About the EVENT

Before bourbon. Before rye. Before America even had a name for itself — there was apple brandy.

Join us for an intimate event at Crudo Nudo exploring one of the most storied spirits in American history: Laird's Apple Brandy, the product of the oldest licensed distillery in the United States, holding License No. 1 from the U.S. Department of the Treasury since 1780. The Laird family story traces back even further — to 1698, when Scotsman William Laird settled in New Jersey and began distilling the area's most abundant crop. It became the most popular drink of Colonial times. George Washington himself requested the family's recipe for "cyder spirits." Abraham Lincoln served it at his tavern. It fueled the Revolution.

Carrying that torch across ten generations is no small thing — and that's exactly what we're here to talk about.

Ticket Includes:

A welcome cocktail

4 guided tasting pours of Laird's expressions

A panel discussion moderated by Model Citizen Cocktails — exploring the history of apple brandy, its foundational role in American drinking culture, and the gravity of stewarding the country's oldest distillery

Konbini-inspired bites by Jon Reynolds / OGS Kitchen

Details

Date: Sunday, April 26th, 2026; 4:30pm

Location: Crudo Nudo — 727 W 21st St, Norfolk, VA 23517

Tickets: $60

Featured Makers

Model Citizen Cocktails
Laird’s Apple Brandy
Jon Reynolds of OGS Kitchen