Laird's Rare Apple Brandy 12 Year
Laird's Rare Apple Brandy 12 Year is the finest, most elegant expression of the Laird's line — 88 proof (44% ABV), aged a minimum of 12 years in the New Jersey barrel-aging warehouse, 750mL. Introduced in 1995 as the distillery's premium statement, each bottle is filled by hand and carries a handwritten batch number, bottling date, and bottle number. It carries a 95-point Wine Enthusiast rating. Order online from Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA, and taste twelve patient years in every pour.
- Proof / ABV: 88 proof (44% ABV) — the strength the founding tasters judged optimum
- Size: 750mL
- Age: Minimum 12 years in the New Jersey barrel-aging warehouse
- Bottling: Bottled by hand; handwritten batch number, date, and bottle number
- Origin: Scobeyville, New Jersey; distilling since 1780
- Rating: 95 Wine Enthusiast
Twelve Years in New Jersey Oak
Most apple brandy never sees a decade in wood; Laird's Rare spends a minimum of twelve years in the family's New Jersey barrel-aging warehouse before a single bottle is drawn. The extra time trades power for finesse — this is an 88-proof brandy, deliberately bottled below the distillery's bonded expressions because, in the words of the original tasting panel, 88 proof was the optimum strength for showing off a dozen years of oak. Each bottle is filled, labeled, and numbered by hand. Find it among our premium brandies and browse the full Laird's collection.
Tasting Notes
Aromas of pastry, butter, and ginger lead — warm and dessert-like. The palate is fruit, butter, and cream with maple on the front, the apple now mellow and integrated with the oak. The finish is tart and apple-forward, elegant rather than fiery.
How to Enjoy
The distillery recommends serving at room temperature in a brandy snifter — this is a sipping brandy, not a mixing one, though a drop would elevate a Sidecar. Pour it after dinner the way you'd pour a fine Cognac.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Laird's 12 Year only 88 proof?
When the expression was conceived, the tasting panel agreed 88 proof (44% ABV) was the optimum strength to show off twelve years of oak character — higher proof would have masked the finesse.
Is each bottle of Laird's Rare Apple Brandy 12 Year numbered?
Yes. Every bottle is hand-bottled and carries a handwritten batch number, bottling date, and individual bottle number.
How does the 12 Year differ from Laird's Straight Apple Brandy?
The 12 Year is aged three times as long (12 years vs. 4), bottled at 88 proof instead of bonded 100 proof, hand-bottled and individually numbered, and positioned as the distillery's most premium expression.
Twelve years of patience, one unforgettable pour — get Laird's Rare Apple Brandy 12 Year delivered from Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.