Catoctin Creek is pleased to present, our FIFTH year of this six-part educational series on the art of the cocktail.  This year, we have all new content exploring the canonical books of each generation of bartending since the beginning of cocktails through modern times.

Starting in January, Scott Harris, founder and distiller at Catoctin Creek, will appear in the tasting room every Friday for this six-week series. Beginning at 7pm, Scott will personally guide you through the construction of several cocktails, including the old classics, and modern takes on the cocktail!  There will be samples for sharing, and you are encouraged to buy bottles to take home with you and practice.  Lots of practice.

This year, we will also have the books used in the class available for sale to take home at discounted prices.

Here is the schedule of the series:

• January 3 - Jerry Thomas' Bartenders Guide, How to Mix Drinks, Receipts for Mixing..., published 1862.
• January 10 - Harry McElhone & Wynn Holcomb, Barflies and Cocktails, 300 Recipes, published 1927.
• January 17 - Harry Craddock, The Savoy Cocktail Book, published 1930.
• January 24 - Leo Cotton, ed., Old Mr. Boston De Luxe Official Bartender's Guide, published 1960.
• January 31 - Gary Regan, The Bartender's Bible, 1001 Mixed Drinks..., published 1991.
• February 7 - NO CLASS THIS DAY.  We are otherwise occupied this evening.
• February 14 - Kara Newman, Shake. Stir. Sip., published 2016.

NOTICE ON SNOW DAYS:  If we have to cancel a class because of weather, we will reschedule the date to February 21, February 28, etc.  Your reservation will be honored for the snow date, or you may get a refund if you are unable to make the new date.

If you don't know anything about cocktails, you'll love this class.  If you're already an expert, come and enjoy some casual conversation and a few drinks.  The cost is $35 per person and includes drinks.  Sign up for all six and receive two FREE Catoctin Creek rocks glasses. 

  This class will fill up, so reserve your spot now!  Due to overwhelming demand and the intimate size of our tasting room, space is limited to the first 30 people responding.

Per ABC laws, cocktail samples will be limited to four pours with 0.5 oz of liquor in each pour.

Here is the music from our Spring 2019 Concert, Americana:

1. Africa
2. Hark I Hear the Harps Eternal
3. My Shepherd Will Supply My Need
4. Zions Walls
5. Great Day
6. Wanting Memories
7. The Battle of Jericho
8. Ballade to the Moon
9. I'll Be Seeing You
10. I Love You / What a Wonderful World
11. Make Our Garden Grow

Performed by the Loudoun Chorale, Max Nolin, Director, Beverly Clark, Accompanist. April 26, 2019.

Here is the music from our Christmas 2019 Concert:

1. Once in Royal David's City
2. Good Night, Dear Heart
3. Jubilate Deo
4. The Truth from Above
5. Bach Magnificat in D Major
6. Lo How a Rose Ere Blooming - The Rose
7. Gloria from Missa Kenya
8. In the Bleak Midwinter
9. I Saw Three Ships
10. You Are the New Day
11. Hark the Herald Angels Sing

Performed by the Loudoun Chorale, Max Nolin, Director, Beverly Clark, Accompanist. April 26, 2019.

Celebrating Ten Years!  Our FIRST EVER Bottled in Bond Releases!

Coming February 16th! To celebrate our tenth anniversary, we will release not one, but TWO amazing bottled in bond releases. These will be released into distribution and available for pick-up at the distillery tasting room starting Saturday, February 16th at noon. 

These are EXTREMELY LIMITED.  Less than 500 bottles were produced for nationwide distribution.  Once they are sold, they are gone until next year.  There will be a one bottle per person limit on these products on the first day.  After that, if anything is left, the limits will be removed.  Restaurant partners should contact their sales representative now to ensure they get a bottle for their establishment.

About the releases:

Rabble Rouser 4yo Rye Whisky Bottled in Bond

Catoctin Creek’s four-year-old Rabble Rouser will make its fourth debut in February. Although previously meeting the qualifications, February will mark the first time it’s labeled as “bottled in bond.” One of the craft distillery’s most sought-after whiskies, it offers a rustic flavor profile of clover honey, uncured bacon, deep earthy spice, sandalwood, white peaches, nectarines, peanuts and a hint of mesquite. Although bottled at 100-proof, the 100% rye mash is distilled to a lower proof, which captures many of the extra flavors typically lost to the distillation.

The name and meaning behind Rabble Rouser, referring to a person who inflames the emotions of a crowd of people, pays homage to the rowdy history that rye whisky played in the state of Virginia. Rabble Rouser Bottled in Bond Rye Whisky (100 proof/50% ABV) $95.99 / 750mL will also be available for purchase at the distillery and through a limited number of select fine retailers across the distillery’s distribution footprint.

