The Jack Rose cocktail, known for its bright blend of apple brandy, tangy lemon juice, and sweet grenadine, is a testament to the robust flavours of early 20th-century mixology. From the start of the 1900s through to the Prohibition era, this vibrant cocktail saw immense popularity and was frequently lauded as a favourite by several esteemed writers of the time. Among the realm of classic cocktails, the Jack Rose stands out for its unique use of applejack, a type of American apple brandy, as its base spirit.

The intrigue around exactly how the Jack Rose cocktail came to bear its name adds allure to its story. Some believe it might have been named after a notorious gangster or a celebrated bartender of the time. In his book, The Oxford Companion to Spirits and Cocktails, David Wondrich points to one of this cocktail's earliest known mentions in print back in 1889, crediting bartender Frank Hass at Fred Eberlin’s bar in New York City. Regardless of how the name came to be, it’s equally plausible that the cocktail name originated from the applejack base and the drink’s distinctively rose-coloured appearance.

The concoction of a Jack Rose adheres to the classic structure of a sour cocktail, with minor modifications culminating in its unmistakably fruity and tart flavour. Similar to cocktails like the Daiquiri or Whiskey Sour, the Jack Rose innovatively combines a base spirit, citrus juice, and a sweetener. Yet, instead of using simple syrup, the recipe calls for the inclusion of grenadine, a syrup derived from pomegranate. While grenadine is a common ingredient found in most liquor stores, homemade version ensures higher quality and preserves freshness.

The recipe of the Jack Rose assets its best taste with any form of apple brandy, though traditionally applejack – a style of American apple brandy with a deep lineage in America's distillation and cocktail culture – is preferred. Many bartenders swear by Laird’s Bottled in Bond Straight Applejack for crafting a Jack Rose, for its robust proof and genuine, apple-forward flavour profile.

The recipe for this timeless cocktail is as follows: Combine 2 ounces of applejack, or apple brandy, 1 ounce of freshly squeezed lemon juice, and half an ounce of grenadine in a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake for 12–15 seconds until well chilled. Double-strain the cocktail through a fine mesh strainer into a chilled coupe glass and garnish with a lemon twist. Enjoy the deeply rooted history and delicious flavour of the Jack Rose.