Clear Creek Reserve Apple Brandy 8 Year

Review by: The Auditor

Review #1116; Brandy #61

Clear Creek, a brand of Hood River Distillers in Oregon, produces a number of brandies. This offering is an Apple Brandy that has aged for 8 years in new and used French Oak casks before being bottled. They produce this buy crushing and fermenting whole yellow Opal apples.

Distillery: Hood River/Clear Creek

Bottler: Hood River / Clear CRrek

Region: Oregon, United States

Still: Pot

ABV: 40%

Age: 8 years in new and used French Limousin oak

Nose: Classic fresh cut apple, a bit of tartness, vanilla

Palate: Light mouthfeel, just crisp ripe apple all day, refreshing, tart sweetness, touch of oak

Finish: Short, tartness, sweet apple, faint blueberry, vanilla, touch of oak

Conclusion: It’s simple, but it’s very good. Tastes like you expect Apple Brandy aged in French oak to taste. The oak influence is really balanced here for me, and the taste is light and very refreshing. If you want a more budget friendly apple brandy, this is the one I would recommend.

Final Score: 85

Scoring Legend:

  • 95-100: As good as it gets. Jaw-dropping, eye-widening, unforgettable whisky.
  • 90-94: Sublime, a personal favorite in its category.
  • 85-89: Excellent, a standout dram.
  • 80-84: Quite good. Quality stuff.
  • 75-79: Decent whisky worth tasting.
  • 70-74: Meh. It’s definitely drinkable, but it can do better.
  • 60-69: Not so good. I might not turn down a glass if I needed a drink.
  • 50-59: Save it for mixing.
  • 0-49: Blech.

Published by The Auditor

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I have drank my fair amount of single malt but got started writing reviews about Single Malt and Bourbon in 2018. Over 1000 total reviews later and I focus mainly on Sugar Cane Spirits now. However, single malt is a still a spirits category I enjoy greatly as is Agave and Brandy. I wouldn’t go as far as to call myself an expert but I am the resident Rum obsessed writer for Malt Runners.

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