Laird's Bottled In Bond Straight Apple Brandy

Holy applesauce, Batman! This is one of the more unique/obscure spirits I’ve tried, and boy am I glad I did. I love apples and I love liquor, and this satisfies on both levels. The nose smells like a freshly-cut honeycrisp, albeit a little yeasty and ethanoly. There’s something bourbony about the smell and taste as well, probably from the oak and the sugar content of the source fruit. It’s like your grandma baked a succulent apple pie and then drizzled some Kentucky Sunshine on top for good measure. The flavor is sweet, spicy and warm, with a little bit of burn due to the proof. There is also a slight, pleasant tartness that accompanies an appropriately fruity note. There’s definitely a lot more caramel on the tongue than there is on the nose. I can definitely see why some compare this to a candied apple. It’s very comforting and autumnish, more so than any other spirit I can imagine, in fact. The finish is moderate with some more sweet/tart apple notes and a touch of baking spice. Some bitterness is present as well, but it quickly fades, leaving only the fruity, apple notes clinging to the mouth-receptors and scintillating the brain, teasing it with memories of county fairs and overgrown orchards which produce the orbicular descendants of that originator of the Original Sin. Overall, this is freakin’ great. Even though it’s brandy, it’s got some undeniably whiskeyish characteristics in my book. Maybe apples are a type of grain? Maybe? Regardless, the flavor of apples is evident throughout the experience, and the nuanced complexities make the experience incredibly enjoyable however you choose to drink this stuff. I need to try it in an Old Fashioned soon, but it’s good enough to drink neat or on the rocks without any complaints whatsoever. I’m giving this such a high score because it’s so unique and so enjoyable. I’m not giving it 5 stars because there’s so little to accurately compare it to. Perhaps that doesn’t make sense, but I do what I want. Deal with it!

Neat in Glencairn at home. Nose is apple peel, orchard loam, some ethanol. Taste is sharp apple with a definite bite, some mild clove and black pepper, lingering heat. Drinks hotter than the standard non-BIB 100 proof. I prefer the 10th Generation BiB. 4/6/20.