Ep. 111: Clear Creek, Hood River, and McCarthy’s American Single Malt with Caitlin Bartlemay

2023-10-11

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Hood River, Clear Creek, McCarthy's Single Malt, and Trail's End Bourbon - all are the same family, the same facilities, and part of a whole. Hood River Distillers, founded in 1934, was one of the first distilleries to come online post-Prohibition. Clear Creek was founded by Steve McCarthy in 1985, first to produce fruit brandies and later (starting in the '90s) a peated single malt that paid homage to his newfound love of Islay Scotch. Today, McCarthy's (which, though a brand, is the name by which many would call t...

Hood River, Clear Creek, McCarthy's Single Malt, and Trail's End Bourbon - all are the same family, the same facilities, and part of a whole.

Hood River Distillers, founded in 1934, was one of the first distilleries to come online post-Prohibition. Clear Creek was founded by Steve McCarthy in 1985, first to produce fruit brandies and later (starting in the '90s) a peated single malt that paid homage to his newfound love of Islay Scotch.

Today, McCarthy's (which, though a brand, is the name by which many would call the family of distilleries) is a leading voice in American Single Malt and one of the OG producers. I'm joined by distiller Caitlin Bartlemay to talk through the history, the future, and the present growth of this fascinating distillery (in between bursts of air from the nearby vodka still!)

Clear Creek and Hood River Research Playlist

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Before we jump into the interview just a few quick notes:

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The first three WRP barrel picks are in! The Jack Daniel's Barrel Proof Ryes are SOLD OUT, and the Barrell Rye Finished in Armagnac Casks is now live!

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Our Spirits of French Lick barrel pick is done! I won't spoil the surprise, only saying it is one of only 9 or 10 barrels ever made of this whiskey (and ours will be the first to come out!)

$25 members get the chance to join me on picks: one of your fellow Patreon members joined me in Lynchburg, one was on the Spirits of French Lick team, and I'll be picking one or more for the KO pick once samples come in!

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The $5 tier has access to the Patreon-only segment called “Under the Influencer”, where some of your favorite YouTubers/Instagrammers/Podcasters and more join me to talk whiskey, life, and influencing. This tier will also have priority access to upcoming barrel picks and shortly will have access to ad-free episodes.
The $15 tier takes second access to the $25 tier with 10 spots divided into two: 5 for people who want to receive samples every other month, and 5 for people who want to receive them every month but in smaller numbers.
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Clear Creek Distillery, Hood River, and McCarthy's