I’m back after a long hiatus due to my 10-year-old laptop finally committing seppuku. It is gone but it died with honor and respect. My new whipper snapper of a machine has yet to earn its stripes, but it was cheap and available now, just in time for Eau-ctober. I have been celebrating all month but was not able to express my excitement to all my loyal readers so I am now committing to posting at least 4 eau-de-vie recipes before the end of the month.
Up first is the Clear Creek Mirabelle Plum Eau-de-Vie. This is what you need to know about this one: Clear Creek is a well-established and reputable distillery in Oregon, Mirabelle is a plum varietal developed in and grown mainly in the Lorraine region of France (is this Mirabelle de Metz or Mirabelle de Nancy? Nobody knows), and eau-de-vie is an unaged fruit brandy. The term “eau-de-vie” is French as most delicious things are and it supposedly translates to “water of life” in English but I don’t know enough French to validate that.
Smell: Huge aromas of ripe plum, floral apricots, and a little bit of harsh ethanol. With time the spirity harshness fades and this becomes soft as a pillow, and still fruity, with pear and turbinado sugar added.
Taste: The plum is certainly front and center here. A little harsher than expected for the relatively low ABV but it is unaged after all. Fruity for sure but does not have the depth that the nose did. Medium mouthfeel.
Finish: The plum fades and the taste become more dry like apricot skin. The end is very clean and slightly fruity.
Overall: Well made but doesn’t capture the essence of the fruit as much as I would have hoped. I expected higher-toned and more floral, fruity notes throughout.
Spirit Type: Eau-de-vie
Proof: 80
Vintage:
Age: 0
Cask Type: None
Rating: B