News Archive
NOTE: This archive of news articles is in chronological order and dates back to our founding in 2009. Some of the links are quite old, and may no longer hit valid websites.
Contact us if you have any questions or for reproduction/usage requests.
Catoctin Creek in the Wall Street Journal
Created 2009-10-01 20:08:46
Check us out in this article in the Wall Street Journal about the SBA lending process, highlighting Catoctin Creek Distilling Company as a success story in the economic recovery still underway!
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125441647838456813.html
Loudoun Times: First legal distillery in Loudoun to open since prohibition
Created 2010-05-05 17:12:22
Here is a fun article in the Loudoun Times about how we started up this distillery. Story here.
NBC Nightly News: A Start Up ... with a twist!
Created 2010-06-02 17:29:15
From NBC Nightly News:
In a small Virginia town, Becky and Scott Harris started a new enterprise...a mom- and-pop distillery! And the business is flying high! NBC's Wendy Jones reports.
Garden and Gun Magazine - Made in the South Awards
Created 2010-11-18 05:00:00
In the December 2010/January 2011 issue, Catoctin Creek was named as a winner in their Made in the South awards. As the cover states, "20 craftsmen, entrepreneurs, and artists who are making things right"! Heck, yeah!
Thanks to Donovan Webster and Haskell Harris (no relation), who wrote the article and supervised the competition.
Read the online G&G story, or our excerpt below from the magazine:
Market Watch - Women behind the still
Created 2014-02-01 14:50:33
Market Watch did an interesting piece on a number of women who work at several distilleries across the world, including our own beloved Becky Harris. Amber Drea writes:
After staying home with her kids for 10 years, the former chemical engineer decided to take on distilling duties, while Scott managed the marketing and sales side. “I’ve always been interested in making things,” Harris explains. It also helped that she had a science background. “This business was Scott’s dream job, so he chose well when we got married 20 years ago,” she jokes.
Read the entire article, here.
Major Coverage in the Washington Post
Created 2014-09-12 15:28:43
Here we see how rye is made: not in giant, impersonal vats somewhere in Indiana, but a few dozen miles from home. Scott explains that the first step to rye, in fact, is making something not unlike a hefeweizen — a primordial stew teeming with grains that must ferment to become alcohol. The distillation happens later, in a fancy copper still, which separates the alcohol from the grainy pulp, known as mash, with heat that turns it to gas. Upon cooling, the gas is returned to its liquid form, which is now that brash stuff known as white whiskey. To become the Roundstone rye that has won the company kudos, it goes into oak barrels to age for at least two years.
Read the entire article, here.
Women and Whiskey: Becky on NPR's Morning Edition
Created 2014-12-29 22:54:49
Well, now history is coming full circle. There's a vanguard of new female distillers, blenders and tasters.
From Becky Harris, co-founder of Catoctin Creek distillery in Virginia, to Meredity Grelli of Wigle Whiskey in Pittsburgh, these women are finding success as grain-to-bottle distillers.
Harris says the demand for her eco-ganic, rye whiskey is so strong, she's selling every drop she can produce.
Listen or read the full story, here.
Southern Living: 50 People Who Are Changing the South in 2015
Created 2015-01-05 21:05:10
This is a magazine that my mother has read since I was a baby, and now, what an honor to be included in it!
We surveyed the region to find the movers-and-shakers who are shaping the South with community-minded ideas and projects. From groundbreaking chefs to designers with a voice, these are the people you’ll want to keep an eye on this year.
In the middle of Virginia’s wine country, Becky and Scott Harris are making what may be the most Southern of spirits. While many craft spirits claim the title of “handmade,” Catoctin walks the walk with its line of whiskeys, gins, and brandies that are made start-to-finish in [Loudoun] County using locally sourced fruits and rye. Other materials, such as boxes and services, also come from the area, and the team gives back to the land by donating its spent rye mash for cattle farmers to use as livestock feed. Expanding its regional reach, Catoctin creates specialty products for top bartenders and hotels in the Virginia and D.C. area.
Read the full story, here.
The Spirits Business, Top Female Distillers: Becky Harris
Created 2016-04-08 00:49:59
Becky enjoyed more press coverage this week, getting featured in The Spirits Business infographic on top female distillers:
Becky Harris founded the first distillery in Loudoun County, Virginia, since Prohibition with her husband Scott in 2009. Becky’s experience in manufacturing control, as well as her Chemical Engineering degree, made her a natural fit for the role of chief distiller, while Scott, a computer engineer, manages the business. Previously, Becky worked at companies such as Amoco, YDK America, and CIBA, specialising in industrial processes and production systems. At Catocin, a certified kosher distillery, the couple creates a range of whiskeys, ryes, gins and brandies.
Read the full story, here.
