our Story

Rooted in Oregon since 1934, Hood River Distillers began by making fruit wines and brandies from the apples and pears that were going to waste as excess production from the valley’s abundant harvests. Located along the Columbia River with majestic Mt. Hood as its backdrop, Hood River Distillers has been at its current bottling facility in Hood River since 1969. The company has expanded the plant for storage and made production line upgrades several times throughout the years. Although our core distribution began in the Pacific Northwest, we are currently producing close to one million cases per year, and distributing our products nationwide.

 
 

Our Distilleries

 
 
 

Big Gin Distillery

Home of Big Gin, the Big Gin Distillery joined the Hood River Distillers family in 2016 and is located in Seattle, Washington. Crafted by bartenders, for bartenders, and designed with old-time ginners and true beginners in mind, there’s something for everyone in every sip.

It all started with founder and third-generation distiller, Ben Capdevielle, who distilled gin as a hobby with his father, “Big Jim.” After ten years behind bars and in kitchens, Ben started making Big Gin, aptly named after his father's nickname.

Today, Head Distiller Alex Myers carries on Ben’s legacy, adding his own expertise to Big Gin’s curiously crafted expressions, like Bourbon Barreled Big Gin, Peat Barreled Big Gin, and other single-barrel releases.

 
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Clear Creek Distillery

Clear Creek Distillery was founded in 1985 with a vision to use the bountiful fruits of the Pacific Northwest to create fruit-based spirits that rivaled the best of their European counterparts. Using old-world techniques and sourcing ingredients from the local orchards and fresh water springs of Mount Hood in the Oregon countryside, Clear Creek became one of the first craft distilleries in the United States.

Clear Creek joined the Hood River Distillers family in 2014 and is currently led by Master Distiller Caitlin Bartlemay. With her breadth of experience and passion for her craft, she and her team produce some of our most beloved spirits, including all Clear Creek brandies and liqueurs, as well as McCarthy’s Oregon Single Malt Whiskey, Old Delicious Double Bourbon Barreled Apple Brandy and Timberline Vodka.