Clear Creek Apple Brandy 375ML

Clear Creek Apple Brandy 375ML is a Calvados-style American apple brandy bottled at 40% ABV (80 proof) in a 375ml half-bottle format. Produced at Clear Creek Distillery in Portland, Oregon, this expression earned recognition at the 2012 ADI Judging of Craft Spirits Awards and has drawn direct comparisons to top-tier French Calvados.

Quick Facts: ABV: 40%  |  Origin: Portland, Oregon, USA  |  Aged Minimum 2 Years  |  Distillery: Clear Creek Distillery

Production & Heritage

Clear Creek Distillery was founded in 1985 by Stephen McCarthy in Portland, Oregon, making it one of America's pioneering craft distilleries. McCarthy modeled his apple brandy program on traditional Calvados methods, importing European copper pot stills and sourcing Golden Delicious apples primarily from Washington's Yakima Valley. What distinguishes this brandy at the production level is the whole-fruit mash approach — rather than fermenting only pressed juice or cider, Clear Creek crushes and ferments whole apples before double-distilling in pot stills. The spirit then matures for a minimum of two years in French Limousin oak barrels, which contribute structure and subtle wood influence without overwhelming the fruit character. Hood River Distillers acquired Clear Creek in 2014, though the original production philosophy has been maintained.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with a vivid impression of ripe Golden Delicious apple — clean, orchard-fresh, and unmistakable. Underneath the fruit, gentle vanilla and a faint woodiness from the Limousin oak emerge with time in the glass.

Taste: The entry is crisp and fruit-forward, carrying a pure golden-apple sweetness that feels honest rather than cloying. At mid-palate, subtle toffee and vanilla bean notes arrive, reflecting the oak aging. The brandy strikes a near-perfect balance between fruit and wood, with enough tannic grip to give the palate real structure.

Finish: The finish is long and gently warming, with lingering apple, a touch of caramel, and a delicate tannic dryness. It fades cleanly, leaving behind a persistent memory of baked orchard fruit.

How to Drink Clear Creek Apple Brandy

Neat or with a single ice cube is the most rewarding way to experience this brandy — the fruit clarity and oak integration reveal themselves best without dilution. For cocktails, the apple-forward profile and pot-still richness make it a versatile base:

• Jack Rose: The Golden Delicious apple character amplifies the classic applejack cocktail with grenadine and lime, delivering a more refined fruit core than most American apple brandies.
• Calvados Sidecar: Substituting this brandy for Cognac in a Sidecar adds bright orchard fruit against Cointreau and lemon, creating a lighter, more aromatic variation.
• Corpse Reviver No. 1: The pot-still weight and oak backbone hold up alongside Cognac and sweet vermouth in this classic stirred drink.

Best For

• Calvados enthusiasts exploring American-made alternatives
• Gifting to a spirits collector who values small-format bottles
• Sampling a benchmark Oregon craft spirit before committing to a full 750ml
• After-dinner sipping alongside cheese or dessert

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Clear Creek Apple Brandy taste like? It delivers a pure, ripe Golden Delicious apple flavor supported by light toffee, vanilla, and caramel notes from French Limousin oak aging, finishing long with gentle tannins and baked orchard fruit.

How does Clear Creek Apple Brandy compare to Calvados? Clear Creek follows traditional Calvados production methods — pot-still distillation and Limousin oak aging — and has been described by critics as a worthy competitor to the best Calvados. The key difference is terroir: Oregon-sourced Golden Delicious apples yield a brighter, more singular fruit profile compared to the blended apple varieties typical of Normandy.

Is Clear Creek Apple Brandy good for sipping neat? Yes, at 40% ABV it is approachable and balanced enough for neat sipping, with enough complexity from pot-still distillation and oak aging to reward slow, attentive drinking.

Where is Clear Creek Apple Brandy made? It is produced at Clear Creek Distillery in Portland, Oregon, founded by Stephen McCarthy in 1985 and now owned by Hood River Distillers. The Golden Delicious apples are sourced primarily from Washington's Yakima Valley.

What foods pair well with Clear Creek Apple Brandy? Aged cheddar or Comté cheese highlights the brandy's toffee and fruit notes. Tarte Tatin or apple crumble mirrors the orchard character. Roasted pork with apple chutney bridges savory and sweet. Dark chocolate with sea salt draws out the vanilla oak influence. Blue cheese and honey creates a rich contrast with the brandy's crisp apple finish.

What sizes does Clear Creek Apple Brandy come in? This expression is available in a 375ml half-bottle format; a standard 750ml bottle is also produced.

Is Clear Creek Apple Brandy worth the price? Clear Creek positions as a premium craft apple brandy, reflecting artisanal pot-still production and quality French oak aging. For drinkers seeking an American-made Calvados-style spirit with genuine depth, it represents strong value within its category.

Why Clear Creek Apple Brandy?

The whole-fruit mash method is the defining detail here — crushing and fermenting entire apples rather than just pressed juice produces a brandy with notably deeper fruit complexity and texture. Combined with traditional European pot-still distillation and a minimum two-year rest in French Limousin oak, the result is an American brandy that genuinely competes with its French counterparts. Clear Creek helped establish Oregon as a serious craft distilling region, and this apple brandy remains one of its most recognized expressions. The 375ml format makes it an accessible entry point into one of America's most respected orchard-to-bottle spirits.