Catoctin Creek in Inc Magazine
Created 2016-06-01 20:00:26
Inc magazine does a feature on craft distillers, and Catoctin Creek featured in the #3 spot of the 26 distilleries profiled. Coeli Carr writes:
Making distilled spirits is an ancient process, and for 21st-century craft distillers--currently there are about 1,000 of them in the U.S., according to the American Distilling Institute--everything old is new again. And profitable. ADI's annual survey estimates that craft sales moved about 2.4 million cases in 2015, about 40 percent more than the previous year. From 2011 through 2015, segment revenue grew more than 40 percent annually.
Read the full story, here.
Catoctin named in 12 Best in Architectural Digest
Created 2016-06-02 20:12:10
Architectural Digest did an article on the 12 coolest craft distilleries and we were included!
The first craft distillery built in Virginia’s Loudoun County since the pre-Prohibition era sits in the historic Case Building space (a onetime Buick dealership) on Main Street in the town of Purcellville, an hour west of Washington, D.C. Its industrial-chic tasting room, designed by W. A. Brown & Associates, is lit by 56 Edison bulbs and lots of natural light from the original 1920s windows. It’s the perfect place to taste the brand’s handcrafted rye whiskey, which is faithful to the ingredients and methods commonly used in the region during Prohibition.
Read the full story, here.
Catoctin Creek in Wine Enthusiast Magazine
Created 2016-11-04 15:01:42
Escape the city for an afternoon in the Virginia countryside. Start with esoteric, barrel-aged beers like Ortolan Bunting (aged in Armagnac casks) or G/I/A/A IPA (matured in mezcal barrels) at Adroit Theory Brewery. For lunch nosh on local Angus beef burgers and hand-cut fries at Market Burger Fries & Shakes. Afterward, head to Catoctin Creek Distilling Company (above), where affable owners Scott and Becky Harris will give you a tour and tasting of their award-winning Roundstone Rye, Watershed Gin and pear brandy.
To read the full story, click here.
We made the New York Times TOP TEN Young Rye Whiskeys!
Created 2016-12-02 17:53:41
Eric Asimov, writing for the New York Times, does an amazingly in-depth story on the scarcity of old rye whiskey and the excellent choices available in the younger whiskeys of the category. With over 1300 distilleries now producing in the US, the panel had plenty to judge.
I'm honored that two of the judges were the esteemed David Wondrich and Robert Simonson. I cannot think of two gentlemen in the industry for whom I have more respect! I've read (and re-read) their books. I've met them at Tales in New Orleans. I fan-boy on these guys, always asking for autographs... So, to have these two judging my spirits, well honestly, it's just humbling.
Notably, all judging was done in a blind panel. There's no way to be influenced by preconceptions of the spirit or where it's produced, nor the beauty of the label. It's just the juice. How good is the juice?
From the story:
Indeed, many of the ryes we tasted didn’t have the assertive rye personality that I’ve come to love. ... The Woodford rye was 53 percent rye, potentially very similar to bourbon. Some of the other ryes in our tasting were 100 percent rye, or very close.
Other ryes reminded us of rum, or tasted overwhelmingly of bananas or were odd in some other way. These tended to come from the craft distillers, who, like craft brewers in the early days of the beer revolution, have yet to achieve precision and reliability in their work.
“It’s like catching this category in the 10th grade,” David [Wondrich] said. “Some have already matured into their adult personas, some are still kids, and others are in transition, not as assured as you want, still hesitant.”
Speaking on the few craft brands in the list, Asimov continues:
Two other craft ryes made our list, the warm, spicy Few from Evanston, Ill., at No. 7 and the fruity, slightly sweet Catoctin Creek Roundstone Rye from Purcellville, Va., at No. 9.
You can read the full story, here. I hope you will!
— Scott
10 Women in Distilling
Created 2016-12-12 12:20:43
Becky was profiled briefly in Epicure and Culture's post on "10 Women in Distilling":
Becky Harris is the chief distiller and co-founder of Catoctin Creek Distilling, the first legal distillery in Loudoun County, Virginia since Prohibition. They make whisky from scratch, using 100% rye that is local and certified kosher. Becky’s background in Chemical and Process Engineering helps her run the whisky-making side of Catoctin Creek, a business which she started with her husband in 2009.
She says, “Many family-run distilleries have women taking care of the business side of the operations and men running the production side. We flipped those roles because our skills fit the opposite assignments”.
You can read the full story, including a cocktail from our pal, Paul Trahan Taylor, here.
Catoctin scores big in Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2018
Created 2017-10-18 15:29:17
We were very pleased to feature so well in the latest edition of Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2018. Nearly the entire whisky lineup was featured, with some great commentary about the distillery in general:
Braddock Oak Single Barrel Rye Whisky - 90 pts - ... brilliant delivery of brittle rye and very warming spice ... it is heart-warming to see a distillery dedicated to making rye.
Catoctin Creek Cask Proof Roundstone Rye Whisky - 88 pts - ... the thick rye is matched equally by the oily feints and brooding spice. Chewy and profound.
Catoctin Creek Roundstone Rye Single Barrel Whisky - 87 pts - ... The thing that has to be said about Catoctin is the amazing consistency (and close scoring) of their brands ... But, as with the others, no shortage of personality.
