My only experience with methyl alcohol was some of the other drag racers used it. We used ethel alcohol as an octane booster.
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It definitely gave me zoomies! 
Methanol is carried through the entire distillation process, it is not uniquely removed in the foreshots. There is more methanol in fermented fruit drinks with a lot of pectin vs grains.
Freeze distillation has no more methanol in an equivalent dose than cider. 1 glass cider = 1-2 Oz apple jack.
Sounds like the original guys were doing apple brandy then probably macerating on fresh apple slices, spices and perhaps diluting to bottle strength with fresh juice as well. Only way to know the exact recipe would be to see if family still has some info.
And yes, not many do apple brandy vs grains as corn/rye/wheat is dirt cheap, ferments fast and is available year round. Not the same at all for apple brandy. You probably need 20-30lbs apples per bottle of calvados. Wines & spirits: Calvados apple brandy has a taste all its own
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