Catoctin Creek Distilling Company

Coordinates: 39°08′11.5″N 77°42′54″W / 39.136528°N 77.71500°W

Catoctin Creek Distilling Company, LLC
Private
Industry Manufacturing of Distilled Spirits
Founded Purcellville, Virginia, U.S., 2009
Founder Scott and Rebecca Harris
Headquarters Purcellville, Virginia, U.S.
Products Distilled spirits
Owner Scott and Rebecca Harris
Number of employees
18
Website catoctincreekdistilling.com
Catoctin Creek Distillery, at the historic Case Building in Old Town Purcellville, Virginia

The Catoctin Creek Distilling Company (ka-TOK-tən), 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] and gin 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 custom-made 400 and 1200 liter Kothe hybrid pot-column stills.[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]

In 2012, the distillery purchased the historic Case Building (built 1921) on Main Street in Purcellville, and renovated the building as the home of their new distillery. Renovations included structural repair to the roof, complete electrical upgrade, new plumbing systems, fire sprinklers, a new tasting room, extensive masonry repair, and a 41kWh solar array.[10][11][12]

Spirits produced

The potstills and mash tun at Catoctin Creek Distillery

Awards

Distribution

Catoctin Creek is distributed in the United States in the following states:

Catoctin Creek is distributed internationally in:

References

  1. "First legal distillery in Loudoun to open since prohibition", Rachel Leon, Loudoun Times Mirror, May 5, 2010.
  2. "Pure of Spirit: Catoctin Creek gives birth to organic, kosher liquor", Tasting Table website, posted May 11, 2010.
  3. "Spirits: Craft whiskey distillers are over a barrel", Jason Wilson, Washington Post, May 19, 2010. p. 2.
  4. "Wildcatting at Catoctin Creek Distillery", Proof66.com website, posted May 28, 2010.
  5. "Meet the Makers", Matt Colglazier, American Craft Spirits, September 20, 2010
  6. "Sour Year for SBA Loans Ends in Uptick", Emily Maltby, Wall Street Journal, October 2, 2009
  7. "NBC Nightly News: A Start Up ... with a twist!", NBC Nightly News, June 2, 2010.
  8. Virginia 2011 "Senate Bill 1249".
  9. Virginia 2010 "House of Delegates Bill 952".
  10. WTOP.com "Local distillery drinks in the sun"
  11. Northern Virginia Magazine "Greenprints".
  12. Leesburg Today, "Mid-July Opening Slated for Catoctin Creek's New Purcellville Distillery", June 20, 2013.
  13. "Wizards of Whisky Awards, 2015", January 30, 2015
  14. "San Francisco World Spirits Competition, 2015", March 30, 2015
  15. "Wizards of Whisky Awards, 2015", January 30, 2015
  16. "Artisan Awards, Rye Whiskey, 2014", October 20, 2014
  17. "The Fifty Best, Rye Whiskey, 2014", September 21, 2014
  18. "The Good Food Awards Finalists, 2013", December 4, 2012
  19. "The Fifty Best, Rye Whiskey, 2012", September 21, 2012
  20. "American Distilling Institute Whiskey Competition, 2011", April 8, 2011
  21. "Beverage Testing Institute, 2011", February 24, 2011
  22. "New York International Spirits Competition, 2010", November 22, 2010
  23. "American Distilling Institute Whiskey Competition, 2011", April 8, 2011
  24. "Ultimate Spirits Challenge 2011", March 16, 2011
  25. "Beverage Testing Institute, 2011", February 24, 2011
  26. "New York International Spirits Competition, 2010", November 22, 2010
  27. "ADI 2010 Artisanal Whiskey Competition", Drinking The World, posted May 7, 2010
  28. "Beverage Testing Institute, 2011", July 27, 2011
  29. "New York International Spirits Competition, 2011", November 28, 2011
  30. "Virginia's Finest Program", May 13, 2013
  31. "Chamber Honors Loudoun Small Businesses", Loudoun Times Mirror, November 12, 2012
  32. "Catoctin Creek Wins Twice at Chamber Small Business Awards Ceremony", Leesburg Today, November 3, 2011
  33. "Made in the South Awards 2010", Garden and Gun magazine, December 2010/January 2011 issue

External links