Clear Creek Distillery

08/31/2024

Thank you for having us on!

What is the oldest in Oregon?

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-bourbon-life/id1498387060?i=1000666741257

https://open.spotify.com/episode/2rKIl0aZoWcN7dccA0obxx?si=OaGnzz4nSoqJ0sCEHs1WQw

In this week’s episode of , visits Hood River, Oregon, to chat with Caitlin Bartlemay, the Master Distiller, and Everett Rubin, a Distiller at Hood River Distillers.

They delve into the rich history of the , which has been producing spirits since the end of Prohibition in 1934. Initially, the distillery focused on brandies made from the local fruit abundant in the area, nurtured by the waters of the Columbia River and the surrounding Mt. Hood.

The conversation highlights the unique aspects of their distilling process, particularly their use of pristine glacial water sourced from the glaciers around Mt. Hood, which has been naturally filtered through volcanic rock. This exceptional water is integral to the distinct flavors found in their whiskies and brandies, offering a terroir that Big Chief finds irresistible.

Big Chief begins the episode by sampling 8 Year Straight Bourbon Whiskey, which is sourced from Kentucky and finished with Oregon Oak in the Pacific Northwest. This Bourbon boasts a mash bill of 78% corn, 10% rye, and 12% malted barley. The combination of glacier water and Oregon Oak elevates it to a remarkable sipping whiskey.

He then moves on to Oregon Single Malt Whiskey, aged for six years, which features notes of smoked peaches, crisp pears, and peppercorn spice—a perfect American replacement for peated Scotch.

On the second half the big man dives into from with some and then some of their .

This episode celebrates the exceptional spirits of Oregon and the fascinating history behind them.
Cheers to a memorable journey!

The WestiVisit Oregonegonwhiskey The WesteVisit Oregonllersguild

10/31/2020

Have a Super Spoopy Saturday Halloween! 🎃

Caitlin Bartlemay

10/23/2020

The Eyes are always watching....
• Caitlin Bartlemay

10/16/2020

"Every day we are creating products that date back to the 1500s from ingredients grown in local farms using the accumulated knowledge of science and technology to make it better and share it with the world. What's not to love about that?!"

- Caitlin Bartlemay, Distiller & Barrel Room Coordinator at Clear Creek Distillery

10/08/2020

Well, we would have a hard time finding a more delicious Fall recipe than this one! 🍁🍏

This amazing Apple Cake is courtesy of Today's Home Kitchen, and uses our Clear Creek Apple Brandy to flavor the cake and give a spike to the caramel sauce.

https://todayshomekitchen.com/apple-cake-with-calvados-caramel/

10/01/2020

Capping off with our flagship Pear Brandy, which is made exclusively from perfectly ripe, whole Bartlett pears from the Hood River Valley. Our Pear Brandy delivers a huge pear nose and taste with a crisp, clean finish. It takes 20 pounds of pears to make just one bottle, and it’s a true “orchard-to-glass” treasure.

This year’s pear crop is one for the books with each juicy pear containing more natural sugar than most. At ripeness, a pear is roughly 83% liquid. This year’s harvest has an amazing 13.4% natural sugar per 100 grams of juice. We can’t wait for this batch to be out on shelves. Look for our Clear Creek Pear Brandy, and all of our brandies, near you by visiting the link in our bio.

09/29/2020

The most powerful of our brandies is our Raspberry Brandy, known as Framboise. It is pot-distilled from a pure fermented mash of raspberries grown in the Pacific Northwest. It takes A LOT of raspberries to make just one bottle, which is why this brandy is incredibly aromatic and the flavor is so amazing.

We are one of the few remaining distilleries on the globe to make Framboise the traditional way by fermenting the actual fruit into wine before it is distilled, maintaining the intensity of the pure fruit flavor.

09/28/2020

Clear Creek Douglas Fir Brandy is inspired by the Alsatian Eau de Vie de Bourgeons de Sapin made from pine buds. Our brandy is made from bright, springtime Douglas Fir buds handpicked in the Pacific Northwest. We work with the Hood River Department of Forestry, which allows us to harvest from their 80 year cycle organic tree farm.

The maceration of Doug Fir buds is then re-distilled and re-infused with fresh new buds, giving the spirit its vibrant green hue from the Douglas Fir’s natural chlorophyll. No artificial color has been added.

Clear Creek’s Douglas Fir Brandy is truly a tree in a bottle. It took ten years of experimentation to successfully capture the true essence of Oregon’s state tree.🌲 Happy Brandy Week!

09/28/2020

Happy Brandy Week! Today, we feature our cherry brandy, also known as Kirschwasser, which starts as fresh sweet cherries that are crushed, fermented, and distilled into a powerful brandy. In German, Kirschwasser translates to “cherry water”, and is an integral ingredient in Swiss fondue, Black Forest cake and tortes. We use dark, sweet table cherries, giving the spirit a soft aroma of vanilla and almond.

F. Paul Pacult, author of Kindred Spirits and the Spirit Journal has described Clear Creek’s Kirschwasser as “delicate and serene … Highly recommended” and called it “absolutely delightful.”

09/26/2020

Today, we celebrate Brandy Week with Old Delicious Double Bourbon Barreled Apple brandy. Old Delicious begins as PNW apples, which are crushed, fermented and distilled according to Old World methods at Clear Creek Distillery. The Apple Brandy is then twice rested in first fill Kentucky Straight Bourbon Barrels.

And isn’t it fitting that today is also Johnny Appleseed Day. We honor John Chapman, better known as Johnny Appleseed, an American legend who was instrumental in bringing apple trees to a large part of the country. He was known for his kindness, his generous ways and for his leadership in conservation. Big cheers to that!