According to David Embury’s The Fine Art of Mixing Drinks, the Jack Rose was, during the mid-20th century, a pillar of basic cocktail-mixing knowledge. The origin of its name is disputed: some credit it to an early 20th-century hit man called “Bald Jack Rose,” while others connect it to Jersey City bartender Frank J. May, who was also known as Jack Rose. What is certain is that the Jack Rose is a New Jersey cocktail through and through. Its American apple brandy base, applejack (a.k.a. “Jersey Lightning”), is one of the country’s oldest continuously-produced spirits and Laird’s in New Jersey remains its largest producer to this day.
(Spirits/Cocktails)