Brandy doesn’t get the love that it deserves, especially given that it was America’s founding spirit, and no category has a bigger folk hero tied to it (Johnny Appleseed, anyone?). At its core, it’s distilled fruit—wine’s fiery cousin—born from orchards and alchemy, and few do it better than Clear Creek Distillery.

In this episode, we dig into what brandy really is, why it nearly vanished from American drinking culture, and how Clear Creek is helping it make a long-overdue comeback. We also cover pears, patience, and how to make brandy that doesn’t just sip smooth, it sings.