Columbia Gorge News
www.columbiagorgenews.com
Wednesday, April 21, 2021
B13
HR Distillers promote
O’Sullivan, Bartlemay
HOOD RIVER — Hood
River Distillers has an-
nounced promotions
for its two lead distillers.
Joe O’Sullivan has been
promoted to Master Distiller
for the entire Hood River
Distillers portfolio, and
Caitlin Bartlemay has been
elevated to Head Distiller of
Clear Creek Distillery.
“These promotions are
well deserved, and we are
proud of Joe and Caitlin.
They are dedicated to their
craft, which is evident in the
great spirits they make, and
we are happy they make
those exceptional spirits for
Hood River Distillers,” said
David Ballew, President,
Hood River Distillers.
“Innovation is part of our
DNA, and we are excited to
see where Joe and Caitlin’s
creativity and imagination
helps take our portfolio,"
Ballew said. "At Hood River
Distillers, our best days are
in front of us, and these
two will play a large part in
getting us there.”
In his new role, O’Sullivan
is now responsible for the
planning, management
and oversight of all aspects
of liquid production at
Hood River Distillers, Clear
Creek Distillery and Big
Gin Distillery. O’Sullivan
will leverage his extensive
distilling, blending, and
barrel aging experience to
lead new product develop-
ment, facility development,
and drive new liquid product
development. O’Sullivan is
bolstered by a long history in
Pacific Northwest distilling,
starting his career at Clear
Creek in 2005. He studied
under Master Distiller, Steve
McCarthy, learning the craft
of distillation and wood
management.
From 2005 to 2010,
O’Sullivan worked his way
up through various roles at
the distillery, and in 2010, he
struck out on his own on the
East Coast launching a start-
up beverage consultancy.
After seven years,
Elks
Upgrades
New windows, a restored neon sign, and
an upgraded entry on Cascade Avenue
were the visible exterior improvements
done over the winter at Hood River Elks
Lodge. Meanwhile, inside the the lodge,
the organization was doing an extensive
remodeling on the second floor. At a soft
opening on March 5, bar manager Tyler
Stevens talks with member Mary Jane Hay,
with the revamped bar and new paint, floor
and furnishings in the restaurant visible.
Second photo shows the work in progress
in December. Exalted Ruler Derek Larsen
said that since the lodge had to close due to
COVID-19, leadership saw it as a good time
to make long-desired upgrades for when
members, and the public at some events,
would enjoy improved surroundings when
facilities could re-open to food and drink
service. Future phases include upgrades
to the pool room, which separated from the
dining room by a collapsible wall.
Kirby Neumann-Rea photos
Pandemic shortages resulted in a new produce for Hood River
Distillers, Alcohol Antiseptic.
O’Sullivan moved back to
Oregon and rejoined Clear
Creek Distillery, where he
was named Head Distiller in
May 2017.
He subsequently added
leading distillation and prod-
uct innovation efforts for
all of Hood River Distillers,
which he continues to head
up today.
Bartlemay, one of the few
female distillers at this level
in the region and the coun-
try, will oversee the produc-
tion of Clear Creek’s portfolio
of products and is in charge
of barrel aging, fermentation
and distillation.
A fourth generation wheat
farmer from Eastern Oregon,
her family decided to diver-
sify and start a winery and
vineyard when she was 11
years old, giving her the op-
portunity to learn viticulture,
enology, and small business
ownership first hand.
With a taste for fermen-
tation, Bartlemay attended
Oregon State University
and acquired a B.S. in Food
Science with an option in
Fermentation and Minor in
Chemistry.
Upon graduation, she
secured a position at Clear
Creek Distillery, and now,
over 10 years later, her
dedication to creating high
quality spirits remains
unchanged.
The Hood River Distillers
spirits portfolio includes Big
Gin, Batanga Tequila, Trail’s
End Bourbon Whiskey,
McCarthy’s Single Malt
Whiskey, Clear Creek fruit
brandies and many others.
The company also began
producing one of the highest
outputs of hand sanitizer in
the region with the onset of
COVID-19.
Make sure
your business
is included.
This ...
Gorge
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Serving
featuring
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Gorge bu
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Surrou
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