink, Applejack today is processed differently to ensure that the dangerous methanol is removed, and the more-favorable ethanol is retained. 

The American Spirit

Not only did George Washington produce it, but Applejack was also sold in Abraham Lincoln’s saloon in the 1830s. Lyndon B. Johnson even gave a case of Applejack to the Soviet Premier Alexei Kozyginin in 1967.

Applejack is the true American spirit, enjoyed by Presidents, farmers, and laborers. It made it through the prohibition years and continues to be a staple in the American distilling industry.

Applejack is one of those perfect spirits to enjoy this fall - make sure you stock up on either our Authentic Applejack or the Barrel Aged Applejack today.

Cheers.

At Eight Oaks we don’t just make whiskey, we make a difference. 
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