Whiskey: McCarthy’s Oregon Single Malt 6 Year

Distiller: Clear Creek Distillery

Instagram: Barrel & Proof https://www.instagram.com/barrel_and_proof?igsh=czJ2MzhybG42MG9j&utm_source=qr 

ABV: 50.0%

Age: 6 Years

Price: $70 (Portland, Oregon)

Tasting:  Neat in Glencairn, blind tasted, rested for 10 minutes. Bottle opened for 1 month.

__________________________________

Nose: Peat, Sea Salt, Campfire Smoke, Dirt, Chocolate, & Orange

Palate: Peat, Campfire Smoke, Vanilla, Pepper, & Chocolate

Finish: Long Length, Pepper, Peat, Campfire Smoke, Leather, Chocolate, & Pear

Body: Full

Bite: Medium

__________________________________

Summary: This bottle is an American Single Malt that has been around for a while. Distilled in Hood River Oregon, it has a mashbill of 100% peated malted barley which was imported from Scotland. The whiskey was aged in barrels made from Oregon oak. I picked this bottle up since I previously enjoyed Westward’s American Single Malt, which is also based in Oregon.

The nose carries a lot of smoke and peat notes, along with a mild sea salt note. There is some earthiness, the terroir of the barley. There is some semi-sweet chocolate and slight fruitiness behind the strong Islay notes.

The palate has a stronger campfire smoke profile, as well as robust peat funk. There is some vanilla sweetness that rounds the profile out. The pepper note adds complexity and punches through the peatiness. There is a nice viscosity and a nice weight to the body.

The finish is more complex than the palate, the smokiness and peatiness aren’t as strong but the pepper punches through more. Finally pick up some tannins in the form of a fresh leather note. There is some mild bitterness from the chocolate, and very mild fruitiness.

This whiskey tastes like a straightforward peated Islay whisky. I personally enjoy the profile of peated Scotch, but I know it’s not many people’s cup of tea. The flavors blend well and the mouthfeel is great. The biggest downside of this whiskey is the profile, it’s not complex and dominated by campfire smoke flavors. Regardless, if you’re a fan peated Scotch I recommend picking up this unique ASM whiskey.

__________________________________

Rating:

Nose (10%) - 7/10

Palate (50%) - 7/10

Finish (40%) - 7/10

7.0/10 Great. Well above average.

Recommend: Yes

Rank: I created a compilation ranking list of whiskies I’ve purchased at a store or at a bar and done a formal tasting.  All whiskey ranked on the list tasted neat and rested for 10-15 minutes.  Whiskey I ranked below and above McCarthy’s are shown for reference.

84 out of 275 whiskies tasted.

83 1792 Bottled in Bond

85 Jefferson's Reserve Bourbon

Ranking Link: 

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/147h44fId0tZYmHsroGgjzcRK2xn6050P8m7mZqArGLw/edit?usp=sharing

My time has come.

The bourbon gods definitely smiled upon me this week, but now I’m just counting down the days until Sober October is over!

Just got word that our barrel of Weller Full Proof has finally shipped from BT. We’re probably looking at a week or two from Kentucky and then another week or two sitting around the OLCC warehouse like the Ark of the Covenant at the end of Raiders. I can’t wait to share it with everyone!

2022 George T Stagg $11 an ounce until the bottle is gone. This won't be around long get on down here! Beer O'Clock

Some fun things this week as we wait for some of the heavy hitters on the horizon to drop.

Booker’s “The Reserves” 2026 Apple Brandy finished and infused with cinnamon sticks. This is going to be a divisive one I think. It tastes like fall and the holidays in a glass to me, but I’ve also had a few people wrinkle their nose at it. YMMV, but this is a great example of why I love how we’ve structured our program. You can try an ounce of something out in left field with out committing to a whole bottle of it.

Elijah Craig Small Batch PGA. Man, if I had noticed this was 108° this year I would have grabbed it earlier and in bigger numbers. Crushable whiskey for $6/oz? Sign me up.

Penelope Marshmallow Toast. Another good example of our function in life. Penelope is always a roll of the dice for me, but this one is interesting and at a nice proof of 110°

RY3, Ha$Mat, 12 year 159.6° Baseline pick. You know you’re curious… No smoking, please

Willet Pot Still CS. I doubt anyone is to rah rah about the regular release of this, but maybe 120° will fix what was missing.

I’ll be around all weekend. Hope to see you soon.

Any info if the warehouse has received any 26c or when they might be releasing it into the wild.

Stopped by to grab a bottle of the new RY3 barrel pick from u/JoshTylerClarke at Baseline only to find out it was his birthday. Glad he turned up after he ditched work early. We’re lucky to have guys like Josh in our community and I’m lucky to count him a friend.

I’ll have a review of the 12 year 159.6° ALW after a bit. But rest assured, my first sip with Josh was an eye opener, but not the way you’d think. There’s no way you’d ever guess the proof from the mouth feel. That thing is a trip to drink. And there’s only like 50 bottles or something like that.

Woodford Master's Batch Proof (118.4 proof) is $11 an ounce now through Sunday (or until the bottle runs out)! Find all of our information, hours, tap list and additional socials on our website - Beer O'Clock (we post more on IG than we do here)!

PS there's maybe 2-3 pours of Thomas Handy Saz left ($13/oz).

Both available now at Baseline Liquor!

The proof on the RY3 is 159.6 !!!

I called Oregon City on my way home to see if they had any store pick ERs still in stock, the guy who answerd informed me they were sold out but says they have have a few regular bottles of ER on the front counter. When I walked in I was greeted by this Blantons, which was sitting next to the previously mentioned ER, several Old Fitz 8(?), and six bottles of Old Charter Oak.

Just about out of the Westgate pick I got from Barbur and MAN, was it an excellent one! Looking to replace it and am trying to decide between the picks that are available right now in my general area:

- Lecker Liquor

- Staffords

- Westmoreland

Mainly interested if you've tried any of these or if you have a perspective on how these 3 stores in general compare on the quality of their picks. I'll admit I tend to have a bias toward Westmoreland's palate, but I'm definitely open to other perspectives here!

Anyone tried this Penelope? I am curious what your thoughts were? I was a big fan of the Creme brulee.

Yeah you read that right. $11 an ounce now through Sunday or until the bottle runs out! Come get a scoot and a pint @ Beer O'Clock

Got my hands on a bottle of C.Y.P.B. so now I’ve got the whole lineup (except for W18 and Millennium). I’ll have a flight with a 1/2oz of each for $25 for the rest of the week.

We’ve got some other fun stuff on deck for the next few weeks. Hope you can stop by and share a pour.

$10/oz now through Sunday or until the bottle is gone. We also got wing week going on, come and get some!! Beer O'Clock

Was in Stevenson, Wa. yesterday hanging out with the better half...walked into the convenience store right as you come into town (west side) and saw 5 fifths of ER and 1 half gallon...just sitting on the shelf...$54.99/fifth + some Wa. tax.

I grabbed one because that was a fair enough price.

I hate our state liquor system - just so silly that a small little store in a podunk town has one of my favorites on the shelf for anyone to buy, but I can't find it anywhere other than a bar in my own state.

Has anyone seen the michters bs toasted rye in OR/WA yet?

Had a blast hanging with everyone today at Stafford's 10th Anniversary party in Wilsonville. I'm already on the deck enjoying their EHT Single Barrel store pick with a cigar. Cheers!

Run don’t walk.

Pouring an ounce for $13 now through Sunday or until the bottle pops! No allocations, no limits as always. Hope to see you soon! Beer O'Clock