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.