Jack Rose

Another turn-of-the-century classic, the Jack Rose brings the flavors of fall apples to a cocktail. As one of the most well-known apple brandy cocktails, this drink is a simple riff on the traditional sour, blending the apple spirit with grenadine and fresh citrus juice.

Some recipes for the Jack Rose call for lemon juice, some lime; others, a mix of both. Either makes for a delicious cocktail: lime makes the drink a bit more bitter, while the lemon blends nicely into the sweetness of grenadine. Try it any way you like – you can’t go wrong!

Jack Rose

Note: It’s worth making grenadine at home for this recipe. The homemade syrup is much milder than its storebought counterpart.

Ingredients

2 oz. Laird’s Apple Jack

3/4 oz. lemon or lime juice

¾ oz. grenadine

Lemon peel, for garnish.

Instructions

For the grenadine: Combine two cups of pomegranate juice, two cups of sugar, and 1-2 dashes of orange flower water in a saucepan. Stir until the sugar is fully dissolved, then reduce the heat, cover, and simmer for about 10-15 minutes. When reduced, pour the syrup into an airtight container.

For the cocktail: Combine apple brandy or Applejack, lemon or lime juice, and grenadine into a shaker. Shake with ice and strain into a coupe or martini glass. Garnish with a lemon peel and enjoy!