Clear Creek Pear Brandy begins with a spark of obsession. Within the mid-Nineteen Eighties, founder Steve McCarthy returned from Europe captivated by the clear, expressive character of conventional eau de vie.
When he found that nothing prefer it existed in the USA, he decided that helped form the early craft spirits motion; he constructed it himself. Clear Creek Distillery opened in 1985 with a singular mission: to show the fruit of the Pacific Northwest into world-class brandy rooted in agricultural authenticity.
The Williams pear that anchors European pear brandy is identical Bartlett grown in Hood River, the place McCarthy’s family farmed acres of them. Clear Creek makes use of solely entire, native Bartletts, with twenty kilos of fruit required for each 700 ml bottle. The pears are crushed, fermented, and distilled with no sugar or components, then proofed with glacier-fed spring water from Mt. Hood. The result’s a spirit that delivers pure, orchard-driven character.
The aroma leads with recent pear and inexperienced melon, supported by a delicate buttery heat. The palate stays dry, spherical, and silky with notes of ripe fruit and refined pear pores and skin. A floral, warming end completes the expertise. This precision makes the brandy remarkably versatile. It thrives in classics such because the Sidecar, Manhattan, and French 75, and it creates shocking dimension in fashionable drinks, particularly the Margarita. For sipping, Clear Creek nonetheless champions McCarthy’s favourite ritual: served straight from the freezer as Pear Glacier.
Whereas Pear Brandy stays the flagship, Clear Creek continues to discover new territory, most not too long ago with restricted 15 12 months Apple Brandy Single Barrels. For bartenders, the model affords an all-natural, high-impact ingredient that brings cohesion and brightness to cocktails.
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