Catoctin Creek Roundstone Rye Whisky [92 proof] - 88 pts - ... best delivery I have tasted yet from Catoctin where the big rye presences has been nailed ... the rye here really is deliciously on song!
You can order a copy of the Whisky Bible here.
Catoctin Creek Roundstone Rye receives outstanding 9.0 review in Paste Magazine
Created 2017-11-20 15:23:15
Paste Magazine regularly reviews spirits and beers, and they recently picked up a bottle of Roundstone Rye 80 Proof, our flagship spirit. Graham Averill writes:
In a world where much of the best whiskey is either made from one of the big-hitters in Kentucky, or sourced from a warehouse in Indiana, it’s refreshing to come across a bottle like Roundstone Rye. There are no shortcuts here. Just craftsmanship. And it shows.
You can read the full review here.
Fodor's list of 11 cool boozy experiences
Created 2018-01-08 16:33:34
Pretty awesome when Fodor's names Catoctin Creek one of 11 cool boozy experiences, along with Maker's Mark, Bombay Sapphire, Jameson and other distilling heavyweights! We are super delighted to be included for our extremely fun--and always free--bottling workshops. Learn more on our web site or book your spot today.
Fill, seal, cap, and label spirits during monthly bottling workshops at Catoctin Creek Distillery, a Virginia craft producer which makes award-winning spirits in Purcellville, including Roundstone Rye Whiskey and Watershed Gin. Held on a Saturday morning from 10am to noon, the workshops are free, and also start with complementary coffee and doughnuts. After a brief lesson from co-owners Scott and Becky Harris, the volunteer workforce heads to the station of their choosing (not surprisingly, filling the bottles with the “whiskey cow” is always the most popular.) If you want to, follow an empty bottle through all the stations until you’ve capped and sealed it, then sign it and purchase it for yourself or as a gift.
You can book your spot in the bottling workshops, here. And you can read the full Fodor's story, here.
Becky Harris, The Collaborator - Wine Enthusiast
Created 2018-02-23 15:53:53
Ms. Newman writes:
To describe her thrifty approach to American single-malt production, Harris references a winemaker’s quip: “We don’t let the fruit hit the ground.” She’s determined not to let raw materials go to waste. “You try to make something out of it, try to salvage it.”
You can read the full article here.
Catoctin Creek in Better Homes & Gardens
Created 2018-04-21 06:26:21
A spice-forward tribute to-and from-Virginia, the birthplace of American whiskey.
Absolutely could not have said it better myself!
Becky Harris in Food & Wine Magazine
Created 2018-05-07 13:52:26
Harris encourages new whiskey drinkers – especially women, she says – to trust their taste and not the experts. “Your body chemistry and your individual experience is just as valid as everyone else’s,” she says. “When you like something, that is the one for you. Who cares what the others think?”
This thought follows from our way of thinking at Catoctin Creek: If everybody is making and consuming the same thing... well, where's the fun in that?
You can read the full article, including profiles of the other women in the story, here.
American Whiskey Mazagine - Editor's Choice!
Created 2018-05-21 14:28:19
Huzzah! Catoctin Creek Roundstone Rye Cask Proof was named the Editor's Choice, 9.0/8.9 points and the highest rated whiskey in the premier issue of American Whiskey magazine! A highlight from the review by Rob Allanson:
9.0 Points.
Palate: Big sweetness, vanilla and toffee, caramel coated apples. Snickers bars in liquid form, peanut, caramel and milk chocolate. The savory edge of dusty books.
Comments: Just what you want from a rye - spice punch, tannins and a dusty sweetness.
Get your copy of the magazine, here. Read the review, here.
Southern Kitchen: Becky Harris proves whiskey is women's business
Created 2018-09-26 13:59:58
Ryan Hughley, writing for Southern Kitchen, does a wonderful story about Becky's journey through whisky as chief distiller for Catoctin Creek. She writes:
So if you find yourself interested in whiskey, but you’re not a fan of its strong flavor, what’s a girl to do?
Harris recommends starting out with something easy like a whiskey ginger or a good whiskey sour. They are easy, approachable cocktails for those looking to give whiskey a shot (pun intended). Another tip, according to Harris? “If you’re not a spirits drinker, learn to taste spirits neat," she said. "It’s not something most people are comfortable with in the beginning because it’s too strong. The first sip is to acclimate your plate.”
You can read the full story, here.
Rabble Rouser reviewed in Robb Report
Created 2019-02-04 17:07:21
Dan Dunn, writing for the Robb Report, does a review of our latest Rabble Rouser release:
The Rabble Rouser Rye differs from its forebear in that it’s distilled at a lower proof to coax more of the rye’s earthy qualities to the top. That means we get freshly mowed grass and cedar on the nose. On the palate, sandalwood, tobacco leaf, and cereal grains take center stage, supported by mesquite, peach, and a bit of honey. Still, at 100 proof, Rabble Rouser barks like a junkyard dog, so dainty drinkers may want to look elsewhere. This heavy-duty dram is delightful served neat or with an ice cube or two, and will hold its own against the most puissant of mixers.
