Clear Creek Reserve Apple Brandy 8 Year

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.

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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

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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

Rating: 6/10

It’s simple, but it’s 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.

1 | Disgusting | So bad I poured it out.

2 | Poor | I wouldn’t consume by choice.

3 | Bad | Multiple flaws.

4 | Sub-par | Not bad, but better exists.

5 | Good | Good, just fine.

6 | Very Good | A cut above.

7 | Great | Well above average

8 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional.

9 | Incredible | An all time favorite

10 | Perfect | Perfect