https://mrlocalhistory.org/new-jersey-taverns-of-the-revolutionary-war/ History and Gossip from New Jersey Tue, 14 Jul 2026 16:35:25 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0.3 https://mrlocalhistory.org/new-jersey-taverns-of-the-revolutionary-war/#comment-240726 Thu, 09 Jul 2026 12:52:47 +0000 https://mrlocalhistory.org/?p=78419#comment-240726 Laird & Company in Colt’s Neck is considered America’s oldest distillery, renowned for producing Applejack and apple brandy. William Laird arrived in Colonial New Jersey from Scotland in 1698 and began distilling apple-based spirits using the region’s abundant apple supply. The family initially operated behind the Colts Neck Inn. Legend holds that George Washington was a patron and requested the family’s secret recipe. To survive Prohibition (1920–1933), the company shifted entirely to producing non-alcoholic apple products like applesauce and sweet cider before obtaining one of the nation’s first medicinal distilling licenses in 1933. While Laird & Company is headquartered in Scobeyville, actual distilling operations were moved to Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley in 1972. The New Jersey facility continues to operate as a rectifier, blender, and aging/bottling plant.
Historic District: The historic Scobeyville property and homestead are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

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