Peach Applejack Brandy From Harvest Spirits
Waste not, want not.
Especially when the so-called waste is 1,000 pounds of peaches, and you use it to make a crazy delicious peach-infused brandy, like Derek Grout of Harvest Spirits does with his family farm's leftover crop.
Grout's grandparents started Golden Harvest–a 200-acre apple farm–in Valatie, New York, in the 1950s. After college and a stint in advertising in Boston, Grout returned home. Looking to add new value to an old business, he began distilling the farm's cider to make their Core Vodka, sold under the name Harvest Spirits ($38 for 750ml). The vodka is also used as a base for the potent Cornelius Applejack ($45 for 750ml).
But this year, Grout infused the applejack with peaches to make the first batch of Peach Applejack Brandy ($41 for 375ml).
Sweetened only by the ripe fruit, the brandy has notes of apple and oak; its sweetness mixes nicely with apple cider, soda water and lemon for an autumnal cocktail. Next year, Brown plans to release a tart cherry brandy, made with the farm's Bing cherries.
Five servings of fruit a day, right? We think this counts.
Harvest Spirits Peach Applejack Brandy is available for purchase online.