Kilian Apple Brandy

Before Apple Brandy on the Rocks, there was the original Apple Brandy. Released by Kilian in 2013 and since discontinued, it is the darker, woodier first take on the idea. Brandy is the name for cognac-style spirit made outside Cognac, and the apple is a wink to New York, the Big Apple. Kilian built an apple liquor accord meant to blend with an oak cask accord rather than sit on top of it. The result is a boozy, oak-barrel scent with baked apple, rum, smoke, vanilla and cedar. Aromatica carries the Kilian Apple Brandy decant in Bangladesh.

Fragrance Notes

Top: Apple, Rum, Sugar, Plum

Heart: Oak, Wood Barrel, Smoke

Base: Vanilla, Labdanum, Texas Cedar, Chinese Cedar, Ambroxan

Full note breakdown on Fragrantica.

The Scent

The opening is apple, rum, sugar and plum. On first spray it is a strong hit of alcohol, and one reviewer calls it a wave of hard spirit. The apple reads baked and caramelised rather than fresh, and sugar and plum add a dark, fruity sweetness.

The heart is oak, wood barrel and smoke. This is where the scent becomes more barrel than fruit. The oak cask accord takes over, dry and woody, with a light smoky tone. Reviewers say it smells like apple brandy as one complete drink, rather than an apple flavour placed on top of booze.

The base is vanilla, labdanum, Texas cedar, Chinese cedar and ambroxan. Vanilla and labdanum add warmth and a soft resinous sweetness, the cedars keep it dry, and ambroxan gives a clean lift. The drydown is a warm blur of sweetened spirit and wood.

It is a very linear scent. The apple fades over time and the oak grows stronger, so what remains later in the day is boozy woodiness on a dry base. One reviewer describes stove-cooked apple dipped in brandy with toasted brown sugar and vanilla. Another notes a likeness to Kilian's Single Malt, with a spicier apple turn.

A reviewer comparing both versions puts it simply: if On the Rocks is the extrovert, the original Apple Brandy is the introvert.

When to Wear

Apple Brandy is a cool-weather, evening scent. Its oak, rum and vanilla suit winter nights, dinners and quiet evenings. The strong boozy opening makes it a poor office choice. In Dhaka's warm months, keep it for air-conditioned evenings. More boozy picks are in the Boozy collection.

Who Is It For

It suits people who love boozy, woody scents and anyone curious about the original Kilian liquor style. Since it is discontinued, it will also interest collectors. Those who prefer a fresher, fruitier apple should look at the 2021 On the Rocks instead. Because bottles of discontinued scents are harder to find, a decant is often the only practical way to smell it.

Compare it with the 2021 rework, Apple Brandy on the Rocks, and with the cognac-led Angels' Share. Browse the full Kilian collection.

Available as an authentic decant in Bangladesh at Aromatica in 3ml, 5ml, 9ml, and 15ml.