Naked Apple

A Naked Apple is built around apple brandy or applejack with minimal additions. Lemon juice and honey are typical supporting ingredients, allowing the apple spirit to remain prominent.

Yes, either apple brandy or applejack can serve as the base. Applejack gives the drink a distinctly American apple-spirit character, while apple brandy may offer a different style depending on its origin.

It can be lightly sweet because honey balances the tart lemon juice. The drink is intentionally pared down, so it should not taste like a heavily mixed fruit cocktail.

Lemon juice adds acidity that keeps the apple spirit and honey from tasting flat or overly sweet. The small ingredient list makes that balance especially noticeable.