You can read the full story, here.
7 Bottled-In-Bond Whiskeys You Must Try in 2019
Created 2019-03-04 15:18:21
The law states that bottled-in-bond bourbons must be distilled by the same master distiller, in the same distilling season, at the same distillery, aged at least four years in a federally bonded warehouse, and bottled at 100 proof to bear this seal of quality. The label must also include the distillery (or distilleries) where the spirit was made and then bottled. All these regulations may seem a bit over the top, but for the past 122 years it’s been a transparent way for consumers to know the quality of their bourbon at a glance.
Writing about the Rabble Rouser specifically:
This year’s Rabble Rouser Rye release is the oldest distillate we’ve seen yet from Virginia-based Catoctin Creek Distilling Co. They use a 100 percent rye mash distilled to a lower proof to craft their rye whiskey, citing a richer flavor profile that can be lost in a traditional [distilling] process.
You can read the full article, here.
Catoctin Creek again in Forbes
Created 2019-03-18 12:25:37
We were delighted once again to be featured in Forbes, this time in an article about Irish whiskey and its American descendants. Claudia Alarcón writes:
As one of the first distilleries committed to the history and craft of Virginia rye whisky, Catoctin Creek uses old-world production and local and ørganic grains to produce the various excellent expressions of Roundstone Rye, including seasonal releases and private cask offerings. The Distiller’s Edition of Roundstone earned a gold medal in New York in 2015; the Cask Proof received double gold in San Francisco in 2017 and the Single Barrel edition brought home double gold from New York in 2018. These outstanding spirits are best appreciated neat, or simply over an ice cube to mellow out their heat and spicy notes.
You can read the entire story, here.
Liquor.com - "Best Whiskey from Virginia"
Created 2019-04-11 20:49:32
Thanks to Liquor.com for designating us the best whiskey from Virginia! Booyah!
Virginia’s distilling history goes at least as far back as Kentucky’s. Catoctin Creek, founded in 2009, is one of the best in the state, releasing various versions of its Roundstone rye, as well as a newly designated bottled-in-bond expression, Rabble Rouser.
Read the full article and see the other 49 states, here.
Becky in Rachel Ray's magazine
Created 2019-05-02 15:59:22
Kelsie Schrader, writing for Rachel Ray Every Day magazine, covers 10 female pioneers in the spirits industry and gets Becky in her article:
When Becky and Scott Harris founded Catoctin Creek Distillery in 2009, they became the owners of [Loudoun] County, Virginia's first legal distillery since prohibition, making Becky the county's first female chief distiller in almost a century. Prior to opening the distillery, Becky worked as a chemical engineer at companies, including Amoco and YDK America. Opening the distillery was her husband's idea, and though Becky wasn't a big whisky drinker before opening the distillery, she applied her science background to the distilling and production processes to create high-quality spirits that have earned great acclaim.
You can read the full article, here.
Becky Harris in American Whiskey Magazine
Created 2019-05-09 19:20:00
American Whiskey magazine does an interview with Becky Harris, our president and chief distiller, about starting up a distillery and what's on the horizon.
Focusing more now on the spirit itself, how did you go about deciding on your product range?
We were inspired by the history of spirits in the region, and specifically in Virginia. If you visit the distillery at Mount Vernon you can get an excellent sense of the deep roots of the business here. We ultimately decided that we wanted to focus on rye whisky, it was a crucial piece of whisky history in this country, as well as being under-represented in the marketplace. We had a vision of making rye, 100 per cent rye, from grain to bottle, with a focus on local content and small batch, pot still production.
Our first whisky, the Catoctin Creek 80 proof Roundstone Rye, has always been made from organic, or organically raised rye grain and has a spicy and fruity flavor profile with a kiss of mint. This is a youthful rye, aged in 30 gallon barrels to create a profile balanced between the influence of the oak and the grain spirit itself.
You can read the full interview, here.
Rabble Rouser featured in Maxim
Created 2019-05-30 18:58:37
Maxim did a story on some of the best Bottled In Bond whiskies available, and our Rabble Rouser was selected (among some very fine company, if we do say so)!
Previous whiskey releases from Virginia distillery Catoctin Creek have qualified as BIB, but this was the first one explicitly marketed as such. It’s a 100 percent rye whiskey that is spicy, earthy, and fruity.
You can read the full article, here.
The New Yorker: A Whiskey Maker's Exploration of Craft - Part 1
Created 2020-01-15 18:17:27
Featured on The New Yorker, produced for Autograph Collection Hotels, follow along as Becky Harris, founder and head distiller of Catoctin Creek Distillery, travels to 2 Autograph Collection Hotels to gather inspiration from each boutique hotel’s dedication to craft. At her first stop, Schloss Lieser in Germany, she explores the hotel’s rich history and vision, the adjacent vineyards of the famous Moselle valley, and the unique flavors of the region. View the full video, here.
