Clear Creek Pot Distilled 750ML

Clear Creek Pot Distilled 750ML is a 750ml, 42.5% ABV American pot still brandy distilled from Pacific Northwest wines and aged in French Limousin oak. Produced in Hood River, Oregon, this expression draws on traditional European distilling techniques to create an all-natural brandy with no added colors or flavors — a rarity in American-made brandy.

Quick Facts: ABV: 42.5% (85 Proof)  |  Origin: Hood River, Oregon, USA  |  Minimum 2 Years in French Limousin Oak  |  Distillery: Clear Creek Distillery

Production & Heritage

Clear Creek Distillery, based in Hood River, Oregon, is one of America's pioneering craft distilleries. Founded by Stephen McCarthy, the distillery adopted traditional European pot still methods — specifically techniques learned in Alsace and Switzerland — and applied them to the abundant fruit of the Pacific Northwest. The Pot Distilled brandy is made from a four-grape blend sourced from regional wines, distilled in a traditional European copper pot still, and matured for a minimum of two years in French Limousin oak barrels. No artificial colors or flavors are introduced at any stage, allowing the natural amber hue and fruit-forward character to develop entirely from the spirit and the wood.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with orchard fruit — fresh apple and ripe pear dominate — followed by a subtle layer of warm baking spice. A faint suggestion of vanilla and toasted oak emerges as the spirit opens in the glass.

Taste: On entry, butterscotch and toffee notes coat the palate, giving way to a lively, fresh fruitiness at mid-palate that recalls nectarine and poached pear. The body is full and slightly tannic, with cinnamon spice building through the middle and lending structure. A restrained astringency adds grip, balancing the sweetness.

Finish: The finish is clean and moderately long, trailing off with nectarine, gentle oak tannin, and a whisper of vanilla. A lingering warmth from the cinnamon spice holds steady without overpowering the fruit.

How to Drink Clear Creek Pot Distilled

This brandy rewards neat sipping in a tulip-shaped glass at room temperature, where the orchard fruit aromatics fully reveal themselves. A single ice cube or a few drops of water can soften the tannins for those who prefer a mellower experience.

• Sidecar: The butterscotch and citrus-fruit character stands up to Cointreau and lemon juice, producing a richer, more textured version of this classic.
• Brandy Old Fashioned: The full body and cinnamon spice pair naturally with a sugar cube and aromatic bitters, making for a warming, fruit-driven riff.
• Brandy Alexander: Toffee and vanilla notes in the spirit complement crème de cacao and cream, adding depth without overwhelming the cocktail.

Best For

• After-dinner sipping alongside a cheese course or dessert
• Gifting a spirits enthusiast who appreciates American craft distilling
• Introducing wine lovers to brandy through a fruit-forward, approachable expression
• Building a home bar with artisan American spirits beyond bourbon and rye

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Clear Creek Pot Distilled taste like? Clear Creek Pot Distilled delivers a full-bodied palate of butterscotch, toffee, and orchard fruit, with cinnamon spice adding structure and a clean nectarine finish. The flavor profile is lively and fruit-forward, with noticeable but balanced oak tannins from Limousin barrel aging.

How does Clear Creek Pot Distilled compare to Armagnac? Both share a pot-distilled heritage, full body, and fruit-driven character, but Clear Creek leans toward fresh Pacific Northwest orchard fruit rather than the dried fruit and prune notes typical of aged Armagnac. Clear Creek is also aged for a minimum of two years, making it lighter and more approachable than many VSOP or XO-level Armagnacs.

Is Clear Creek Pot Distilled good for sipping neat? Yes — the full body, natural amber color, and layered orchard-fruit-to-toffee progression make it well suited to neat sipping. A tulip glass at room temperature is the ideal way to appreciate its aromatics and clean finish.

Where is Clear Creek Pot Distilled made? Clear Creek Pot Distilled is made at Clear Creek Distillery in Hood River, Oregon, in the Columbia River Gorge. The distillery uses Pacific Northwest wines and traditional European copper pot stills to produce the spirit entirely on site.

What foods pair well with Clear Creek Pot Distilled? Aged Comté or Gruyère cheese highlights the toffee and vanilla notes. Baked apple tart or pear galette echoes the orchard fruit character. Dark chocolate with a high cacao percentage complements the oak tannins. Crème brûlée mirrors the butterscotch sweetness, and roasted walnuts add a textural counterpoint to the spirit's richness.

What sizes does Clear Creek Pot Distilled come in? The standard offering is a 750ml bottle.

Is Clear Creek Pot Distilled worth the price? Clear Creek Pot Distilled positions as a mid-premium American craft brandy, priced above mass-market domestic brandies but generally below aged French Cognac or Armagnac of comparable quality. For drinkers seeking an all-natural, pot-distilled brandy with no artificial additives, it represents strong value within the American craft spirits category.

Why Clear Creek Pot Distilled?

Clear Creek Distillery is one of a small number of American producers committed to European pot still techniques with zero artificial additions — no coloring, no flavoring, no shortcuts. The use of a four-grape blend sourced from Pacific Northwest wines gives this brandy a regional identity that separates it from both domestic competitors and Old World imports. A minimum of two years in French Limousin oak provides genuine barrel character without masking the fruit. For anyone seeking an honest, well-made American brandy rooted in European tradition but shaped by Oregon terroir, this expression delivers exactly that.