1757 8yo XO Brandy Bottle in Bond

Distilled in 100-gallon batches, the 1757 Virginia XO Brandy has been aging since 2010 in 53-gallon Bordeaux red-wine casks, making it both Catoctin Creek’s oldest release to date. The 50/50 blend of Seyval blanc and Chambourcin grapes used in the brandy is sourced from Tarara Vineyards in Leesburg, Virginia, only 10 minutes from the distillery. Although this is not the first time Catoctin Creek’s founding husband-and-wife-duo, Scott and Becky Harris have produced their 1757 Virginia Brandy, it will be the oldest release and the first as a Bottled in Bond product.

Named after the year Virginia’s Loudoun County was founded, the eight-year-old XO brandy is soothing and warm, featuring rich hints of grape, raisin, date, fig, bread pudding, cherry and stone fruit. 1757 Virginia Brandy Bottled in Bond (100 proof/50% ABV) is a very limited release that will be available for $89.99 / 750mL at the distillery and through a limited number of select fine retailers across the Catoctin Creek distribution footprint.

Who will reign supreme in RVA?

Join us for a memorable evening in the stunning Black Iris Gallery. Witness six bartenders battle for the title of RVA's finest and enjoy commentary from the bartenders, hosts and judges. Have a chance to experience the Black Iris venue while sampling each cocktail entry, enjoy a Catoctin Creek Distillery portfolio tasting and bar takeover and vote for your favorite bartender for the coveted People's Choice award!

Where: Black Iris Gallery - 321 West Broad St, Richmond VA 23220
When: February 25th 2019 starting at 5pm
Tickets: $25 at the door. Early Bird online purchases $20. $10 for Black Iris Club Members. Ticket's available on EventBrite.
Participants: TBA

Book Now

Think you got what it takes and want to be a contender? Here's how you can earn your chance to be crowned RVA's Finest!

1. EMail your entry to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Be sure to put "BATTLE OF THE BARTENDERS" in the subject of the email.
2. Let us know who you are, what restaurant/bar you represent and share a number and email in which to contact you at in the event of being selected.
3. Come up with an original name and recipe for your Catoctin Creek cocktail
4. All cocktails must be made with either the Catoctin Creek Roundstone Rye 80 Proof or Watershed Gin 92 Proof
5. Catoctin Creek must be the predominant based ingredient to qualify.
6. It must be something that can be fairly easily recreated at Black Iris and at the Catoctin Creek Distillery to comply (i.e. homemade shrubs, tinctures, infusions, syrups, waters, charcoal, butterly pea flower, salts, peppers, other spices and smokes are fine, but I would avoid drinks that call for a 2 year house barrel aged, homemade vermouth, centrifuge separated, gastromolecular modified, dry iced ash from Oaxaca shamans, etc. You get the idea). Make it something spectacular but you'd make at your bar that you would allow your fellow bartenders to recreate again and again when you are not there.
7. Send a high quality photo of the cocktail with the bottle of Catoctin Creek used to make the drink with a detailed breakdown of the recipe.

The contenders will be contacted and details of event protocol will follow.

There is a 1st, 2nd, 3rd place cash prize. 1st place also wins the Catoctin Creek swag basket, get's their winning cocktail featured for the month of March at Black Iris and Catoctin Creek Distillery—plus bragging rights. People's Choice Award TBA.

Catoctin Creek is pleased to present, our FOURTH year of this five-part educational series on the art of the cocktail.  This year, we have all new content exploring various flavors from around the world.

Starting in January, Scott Harris, founder and distiller at Catoctin Creek, will appear in the tasting room every Friday for this five-week series. Beginning at 7pm, Scott will personally guide you through the construction of several cocktails, including the old classics, and modern takes on the cocktail!  There will be samples for sharing, and you are encouraged to buy bottles to take home with you and practice.  Lots of practice.

Here is the schedule of the series:

• January 4 - Italy - vermouth, amari, digestivs, noccino, 'cellos.
• January 11 - Iberia - flavors of Spain and Portugal, sherry, brandy, port, and saffron.
• January 25 - France - vermouth, Amer Picon, brandy, many liqueurs and more.
• February 1 - USA - whiskey, Martinez, Sazerac, Old Fashioned, and punch.
• February 8 - Latin America - molasses, limes, agave, cacao, chiles, hibiscus, and coffee.

NOTICE ON SNOW DAYS:  If we have to cancel a class because of weather, we will reschedule the date to February 22, March 1, etc.  Your reservation will be honored for the snow date, or you may get a refund if you are unable to make the new date.

If you don't know anything about cocktails, you'll love this class.  If you're already an expert, come and enjoy some casual conversation and a few drinks.  The cost is $35 per person and includes drinks.  Sign up for all six and receive two FREE Catoctin Creek rocks glasses and a FREE copy of The Architecture of the Cocktail. 

  This class will fill up, so reserve your spot now!  Due to overwhelming demand and the intimate size of our tasting room, space is limited to the first 30 people responding.

Per ABC laws, cocktail samples will be limited to four pours with 0.5 oz of liquor in each pour.  Certain mixer limitations will apply.