Clear Creek Distillery was founded in 1985 by Stephen McCarthy.[1] The McCarthy family had owned orchards in Oregon since the turn of the century, although Stephen had been running the family's alternative business of manufacturing parts for hunting guns. This endeavor required travel to Europe, where he encountered the Alsace tradition of producing pear eau de vie. He decided to begin making eau de vie from the Bartlett pears grown widely in Oregon after concluding they were similar to the Williams pears that were often used for eau de vie production in Europe. He produced the first batches of the spirit in 1985.[2]
The production of European-style fruit brandies is relatively unusual in the United States, and the Clear Creek Distillery is one of the best known American eau de vie distilleries.[3][4] The beverage is still a niche product not consumed by most U.S. drinkers.[4]
Based on the traditional eau de vie de Poire Williams, Clear Creek Distillery's pear eau de vie is its most popular product,[4] and it also sells a limited edition version with a pear grown inside the bottle.
