Review by: Whiskery Turnip
Distillery: Clear Creek Distillery.
Bottler: Distillery.
Region: United States/Oregon Single Malt.
ABV: 61.4%. Cask Strength
Age: 5 Years. Bottled on 23 Oct. 2023.
Cask type: Rum Barrel.
Nose: Barbecue smoke with smoldering wood, charred meat, and sweet marinade; hints of pine and tropical fruits behind the acrid grill with subtle dried grass and wood shavings.
Palate: Medium-bodied and oily with dirty grill grates and tropical fruit popsicles, young coconut, dried grass, hints of menthol and mango, smoldering charcoal with hints of lighter fluid and wood shavings; peppery with a touch of salt at the end.
Finish: Medium-length and peppery with fruit, wood, and barbecue.
Mental Image: Late to the Beach Barbecue.
Conclusion: When someone tells you they have a cask of rum matured McCarthy’s, the peated malt from Oregon’s Clear Creek Distillery, the only responsible answer… how can I get some?
My wife enjoyed the whisky flavors, comparing them to hawker stalls and dining in Southeast Asia, not to mention the vaguely tropical coconut flavors and sweet, salty tang to the flaming woks and grills. I ended up picturing a less exotic locale— instead, it was all beach barbecue notes, but the kind when you run late and play clean-up duty eating the chopped fruits with only the smell of the grill to comfort you. You should have been on time.
Overall, well-balanced and intriguing, with a lovely oily mouthfeel and a bit of peppery spirit toward the end. The aroma featured a delightful meatiness I wish had come through on the palate, but the experience was still enjoyable.
Final Score: 81.
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.
Malt Runners 