As someone who grew up on a farm, Caitlin Bartlemay has developed a deep connection to the land and the bounty that it offers. She wanted to choose a career in which she could honor that connection every day, and distilling was undoubtedly the perfect choice. Now, she is the master distiller at Clear Creek Distillery, known to make fruit-based spirits with fruits sourced from the Pacific Northwest region. Caitlin Bartlemay spoke to Bartender Spirits Awards about her interest in exploring the history of distilling and finding new and nuanced ways to celebrate the region’s agriculture.

Also read: A Selection of Winning Fruit Spirits at the Bartender Spirits Awards 2024

Tell us a little about your background and journey into distilling

When I first decided to become a distiller, learning about distilling was not a very easy process. There was very little information online. However, that just encouraged me to dig deeper and find the information I was looking for. I even did a degree in Food Science and Technology at Oregon State University to further equip me with the skills I will need to succeed in a distilling role. However, no matter how much reading you do, it can never be as effective as what you will learn from working at a distillery. I was fortunate that Clear Creek Distillery offered me a chance to join its team as a distiller in 2010

Your current role and what does your day look like?

Since joining Clear Creek Distillery, I have been promoted to head distiller and then master distiller, most recently. My days are different each day. Some days, you will find me traveling to different parts of the United States to attend conferences and speak to industry experts and consumers. On other days, I will be sitting in front of my laptop so that I can work on planning and scheduling production. There is a certain ebb and flow that keeps the job fresh and exciting.  

Image Title: Master Distiller Caitlin Bartlemay

Are you currently working on something fun?

I am currently in the process of figuring out what this year’s experimental cookie will be. It is a holiday tradition where we craft new cookie recipes in which we include a spirit that we wish to highlight that year. I have always loved coming up with new ways to use our spirits. Some of the cookies we made have become seasonal staples.

What are some of the most important skills for a distiller?

Distilling is a job that requires you to use multiple skills across different sections and swaths of the distillery. But I feel that they are all only second to passion. Even if you have all the skills, only when you are passionate about the craft can you distill something delicious, something that people cannot refrain from appreciating.

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Define a good distiller

A good distiller is someone who honors the history of the craft and is excited to share it with the new generation. As far as I know, humans have been distilling since Babylon in Mesopotamia. While the distilling processes are more refined and efficient now, we, as distillers, should be grateful to be a part of an art and culinary pursuit that has stood the test of time and yet evolved with time. It is only fitting that we pass down that history to the next generation of distillers so that we can watch what they do next.  

Also read: Award-Winning Spirits Brands For Bartenders To Try

What is the hardest part of a distiller's job?

I think that the hardest part of a distiller’s job is educating the consumers, especially because most Americans have forgotten the country’s drinking culture following the 13 short years of prohibition.  

Image Title: Caitlin Bartlemay at Clear Creek Distillery

What's your elevator pitch to a bartender when pitching your brand?

Clear Creek Distillery begins with the bounty of the Pacific Northwest. Each year, our small team of just three people proudly crafts more than 1 million pounds of fruit into brandies and liqueurs in a style that rivals our European counterparts. With each bottle, we demonstrate our commitment to our craft and to preserving Mother Nature’s hard work one sip at a time. Plus, we are also the home of McCarthy’s, the first American single malt.

What draws consumers to your spirits?

Consumers these days are becoming more interested in knowing where their food and drink are coming from. They want to ensure that they are eating and drinking the things that are locally sourced and made. As a result, there is an aversion against overprocessed and mass-produced products. Clear Creek Brandies perfectly fit what today’s consumers are looking for. Most of our fruits are sourced from within a 200-mile radius of our distillery, and our brandies are crafted in a time-honored tradition. We have also made the conscious decision to work with local business partners wherever we can. 

What steps do you take to become more sustainable?

We compost our spent wash. We have partnered with The Freshwater Trust, a regional non-profit organization focused on repairing and restoring freshwater ways in the Pacific Northwest. We are even making our packaging as sustainable as possible. In fact, the bottles of our new Forthwest Whisky line were entirely made of 100% recycled glass and paper that can be reused and recycled.

Header image by Caitlin Bartlemay

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