Applejack
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Applejack is a strong alcoholic beverage produced from apples, originating from the American colonial period. It is made by concentrating hard cider (as British cider, i.e., fermented alcoholic apple juice, is called in American usage), either by the traditional method of freeze distillation (see fractional freezing), or by true evaporative distillation. The term "applejack" derives from "jacking", a term for freeze distillation.
From the fermented juice, with an alcohol content of less than ten percent, the concentrated result contains thirty to forty percent alcohol (i.e., is sixty to eighty proof), is slightly sweet, and tastes and usually smells of apples.
Freeze distilling can concentrate methanol and fusel alcohols (by-products of fermentation which true distillation separates out) in applejack to unhealthy levels. As a result, many countries prohibit such applejack as a health measure.
Due to the relatively higher cost and lower yield of alcohol produced from fruit fermentation, commercially produced applejack may be composed of apple brandy diluted with grain spirits until the drink reaches an alcohol content of thirty to forty percent.
Applejack is also a type of hat, popular in the early 20th century and with Rastafarians. There is also a famous American breakfast cereal known as Apple Jacks.
"Applejack" is also the title of a song written and performed by Dolly Parton. The song first appeared on Parton's 1977 album New Harvest - First Gathering.