I have long been a fan of Cornelius Applejack from Harvest Spirits in Valatie, NY. It's made from 100% homegrown farm apples, that they carefully fermented and distilled in small batches right there on the farm. Aged for 5 years in 50 gallon American oak ex-bourbon casks at 60% alc. it is proofed to 40%, minimally filtered and bottled by hand. It is more like a bourbon whiskey (because it's aged in whiskey barrels, not brandy barrels) than a brandy - rich, smooth, and complex.
This fall Harvest Spirits released released a Cornelius Applejack Caribbean Cask 10YO edition wherein the 5 YO Cornelius Applejack undergoes finishing in Appleton Rum barrels for another five years. That makes this a 10 YO Applejack.
Peter Upstill, Derek Grout, and the distiller/man of all hands
Cornelius Applejack Caribbean Cask 10YO is one of the best applejacks/American apple brandies I have yet tasted. The underlying spirit has tinges of rum and rock candy and the smoothness of caramel and vanilla. An exceptional apple brandy. Amazing!!!