What alcoholic beverage was the first distilled spirit in North America?

It's impossible to definitively say what the first distilled spirit in North America was.

Here's why:

* Pre-Colonial Distillation: Indigenous peoples likely had some form of rudimentary distillation before European contact. However, these practices are poorly documented and their specific details are lost to history.

* Early European Colonization: European colonists brought distillation techniques with them, starting with the production of brandy, which was made from fermented fruit, likely grapes.

* Variety of Spirits: Once distillation was established, it likely quickly expanded to other spirits such as whiskey (made from grains), rum (made from sugarcane), and others.

Therefore, while brandy is a strong contender for the first distilled spirit in North America, we cannot definitively prove it. The reality is that the earliest distillation history in North America is likely a complex blend of indigenous and European influences, and specific details are shrouded in the mists of time.