Laird & Company

Laird & Company is an American spirits producer based in New Jersey, widely recognized as one of the oldest licensed distilleries in the United States. The Laird family has been distilling apple-based spirits in the region since the colonial era, and the company holds a significant place in American distilling history. They specialize in apple brandy and related apple spirits, drawing on a tradition rooted in the apple orchards of the mid-Atlantic states.

Their flagship product, Applejack, is a distinctly American spirit with deep historical roots. Traditionally produced by blending apple brandy with neutral grain spirits, Applejack at 86 proof offers a balance between the characteristic apple-fruit character of the brandy component and a clean, approachable body. Apple brandy itself is made by distilling fermented apple cider, and when aged in oak, it develops notes of baked apple, vanilla, and warm spice, qualities that distinguish it from grape-based brandies such as Cognac or Armagnac.

Laird's Applejack is perhaps the best-known expression in their range and has long served as a staple in classic American cocktails, including the Jack Rose. It represents one of the few remaining commercially available American apple spirits with a documented lineage stretching back centuries.