Would a cocktail by any other name still taste as sweet? What if the inventor of the Jack Rose cocktail enjoyed by those who attended the first of our October apple spirit tastings on Friday night used his real name, Frank May, instead of his nom de bar, Jack Rose? Would this perfect combination of apple brandy, tart citrus and sweet grenadine still have been as popular? Would it still have been the drink Mrs. William Astor chose to begin her soirees in her Manhattan brownstone?

Since the recipe we used Friday differed from the one we posted before and because our applejack has changed from the one blended with neutral spirits to the full-on 20 lbs. of apples for every 750ml bottle version, we thought we’d repost a Jack Rose cocktail recipe. This with a reminder that mixing cocktails counts as cooking. You have to taste, taste, taste and adjust according to what ingredients are available to you and your palate (we think the recipe below can use up to 2 1/2 oz. of apple brandy).

Jack Rose Cocktail

1 oz Laird’s Apple Brandy (bottled in bond)
1/2 oz. lime juice
1/2 oz. grenadine

Place ingredients in cocktail shaker with ice. Shake vigorously and strain into cocktail glass.