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Spirits

Apple Brandy

  • Spirit
  • 40% ABV
  • 24 drinks

Is this for me?

Choose this if…

  • ✓You enjoy rich, grape-derived spirits with oak and dried fruit notes.
  • ✓There are 24 drinks on WhatDrink using this.

Skip if…

  • ✗You prefer lighter, cleaner spirits.

At a Glance

72 kcalCalories
40%ABV
0gSugar
0gCarbs
SpiritType
24Recipes

Ingredient nutrition is approximate and varies by brand, recipe and preparation.

What is Apple Brandy?

Apple brandy is a fruit brandy used in classic cocktails, sours, punches and autumn-style drinks. It adds apple, oak and warm fruit character that works well with citrus, spice, bitters and whiskey-style recipes.

What does Apple Brandy taste like?

Apple-forward, warming and lightly oaky, with baked apple, dried fruit, spice and brandy notes. Apple brandy pairs with lemon, maple, cinnamon, bitters, ginger, cranberry, vermouth and whiskey.

Apple Brandy profile

Mixability: HighIntensity: BoldDryBeginner-friendly: High

Best used for: sours, highballs, stirred cocktails

  • Appears in 24 recipes
  • Has 4 common substitutes
  • High-strength spirit (40% ABV)

Ways to use apple brandy

Cocktails (23)Punches (1)

Apple brandy is a fruit brandy used in classic cocktails, sours, punches and autumn-style drinks. It adds apple, oak and warm fruit character that works well with citrus, spice, bitters and whiskey-style recipes.

Flavour profile

AppleFruitOakWarm

Recipes using this

Observed quantities

Observed in single-serve recipes: middle half 29.57–59.15 ml; median 29.57 ml.

In the measured recipes in this dataset — from 22 observed uses.

Scoped nutrition

Calories (per 100 ml)
240
Sugar (per 100 ml)
0 g
Carbs (per 100 ml)
0 g

Ingredient nutrition is approximate and varies by brand, recipe and preparation.

Diet compatibility

  • Gluten-FreeCompatible
  • KetoCompatible
  • Low-CarbCompatible
  • Low-SugarCompatible
  • VeganCompatible
  • VegetarianCompatible

Based on the listed ingredient only — a public recipe facet, not medical, allergy or coeliac advice. Specific brands and preparation can change compatibility.

Commonly observed with

BrandySweet Vermouth

Observed co-use in the reviewed recipe corpus — not a universal pairing recommendation.

Trust & methodology

Canonical ingredient/component authority assembled from reviewed identity, recipe, flavour, nutrition, diet and substitution evidence. Observed quantities and co-use patterns are descriptive, not prescriptions or universal recommendations.

Evidence last updated: 2026-07-16T02:53:30.320595+00:00

Substitutes

How to swap Apple Brandy

Swap Apple Brandy only with a spirit that plays the same role in the drink. If the replacement is sweeter, smokier, higher proof or more neutral, rebalance the citrus, sweetener and bitters rather than treating it as a one-for-one change.

When to choose it

When to choose Apple Brandy

Choose Apple Brandy when you want the base of the drink to carry clear character and strength. It has 23 public drink matches, so compare the related recipes before substituting another spirit.

Skip if

Do not choose Apple Brandy when...

Do not choose Apple Brandy when you want the mixer, fruit or garnish to do all the work. A base spirit changes the structure and strength of the drink, so it should match the recipe rather than be swapped casually.

What it is

What kind of spirit is Apple Brandy?

Apple Brandy gives drinks their base strength and main character. Its profile is usually apple-forward, warming and lightly oaky, with baked apple, dried fruit, spice and brandy notes. apple brandy pairs with lemon, maple, cinnamon, bitters, ginger, cranberry, vermouth and whiskey., so it works best when balanced with citrus, sweetness, bitters, vermouth or a mixer.

Drink counts and recipe data are based on published WhatDrink recipes. Figures may vary as new recipes are added.

Apple Brandy — common questions

How many cocktails are made with Apple Brandy?
There are 24 cocktail recipes featuring Apple Brandy in the WhatDrink database.
What are the most popular cocktails made with Apple Brandy?
Top-ranked cocktails made with Apple Brandy include Apple Blow Fizz, Apple Pie No. 1, Angel Face. Rankings are based on recipe quality and data completeness.
What is the ABV of Apple Brandy?
Apple Brandy has an ABV of approximately 40%. The exact strength varies by brand and expression.
What do the sensory profile dimensions mean?
Sensory profile dimensions describe key flavour characteristics: Intensity (light to bold), Sweetness (dry to sweet), Mixability (how versatile it is in cocktails) and Beginner-Friendly (acquired taste to easy intro). Each scale helps you compare Apple Brandy with similar ingredients at a glance.
How do I use the Apple Brandy sensory profile to find drinks I like?
If you enjoy the intensity and flavour profile of Apple Brandy, look for other ingredients or cocktails with a similar profile. Compare Intensity, Sweetness and Mixability to find substitutes or discover new cocktails in the same flavour family.