Happy July!   

Catoctin Creek in London!

Last week, we were very pleased to take part in Governor Terry McAuliffe's trade mission to London in the UK last week. The highlight of the week was being part of the governor's celebration at the Shakespeare Globe Theatre on the Thames, where the governor and Virginia Tourism saluted the makers of the Jamestown series on Sky1, and extolled all the virtues of Virginia agriculture.  Not least of which were some fine drams of Catoctin Creek being passed around to all the guests.  Also present were our Virginia friends at Hardywood, Reservoir, and Belle Isle.

Scott spent the rest of the week in London meeting with various bars, restaurants, retailers and distributors.  Here's hoping we land some UK distribution soon!

Shown below are several photos during the visit, including a couple of the retailers: Amathus and Milroy's, a delicious sazerac prepared at Swift's of Soho, and our bottle positioned on the windowsill at the Shakespeare Globe Theatre with St. Paul's Cathedral in the distance.

 

Cool events in July!   

There are some amazing events planned for July!  Be sure to join us for all the fun!  

Seafood Boil at Catoctin Creek - ONLY A FEW SPOTS LEFT!

July 7, 7pm. Summertime means seafood, so War Shore Oyster Company and Magnolia's at the Mill are teamed up with us to do a good ol' fashioned crab and seafood boil!  We'll have an amazing menu (see below) with an endless amount of locally harvested seafood and locally crafted cocktails.  Becky and Scott will be there so you can meet them and enjoy learning about the distillery.  Brad, the owner of War Shore Oyster Company, will also be there talking about how they do a sustainable harvest from the Chesapeake Bay. Space is extremely limited, so reserve your ticket now!

 

Speakeasy Party at Catoctin Creek

July 15, 8pm. What's the secret password?  If you don't know it, we don't know you!  If you do know it... you're in on Loudoun's hottest Speakeasy Party!  We'll have amazing cocktails by Sam from WK Hearth, period music, and a professional dance instructor from King Dance Studios to lead us on the dance floor. Bring your favorite dancing and drinking partner and let's have some fun!

When you make your reservation, we'll send you the secret password.  Don't forget it!  You'll need the password to get in the door.  Ticket price includes dance lessons and one drink. Prohibition period dress is encouraged but not required.

  

Cocktail of the Month – The Roffiniac

See this cocktail and hundreds more on our cocktails page.

 

So Long For Now

As always, we thank you for your support as we continue to craft the finest spirits in Virginia. Please visit our Instagram, Facebook and Twitter pages, where you can stay up to date with the daily activities at the distillery. We are open every Tuesday through Sunday for tastings and bottle purchases, so stop by and see us sometime!

Cheers!
Scott & Becky

Photo courtesy Kelly Magyarics.

Kelly Magyarics writes in DC Refined about our bottling workshops.  If you haven't had the opportunity to attend one of these free events, you really are missing out on the fun!

Ever take a distillery tour and say to yourself: “I’d love to give that a try”? Well, while you can’t technically make a batch of their award-winning Roundstone Rye (that would be the job of co-founder, chief distiller and former chemical engineer Becky Harris), you can get a taste of the booze producer life at Catoctin Creek Distilling Company. Each month on a Saturday, the craft spirits operation holds a free bottling workshop for curious spirits fans (and anyone who’s ever wanted to be part of a production line.)

You can read the full story, here.

Happy June!   

Old Tom Gin is back!!!

We are very pleased to announce the return of our "Old Tom" style of Watershed Gin!  Available starting June 1st, until it runs out.  Quantities are limited.

This gin is a very special version of our Watershed Gin, rested in Pearousia pear brandy barrels for over six months to give it a characteristic golden hue.  

Old Tom style gin is a recreation of a historic gin.  Before 1890, most gin sold in the United States was a sweet gin (as opposed to the common "London Dry" today).  Because gin was made in Europe and shipped to the United States on boats, it would rest in barrels during the several month journey across the sea.  The resulting "rest period" of the voyage would cause the gin to age in the barrels ever so slightly, giving them a characteristic golden color, no dissimilar to the color of a fine oaked Chardonnay.

The result is a gin that has all the spice and herbal flavor of our standard Watershed Gin, but with a sweetness, fruitiness, and a touch of oak to make this one a very smooth sipper.  You can use our Old Tom Watershed Gin in lots of those historic cocktail recipes, like the Ramos Gin Fizz and the Martinez for a classic and authentic flavor.

 

Catoctin Creek is expanding!

We are happy to announce the acquisition of an additional 15,000 square foot building in Virginia.  The new facility will initially be used for warehouse storage, but could serve as an additional base for future operations as the business grows.  Catoctin Creek will continue to operate the business and perform distilling operations at its headquarters on 120 W. Main St., Purcellville, Virginia, where it operates a very popular tasting room and distillery store. 

 

ICYMI:  Catoctin Creek wins double gold in San Francisco!

 

Cool events in June and July!   

There are some amazing events planned for June and July!  Be sure to join us for all the fun! 