Part two, Becky in Chattanooga, is here.
Hand Sanitizer goes to Richmond
Created 2020-04-03 12:51:29
NBC12 in Richmond covering our first shipment of hand sanitizer. Read the full story and see the video, here.
American Whiskey Mazagine reviews Rabble Rouser
Created 2020-04-27 14:28:19
Hooray! Another great review from American Whiskey magazine. Catoctin Creek Rabble Rouser was recommended, 8.6/8.9 points by Peggy Noe Stevens and Susan Reigler, and again the highest rated whiskey in the issue! A highlight from the review by Susan Reigler:
8.9 Points.
Nose: Rye grass partners with floral notes. The woods after a spring rain with wildflowers underfoot. Subtle for 100 proof.
Palate: Sweet spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, clove and allspice. Then the flowers blossom. This is all balanced with vanilla and rye spice.
Finish: Very long, though the flowers fade and the spice is persistent.
Comments: Unexpectedly, water brings out morerye rather than the fruit. But this doesn't do enough to upset the balance.
Get your copy of the magazine, here.
Business Insider names Catoctin Creek Roundstone Rye 92 Proof in Top 10
Created 2020-04-26 16:52:50
According to two renowned whisky experts, Heather Greene of Milam and Green and author of "Whiskey Distilled: A Populust Guide to the Water of Life," and Susan Reigler, world-renowned bourbon expert and former president of the Bourbon Women Association, our Catoctin Creek Roundstone Rye 92 Proof "Distiller's Edition" rates in their Top 10! Even better, we pulled in at #2 on the list!! Here's an excerpt from the review:
Another distillery that Reigler recommends for rye is Catoctin Creek, located in Virginia.
"Rye is generally a bit spicier and more herbal than bourbon," Reigler explained. "Think of the scent of rye grass or caraway seeds. They have a peppery character, and some also have a lot of caramel."
You can read the full review, here.
Whisky Advocate: Craft Distillers Struggle to Survive Amid COVID-19
Created 2020-05-05 13:30:27
In these difficult times (I am getting so tired of saying that), Whisky Advocate finds the bright spots. This is a nice article highlighting the sanitizer production across the country, and the few states like Virginia that have allowed direct-to-consumer shipping.
A windfall came, however, when the Virginia ABC announced on April 6 that it would allow certain distilleries to ship directly to in-state customers. “That was a lifeline to our operations,” Harris says. “Once we wound down the sanitizer project, a number of people working on it transitioned into packing and shipping cases.” Thus far, it’s been “a real lifesaver” for Catoctin Creek and neighboring craft distilleries. “I talked to a number of other distilleries in Virginia, some of whom do less than 500 cases a year out of their tasting room,” Harris says. “Their sales had actually improved by 50% over the previous year.”
You can read the entire story, here.
Rye Dominion - Spotlight on Becky Harris - Tasting Panel
Created 2020-05-11 14:07:10
[Rebecca] Harris became a trailblazer in the spirits world as one of the first female head distillers in modern U.S. history, yet she’s quick to point out that American distillation’s early success was largely due to the efforts of women. “In this region of the country, the tobacco industry [was] so demanding that women were the ones who took care of the brewing and distilling,” Harris explains. “It really wasn’t until the bigger stills came over from Europe that distillation became more industrial.”
You can read the full story, here, or the Tasting Panel site, here.
Forbes: Two amazing articles in one day!
Created 2020-05-16 12:17:08
First, Forbes did a fantastic and thorough article about our efforts to make lemons into lemonade with our release of the #InThisTogether Infinity Barrel benefit project. Kate Dingwall writes:
“We wanted to find partners who could help us get assistance to the people who are the heart and soul of all these restaurants, who are often undocumented, juggling multiple jobs, may be struggling with health effects from the virus themselves, and uncertain whether their workplaces will ever open again,” explains [Rebecca] Harris.
You can read that full article, here.
“Virginia had 3,600 distilleries in 1810, making primarily unaged rye, but also brandies from local fruits,” says Becky. “Our inspiration dates back to before 1830, when distilleries had not started mass production and before standard regional identities for rye existed. Each of my rye farmers has a slightly different flavor that their terroir brings to the whisky, and my 100% rye mashbill uses grain from 3-4 sources, fermented together, pot-distilled and aged to create the finished products.”
The expressions of Catoctin Creek’s Roundstone Rye whisky are chosen from single barrels which reflect the flavor profile, character, and excellence chosen for each, a process that paid big when Wine Enthusiast awarded high scores to all five rye whiskies in the February/March 2020 issue.
You can read that full article, here. Thank you, Forbes!!
Maxim: Best World Whiskey Day Bottles
Created 2020-05-22 04:00:00
First, Forbes did a fantastic and thorough article about our efforts to make lemons into lemonade with our release of the #InThisTogether Infinity Barrel benefit project. Kate Dingwall writes:
Virginia's Catoctin Creek Distilling Company is making whiskey out of lemons, figuratively speaking. Due to the crisis many DC restaurants are suffering during the lockdown they can't afford to keep the barrels they'd purchased from Catoctin's barrel select program. These are some of the distillery's best hand-picked barrels, including an American Chardonnay oak cask, apple brandy cask and American Imperial Stout cask from Virginia's Stablecraft Brewery.
