Most brown liquor connoisseurs don’t know that before we had rye, rum or moonshine we had applejack — the first distilled spirit in the colonies. Yet after Prohibition, it never made it back into drinkers’ glasses. But thanks to Marin resident Samantha Collins and her husband, John, Arkansas Black Applejack is now available from most alcohol retailers. How does it taste? According to a blog called Drinkhacker, “This 21-year-old applejack squarely lives somewhere between brandy and whiskey, with loads of vanilla and caramel on the nose, plus some barrel char … The finish is long, minimal in the boozy aftereffect that’s so common with fruit brandies.” Drink on its own or mix into a cocktail.
Mimi Towle has been the editor of Marin Magazine for over a decade. She lived with her family in Sycamore Park and Strawberry and thoroughly enjoyed raising two daughters in the mayhem of Marin’s youth sports; soccer, swim, volleyball, ballet, hip hop, gymnastics and many many hours spent at Miwok Stables. Her community involvements include volunteering at her daughter’s schools, coaching soccer and volleyball (glorified snack mom), being on the board of both Richardson Bay Audubon Center. Currently residing on a floating home in Sausalito, she enjoys all water activity, including learning how to steer a 6-person canoe for the Tamalpais Outrigger Canoe Club. Born and raised in Hawaii, her fondness for the islands has on occasion made its way into the pages of the magazine.