Dinner at the Distillery

June 9, 7pm. Dinner will be a four-course affair, using seasonal produce and local suppliers, prepared by Chefs Wes Rosati and Maria Aros of The Wandering Chef. Enjoy a private tour of the distillery, while we personally craft cocktails expertly paired with your dinner! This will be a magical evening, and one not to miss!! Dinner is priced at $99, and includes all four courses and cocktails.

 

Bottling Workshop at Catoctin Creek

June 10, 10am. Catoctin Creek Distilling Company will conduct a BOTTLING DAY on Saturday, June 10, at 10:00am. Volunteers wanted. Learn how to bottle, cap, seal, and label Roundstone Rye. Get your chance to work the magic "whisky cow"! Or maybe you'd like to try your hands at operating "Ninette", our fancy French labeling machine!

This event is FREE to attend!

 

Celebrate Father's Day with us!

June 18, 7pm. Celebrate Father's Day with us with a very special Master Class on Brandy. The venerable distilled wine is produced and enjoyed the world over, with cognac from France leading the way, but other varieties include the German label Asbach, pisco from Peru, and even brandy made here in the Washington DC area. Your ticket includes four samples of Catoctin Creek’s brandy:  1757 Virginia Brandy, along with our peach, pear and apple brandy.  You even get a cigar to enjoy when you get home!

 

Seafood Boil at Catoctin Creek

July 7, 7pm. Summertime means seafood, so War Shore Oyster Company and Magnolia's at the Mill are teamed up with us to do a good ol' fashioned crab and seafood boil!  We'll have an amazing menu (see below) with an endless amount of locally harvested seafood and locally crafted cocktails.  Becky and Scott will be there so you can meet them and enjoy learning about the distillery.  Brad, the owner of War Shore Oyster Company, will also be there talking about how they do a sustainable harvest from the Chesapeake Bay. Space is extremely limited, so reserve your ticket now!

 

Speakeasy Party at Catoctin Creek

July 15, 8pm. What's the secret password?  If you don't know it, we don't know you!  If you do know it... you're in on Loudoun's hottest Speakeasy Party!  We'll have amazing cocktails by Sam from WK Hearth, period music, and a professional dance instructor from King Dance Studios to lead us on the dance floor. Bring your favorite dancing and drinking partner and let's have some fun!

When you make your reservation, we'll send you the secret password.  Don't forget it!  You'll need the password to get in the door.  Ticket price includes dance lessons and one drink. Prohibition period dress is encouraged but not required.

  

Cocktail of the Month – The Martinez

See this cocktail and hundreds more on our cocktails page.

 

So Long For Now

As always, we thank you for your support as we continue to craft the finest spirits in Virginia. Please visit our Instagram, Facebook and Twitter pages, where you can stay up to date with the daily activities at the distillery. We are open every Tuesday through Sunday for tastings and bottle purchases, so stop by and see us sometime!

Cheers!
Scott & Becky

New facility in Virginia will push award-winning craft distillery towards goal of doubling production by next year

PURCELLVILLE, VA, June 1, 2017 – The owners of Catoctin Creek Distilling Company are happy to announce the acquisition of an additional 15,000-square-foot building in Virginia. The new facility will initially be used for warehouse storage, but could serve as an additional base for future operations as business grows for the award-winning craft distillery, which produces premium spirits from organic grains in northern Virginia’s Loudoun Valley.

Catoctin Creek will continue to operate the business and perform distilling operations at its headquarters on 120 W. Main St., Purcellville, Va., where a very popular tasting room and distillery store is open to the public six days a week.

“The new facility is a first step towards much greater expansion,” says Catoctin Creek co-owner Scott Harris. “As we continue to craft spirits by hand from the best organic grains, our goal is to double production by next year.”

Founded in 2009 by Scott and his wife, Becky Harris, Catoctin Creek uses local and organic ingredients to produce a variety of premium spirits, including its flagship Roundstone Rye, which holds distinction as Virginia’s most-awarded whisky. With Scott running business operations as general manager and Becky focused on the art of crafting the finest spirits in the Commonwealth as chief distiller, the couple leads a small team of employees that are proudly making a variety high-quality products in an historic building in Purcellville’s quaint downtown.

In a relatively short time Catoctin Creek has garnered many accolades and critical acclaim and expanded distribution across the country. Earlier this year, Catoctin Creek won four awards at the prestigious the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, including a Double Gold medal for the cask proof version of its popular Roundstone Rye Whisky that was finished in premium French Bordeaux oak barrels used to make the distillery’s 1757 Virginia Brandy.

About Catoctin Creek Distilling Company:  Catoctin Creek Distilling Company (120 West Main Street, Purcellville, VA 20132; Twitter: @catoctincreek) is the first distillery in Loudoun County Virginia since before prohibition. Family owned and operated, Catoctin Creek produces premium spirits: rye whisky and gin from organic sources, and brandy from Virginia wines. For media-related inquiries, please contact Hannah Watson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 434-964-0004 ext. 19, or for more information please visit www.catoctincreek.com.