So Catoctin Creek owners Scott and Becky Harris are not only easing their burdens by taking back the barrels, but are blending them into an Infinity Barrel Rye Whisky dubbed aptly #InThisTogether. Not only is it a delicious blend, but all profits from this limited 80-proof release will go to charities (like the US Bartender Guild's Emergency Assistance Program) supporting struggling restaurants and bars.
You can read that full article, here.
Chilled Magazine: Top 9 Virtual Distillery Tours
Created 2020-05-28 13:25:10
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We are in fine company in this Chilled magazine article about the nine best virtual distillery tours: Buffalo Trace, Lagavulin, Four Roses, and little ol' Catoctin Creek. The article notes:
Capturing the experience of visiting a small distillery, Catoctin Creek has produced a video tour led by co-founder and distiller Scott Harris. As the fellow narrating the experience is also the one who not just makes, but also conceived of the whiskeys and other spirits in question (Catoctin Creek is known mostly for their rye whiskey, but they also have a gin and some brandies), he goes beyond what most virtual tours do in discussing his production process. Ironically, the smallest distillery on this list also produced what is arguably the best technical presentation of the bunch.
You can read the full story, here.
Join "the fellow" as he guides you on a virtual tour and tasting at the distillery. See how whiskey is made and enjoy some tasting notes and history about our small Virginia distillery.
Stepping up to a legacy - American Whiskey magazine
Created 2020-10-02 18:27:19
Maggie Kimberl at American Whiskey recently wrote a fantastic story on the brief and recent history of the hand sanitizer chaos that emerged during the COVID-19 crisis. Many, many distilleries across the country, both big and small, immediately stepped up and provided much needed sanitizing alcohol to their communities, most pivoting in a manner of days and weeks. Becky Harris found herself suddenly in a leadership role in ACSA to help navigate this confusing time, and stepped up to help people save lives--literally save lives. We are so proud of her. Maggie writes:
“Both individually and within my distillery we were suddenly being approached by people asking if we had alcohol,” Harris recalls. “Bleach was gone, Purell was off the shelves, and we had a ton of people asking if we had any they could get hold of. It was obvious that people were really desperate. We were getting tons of calls.” Harris reports the industry went from ‘can this be done?’, to doing it in a matter of days. She was asked by the executive committee at the ACSA if she could take the lead on the matter and she did.
You can read the entire story, here.
The History of Catoctin Creek - Mash and Grain
Created 2020-10-04 11:54:08
Mash and Grain did a really lovely, comprehensive history of Catoctin Creek, dating back to before the distillery when Becky and Scott first met. It covers the seeds of entrepreneurship that led to its ultimate establishment. This is the most in-depth article written to date on our story, and contains intimate details on our thinking before the venture even formed:
Distilleries require an incredible amount of upfront investment, so the loan certainly helped, but Scott and Becky were also pouring their entire life savings into this venture. In order to be licensed in Virginia, a distillery needed to have already purchased all of their equipment, set it up, and tested it to make sure it functioned properly. That meant securing a commercial location, signing a lease, thousands upon thousands of dollars in equipment, all before they could legally make a single drop. ... With all this money invested up front, they had sacrificed so much with no guarantee that the two of them had what it would take to make it work. ... [For] Scott it was more about faith. Faith in themselves. He recounts a story from just after they were approved for their loan. Scott used a new social media platform, Twitter, to announce they had the financing to start their distillery. Shortly after, he received a call from Emily Maltby, a journalist for the Wall Street Journal who was doing a story on SBA loans, and wanted to feature them to lend a human element to the piece.
“We got into the Wall Street Journal. We hadn’t even made anything. We felt like we were ordained by God to do this. We could do no wrong. Of course it will be good if we make it, because it has to be. Why would we do all this trouble otherwise? That’s kind of the complex you have when you’re an entrepreneur. You’re just gonna go full steam ahead, because of course it will be good.” - Scott Harris
Divine intervention or not, their strict process backgrounds proved to be a big asset.
Scott and Becky are proud to say that their rye grain comes from local Virginia farms, but when they were first starting out it was very difficult to find farmers who would grow grain for them. For the first 6 or 7 years, they had to rely on commercial mills where they had no control over the varietals they would receive. Now they do have a handful of local farms they work with. Their mash bill is 100% rye, but not all one varietal. Their farmers need to find varietals that work well for their land and climates, so the combination has changed from time to time. Whenever a farmer brings a new varietal to Becky, she distills one batch with 100% of that specific grain so she can evaluate it’s profile from a sensory standpoint to get an idea of how it may fit into their products. Once she has a sense of it’s character she will slowly start to incorporate it into the mashbill in small quantities to maintain a consistent flavor profile. For a company that mostly deals in single barrel releases, they are basically doing the blending at the front end of production, with each varietal lending complexity and diversity of flavor from the very beginning.
