Spirits · Hood River, Oregon

Clear Creek Distillery

Oregon's pioneering fruit brandy distillery, best known for its pear eau de vie.

Founded: 1985
Founded by: Steve McCarthy
Based in: Hood River, Oregon

Shop all Clear Creek Distillery (1)Our featured pick

Making it since

1985

Their story

Clear Creek Distillery was started in Portland, Oregon, in 1985 by Steve McCarthy, who made his first batches that year. His idea was to turn the Northwest's orchard fruit into clear European-style fruit brandies, beginning with Oregon-grown Bartlett pears.

The distillery became one of the early names in American craft spirits, adding apple brandy, grappa, framboise, kirschwasser, plum brandies and McCarthy's Single Malt whiskey.

In 2014 Clear Creek was sold to Hood River Distillers, which later moved its operations to Hood River, Oregon, where it is made today.

How it's made

Clear Creek distills fresh Northwest fruit, including Oregon Bartlett pears, Golden Delicious apples and Oregon wine grapes for its grappa. Its best-known bottle is the pear eau de vie, and a limited edition has a whole pear grown inside the bottle on the tree.

Our featured pick

Kirschwasser Unaged Cherry Brandy (750ML)

$60.00

Fresh Oregon and Washington cherries are crushed, fermented, and distilled into clear, delicate Cherry Brandy, also known as Kirschwasser. An integral ingredient in Swiss fondue, Black Forest cake.

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