June 12, 2024

8: Clear Creek Master Distiller Caitlin Bartlemay Thrives on the Challenges of Fruit Brandy and American Single Malt

1 hour 2 minutes

Fourteen years into her career at Clear Creek in Hood River, Oregon, Caitlin Bartlemay recently become master distiller at the respected craft producer. There, she continues to lead a small, hands-on team through seasons of distilling an array of whole-fruit brandies as well as McCarthy’s Oregon Single Malt—the first American craft single-malt whiskey.

In this week’s episode, Bartlemay joins host Molly Troupe for a wide-ranging discussion that includes:

managing public expectations around the master distiller role

the impact of Prohibition on smaller family-run distilleries

the significant challenge in making great fruit brandies

managing the logistics of whole-fruit fermentations

the impact of tank time and cask residence on various brandies

mash consistency’s effects on fermentation and distillation

distilling American single-malt on a single-pass hybrid brandy still

aging spirits in Oregon oak casks

And more.

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