It is a wonderful long-form biography. I hope you'll enjoy it.
You can read the full article, here.
20 Best Rye Whiskey Brands 2020 - Vinepair
Created 2020-10-07 19:32:43
The 116 proof indicated on this bottle’s label prompts a double-take when sipping the whiskey. The alcohol burn is barely noticeable but the high ABV content does intensify the rye-forward profile and provides a never-ending finish. Subtle oak influence complements dried fruit and toffee notes.
You can read the roundup, here, and the review of the Cask Proof by itself, here.
Esquire - The 10 Best Rye Whiskey Brands
Created 2020-10-16 12:59:45
Another craft distillery with a strong focus on rye is Virginia’s Catoctin Creek; it even trademarked the term "the Virginia Rye Whiskey." Founders Scott and Becky Harris (she’s also the chief distiller) are committed to making high quality, small batch rye whiskey that doesn’t lack for flavor or complexity. Some of these are young and relatively low ABV, like the 80-proof flagship Roundstone Rye, a nice sipping whiskey or Manhattan building block. All are made from a 100 percent rye mash bill, like the bottled-in-bond Rabble Rouser Rye, a 100-proof, four-year-old whiskey that explodes with spice and fruit. Go ahead and explore the limited releases from the distillery as well, like the Braddock Oak Single Barrel and Red Wine Finished Rye, or the biannual cask strength version of Roundstone Rye, which is finished in a maple syrup barrel.
You can read the full article, here.
Wine & Country: Five Charming Places to Visit in Loudoun
Created 2020-11-19 15:33:26
If you prefer something stronger than tea, Catoctin Creek Distilling Company, the first Loudoun distillery since Prohibition, is in a brick warehouse nearby. Here, Becky Harris, arguably the greatest female whiskey maker in America, crafts award-winning rye, brandy and gin, all of which you can sample around the horseshoe-shaped bar tasting room out front.
We have to agree about the Becky Harris bit, but we may be biased.
You can read the full story, here.
Barron's: 20 Minutes with Becky Harris
Created 2020-11-24 19:15:56
Barron's did a 20 minute Q&A with Becky Harris, our chief distiller and president, but also the president of the American Craft Spirits Association. Jake Emen interviewed Becky for this piece:
When you started the distillery, did you get a lot of surprised reactions from people thinking Scott was the distiller and you were, oh, I don’t know, marketing or front of the house?
(Laughs.) Yes, all the time. It was one of things where you always have to prove yourself. I think there’s maybe a bit less of that now. And I have to say that people like Maggie [Campbell of Privateer Rum] and Nicole Austin [of Cascade Hollow Distilling, producers of George Dickel Tennessee Whisky] and Mel Heim out of Portland, all of those people that started way back and I remember reading about them and thinking, wow, I would love to meet them at some point! And it took a long time to get there but I think that’s the whole point. That makes people want to try it. Because they see that there are people like themselves already doing it.
You can read the full interview, here.
Wine Enthusiast Top 100 of 2020: Roundstone Rye 92 Proof "Distiller's Edition"
Created 2020-11-25 14:37:09
This single-barrel rye is suit-able for sipping or a dessert pairing. Look for bold sugar-cookie aromas and confectionary richness on the palate: vanilla, cocoa, hazelnut, maple sugar and mocha. The moderately long finish is marked by lemon peel and nutmeg.
Read the full list of winners, here.
WUSA9: What one distillery is doing to benefit their local community
Created 2020-12-03 15:57:08
WUSA9's Kristen Berset from Great Day Washington interviews Scott Harris to find out about how the COVID pandemic has been affecting business, plus coverage of some of our recent awards, and a warm apply toddy cocktail to share for the holidays.
Click the video above to view.
American Whiskey Magazine: Catoctin Creek partners with GWAR to release Ragnarök Rye
Created 2020-12-08 14:33:02
American Whiskey magazine covered our press release announcing our partnership with GWAR, the intergalactic metal band based in Richmond.
As the story goes, members of the intergalactic shock rock band known as GWAR descended on this world as passengers on a flaming comet that would bring about the destruction of most life on Earth. The asteroid ploughed into the continent of Antarctica with devastating force, melting the ice, setting much of the world ablaze, and leaving a massive crater filled with the purest Antarctic water and a strangely intoxicating ichor that flowed from the veins of the immortal GWAR. Legend recorded these events as the tale of Ragnarök, the end of days. But like all endings, it was also a beginning. Now, this blood of the gods, harvested from the great caldera, has been distilled and bottled by Catoctin Creek as Ragnarök Rye.
Read the full story, here.
