25/08/2023
Finally, after years of threatening to do so, last month I visited the home of , in Hood River, Oregon. I did all the things one does when one visits a place like this. I sipped my way through dozens of spirits. I tasted newmake of my favorite whiskey in the world as it dripped fresh from the still. I walked the rickhouse. I raided the merchandise. I don't need to go into much more detail for you to imagine what the skeleton of the day was like.
But how do I explain what it was like meeting up with and in person for the first time? Am I able to put that into words? Do I even want to share that with you?
I'll bet there's a Japanese word to properly describe what it's like to bring your internet friendships to life. Or a German one to properly express what it felt like to intrude on a deeply cathartic time in someone's life and be welcomed to share in it. I'm not sure there is a language that can capture the moment of someone spitting pizza out of their nose when you remind them in front of their wife that you photoshopped a picture of them as a bald shoeless hippy and that it's long past time she sees it. It's possible there's an emoji for that, but I don't know it.
Together, Caitlin & Joe cultivated something deeply special at Clear Creek and their fantastic spirits are the least of it. I am deeply grateful to have experienced a small slice of it before it was too late.
YOU would have hated it.
