Catoctin Creek Distilling Company
The Catoctin Creek Distilling Company (also known as Catoctin Creek Distillery, or just Catoctin Creek) is the first legal distillery in Loudoun County, Virginia since prohibition[1]. The distillery is a certified organic and kosher[2] microdistillery in Purcellville, Virginia that produces brandy, rye whiskey[3], gin, and other liqueurs from local fruit, organic grain and Virginia wine.[4]
The distillery was founded in 2009 by Scott and Rebecca Harris[5] using an SBA 7(a) loan for start-up capital.[6] The company operates using a custom-made 400 liter Kothe hybrid pot-column still.[7]
In the 2011 session of the Virginia General Assembly, the company sought approval to sell its spirits at the distillery. Virginia Senate Bill 1249 passed both the Senate and the House of Delegates and was then signed by Governor Bob McDonnell on March 26, 2011, allowing direct bottle-sales to the public from the distillery.[8] With the prior year's passage of 2010 House of Delegate Bill 952, the company now provides tastings at their distillery store, in a fashion similar to wineries within the state.[9]
Spirits produced
Awards
- Roundstone Rye
- Silver medal and best in category for aged rye whiskey, American Distilling Institute, 2011[10]
- Silver medal (87 - highly recommended) for rye whiskey, Beverage Testing Institute, 2011[11]
- Silver medal for aged craft distillery less than two years (less than $40), New York International Spirits Competition, 2010[12]
- Mosby's Spirit
- Bronze medal and best in category for un-aged rye whiskey, American Distilling Institute, 2011[13]
- Strong recommendation (87 - very good), American Whiskey, Ultimate Spirits Challenge, 2011[14]
- Silver medal (85 - highly recommended) for unaged whiskey, Beverage Testing Institute, 2011[15]
- Silver medal for unaged craft distillery (less than $40), New York International Spirits Competition, 2010[16]
- Bronze medal for unaged whiskey, American Distilling Institute, 2010[17]
- Watershed Gin
- Gold medal (91 - exceptional) for gin, Beverage Testing Institute, 2011[18]
- Silver medal for Gin, New York International Spirits Competition, 2011[19]
- 2011 Entrepreneur of the Year and Rural Business of the Year - Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce[20]
- Made in the South 2010 Awards - Garden and Gun magazine[21]
Distribution
Catoctin Creek is currently being distributed in Virginia, Maryland, California, Kentucky, Tennessee, Washington and the District of Columbia.
References
- ^ "First legal distillery in Loudoun to open since prohibition", Rachel Leon, Loudoun Times Mirror, May 5, 2010.
- ^ "Pure of Spirit: Catoctin Creek gives birth to organic, kosher liquor", Tasting Table website, posted May 11, 2010.
- ^ "Spirits: Craft whiskey distillers are over a barrel", Jason Wilson, Washington Post, May 19, 2010. p. 2.
- ^ "Wildcatting at Catoctin Creek Distillery", Proof66.com website, posted May 28, 2010.
- ^ "Meet the Makers", Matt Colglazier, American Craft Spirits, September 20, 2010
- ^ "Sour Year for SBA Loans Ends in Uptick", Emily Maltby, Wall Street Journal, October 2, 2009
- ^ "NBC Nightly News: A Start Up ... with a twist!", NBC Nightly News, June 2, 2010.
- ^ Virginia 2011 "Senate Bill 1249".
- ^ Virginia 2010 "House of Delegates Bill 952".
- ^ "American Distilling Institute Whiskey Competition, 2011", April 8, 2011
- ^ "Beverage Testing Institute, 2011", February 24, 2011
- ^ "New York International Spirits Competition, 2010", November 22, 2010
- ^ "American Distilling Institute Whiskey Competition, 2011", April 8, 2011
- ^ "Ultimate Spirits Challenge 2011", March 16, 2011
- ^ "Beverage Testing Institute, 2011", February 24, 2011
- ^ "New York International Spirits Competition, 2010", November 22, 2010
- ^ "ADI 2010 Artisanal Whiskey Competition", Drinking The World, posted May 7, 2010
- ^ "Beverage Testing Institute, 2011", July 27, 2011
- ^ "New York International Spirits Competition, 2011", November 28, 2011
- ^ "Catoctin Creek Wins Twice at Chamber Small Business Awards Ceremony", Leesburg Today, November 3, 2011
- ^ "Made in the South Awards 2010", Garden and Gun magazine, December 2010/January 2011 issue
External links