Yes, an eaux-de-vie but not made from grapes… In this article you find quite an extraordinary video (see below) about a man who traveled to Europe in order to learn how to distill pears. Founded in 1985, the distillery makes eau de vie at their Northwest Portland distillery, exclusively from Oregon fruit.

Steve Mccarthy uses traditional European pot still method, mixed with knowledge from Alsace and Switzerland. During his travels in Europe the man was confronted with European spirits, among them also a brandy made from Williams Pear.

He somehow saw a market niche in the US. Okay, this is not Cognac but it’s a brandy and, let’s say, a cousin of Cognac.

For ten years the cpmpany also started producing a version of Islay Scotch, McCarthy’s Oregon Single Malt Whiskey is distilled from fermented mash of peat-malted Scottish barley.

Owner and distiller Steve McCarthy created a brandy that is internationally and nationally known and well. respected