Catoctin Creek Distilling Company

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

Catoctin Creek Distillery, at the historic Case Building in Old Town Purcellville, Virginia

The Catoctin Creek Distilling Company (/kəˈtɒktən/ kə-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]

In 2017, the distillery announced a new minority partner and investor, Constellation Brands of Victor, New York. In a company press release, Rebecca Harris, the co-founder and chief distiller, stated the reasoning behind the investment: "In order to expand our production and portfolio, we needed the right partner for the next level of growth. Constellation has a strong commitment to this category..."^[13] Scott and Rebecca Harris, the co-founders, remain the majority owners and managers of the business.

Spirits produced

• Rye whiskey - aged and unaged
• Brandy from grapes, pears, peaches, and apples.
• Gin

The potstills and mash tun at Catoctin Creek Distillery

Awards

• Roundstone Rye
  • Gold medal for Cask Proof, American Whiskey Masters, 2016^[14]
  • Gold medal for Cask Proof, Wizards of Whisky Awards, 2016
  • Gold medal for 92 Proof, New York World Wine and Spirits Competition, 2015^[15]
  • Gold medal for Cask Proof, Wizards of Whisky Awards, 2015^[16]
  • Silver medal for 92 Proof, San Francisco World Spirits Competition, 2015^[17]
  • Silver medal for 92 Proof, Wizards of Whisky Awards, 2015^[18]
  • Gold medal for rye whiskey, Artisan Awards, 2014^[19]
  • Gold medal for rye whiskey, The Fifty Best, 2014^[20]
  • Bronze medal, San Francisco World Spirits Competition, 2013
  • Bronze medal, American Distilling Institute, 2013
  • Gold seal, Good Food Awards, 2013^[21]
  • Gold medal for rye whiskey, The Fifty Best, 2012^[22]
  • Silver medal and best in category for aged rye whiskey, American Distilling Institute, 2011^[23]
  • Silver medal (87 - highly recommended) for rye whiskey, Beverage Testing Institute, 2011^[24]
  • Silver medal for aged craft distillery less than two years (less than $40), New York International Spirits Competition, 2010^[25]
• Mosby's Spirit
  • Bronze medal and best in category for un-aged rye whiskey, American Distilling Institute, 2011^[26]
  • Strong recommendation (87 - very good), American Whiskey, Ultimate Spirits Challenge, 2011^[27]
  • Silver medal (85 - highly recommended) for unaged whiskey, Beverage Testing Institute, 2011^[28]
  • Silver medal for unaged craft distillery (less than $40), New York International Spirits Competition, 2010^[29]
  • Bronze medal for unaged whiskey, American Distilling Institute, 2010^[30]
• Watershed Gin
  • Gold medal (91 - exceptional) for gin, Beverage Testing Institute, 2011^[31]
  • Silver medal for Gin, New York International Spirits Competition, 2011^[32]
• Regional Food and Beverage Producer - 2015 RAMMY Awards, Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington (RAMW) ^[33]
• Virginia's Finest - Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services^[34]
• 2012 Small Business of the Year - Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce^[35]
• 2011 Entrepreneur of the Year and Rural Business of the Year - Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce^[36]
• Made in the South 2010 Awards - Garden and Gun magazine^[37]

Distribution

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

• California
• Connecticut
• Delaware
• District of Columbia
• Georgia
• Maryland
• Massachusetts
• New York
• North Carolina
• Pennsylvania
• Tennessee
• Virginia

Catoctin Creek is distributed internationally in:

• Australia
• Europe (predominantly Germany and the United Kingdom)
• Hong Kong
• Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
• Singapore

References

External links

• Official site