Applejack is a hard liquor made from hard cider. Its method of production is associated with problems when too much is consumed.
Applejack is made from hard cider by fractional freezing (freeze distillation, "jacking"). This involves freezing the cider then separating the frozen ice from an alcohol-rich liquid. Doing this repeatedly can increase the alcohol content up to 40% (80 proof).
Because it is not heat distilled, the liquid produced contains fermentation byproducts such as methanol. If too much applejack is consumed then a variety of problems can occur:
(1) applejack palsy (refers to a staggering gait)
(2) a severe hangover
The amount of methanol and other byproducts can be reduced by:
(1) pasteurizing the cider prior to fermentation
(2) making the cider from certain types of apples (avoiding Crispin apples)
(3) initially perform freeze distillation followed by heat distillation
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