The 30 Best Whiskeys of 2020: Wine Enthusiast
Created 2020-12-28 15:47:32
Wine Enthusiast has culled their list of the Top 100 spirits of 2020 to produce their 30 Best Whiskeys of 2020 list. Boy, oh boy! It's great to be included on that list:
Catoctin Creek Roundstone Rye Whiskey Distillers Edition; $51, 94 points. This single-barrel rye is suitable for sipping or a dessert pairing. Look for bold sugar-cookie aromas and confectionary richness on the palate: vanilla, cocoa, hazelnut, maple sugar and mocha. The moderately long finish is marked by lemon peel and nutmeg. —K.N.
Read the full story, here.
FDA rescinds fees charged to distilleries making hand sanitizer - NBC 4
Created 2021-01-02 14:00:30
Early in 2020, when the country was beset by the COVID-19 pandemic, craft distilleries all across the nation stepped up to fill the void in hand sanitizer, pivoting their businesses to produce WHO-formula sanitizer that was FDA approved. The ACSA worked closely with the FDA to ensure that all of these craft distillers could be quickly added as "drug producers" (their definition of someone making sanitizer), so that the public would be assured that the products being put out in this emergency period were safe and regulated.
Fast forward to just before New Year's Eve 2020, when these same craft distillers begin receiving emails from the FDA stating that they owe the FDA $14,060 due February 11th, 2021, for the privilege of working with the FDA last year. What's more, these fees never existed when the distilleries registered with the FDA. They were applied retroactively. Many of these distilleries donated or sold their sanitizer at cost, and a surprise $14,000 bill would put many of them out of business. Worse still, the fees doubled if the distilleries let their registration continue to January 1, 2021.
Truly, no good deed goes unpunished.
Becky Harris, Catoctin Creek's chief distiller and current president of the American Craft Spirits Association (ACSA), along with Margie Lehrman, CEO of the association, got on the phone with congress and officials at the Department of Health and Human Services. All day, during New Year's Eve, Becky and the organization are frantically speaking with HHS, explaining the unfairness of this surprise, retroactive fee.
In a story that doesn't often happen, the HHS agreed, and ordered the FDA to rescind the fees, bringing every craft distiller across the nation a very happy new year.
Drew Wilder reports from NBC 4 Washington:
Becky & Scott Harris named to Imbibe 75
Created 2021-01-06 15:05:39
Wayne Curtis writes:
The Harrises opted to give back to the hospitality industry. They sold the new blend through their website and at the distillery. They had 100 cases and sold out in two hours. After recouping their expenses, Catoctin Creek paid out $12,000 to four groups supporting the hospitality industry, including the Restaurant Workers' Community Foundation and the USBG's Bartender Emergency Assistance Program.
Read the entire article here.
NY Times: America’s First Moonshine, Applejack, Returns in Sleeker Style
Created 2021-02-02 17:26:19
As most small-scale applejack makers do, Catoctin Creek starts the process not with fresh apples but with hard cider, which it procures from Blue Bee Cider company, in Richmond, Va., in the kind of collaboration often found among craft producers. The Harrises send some of the finished brandy back to Blue Bee, where it is mixed with the cidery’s own fortified apple wine and ginger eau de vie into a spicy dessert cider called Firecracker.
This year’s batch is made from Winesap, Pippin, Arkansas Black and other heritage apple breeds that are good for brandy, she said, because they have almost no sweetness, but share a strong, concentrated apple taste that carries all the way through distillation. The kind of big, sweet apples that have been bred for eating, like Red and Golden Delicious, are far too sugary and watery. “You want a lot of flavor for the flesh that’s there,” she said.
You can read the full story, here.
Washington Post coverage of the Art of the Cocktail
Created 2021-02-04 17:43:08
We were elated to see the Washington Post write a story on our Art of the Cocktail classes! More than just being an instructional drink-making class, Scott's purpose is more to build a sense of community and social gathering. Fritz Hahn writes:
The collegial spirit is key: While Harris goes over the ins-and-outs of four cocktails each week, the classes, which include a lot of couples, have taken on a higher purpose. “I’ve been getting a lot of feedback like, ‘It’s so nice to have some little thing we can do on Friday night. It’s become like a date night for us,’” Harris says. “That was my hope. It’s almost like the classes are just sort of a framework for what ultimately turns into just drinking together and having a little bit of a social hour.”
You can read the full story, here. Register for the class and read more, here.
Photo credit: Emma Evans for the Washington Post, and used with permission.
GET IN ON THE FUN!
Maple Cask Finished Rye Whiskey Reviewed
Created 2021-03-31 17:45:26
Bevvy reviewed our Maple Cask Finished Rye. I think they liked it! Eric Twardzik writes:
Catoctin Creek Maple Cask Finished Rye is an extraordinary whiskey. Maple can sometimes feel like a gimmick in the whiskey world, but that is not the case here. The sweet, round flavors of maple syrup seem to twist around every inch of this woody, spicy, and delightfully aggressive whiskey, resulting in a dram that’s at once incredibly dry and oaky yet round and sweet.
★★★★
You can read the full review, including tasting notes, here.
Chilled Magazine Profiles Becky Harris
Created 2021-03-31 17:48:58
Is there any one person or event that you feel made an impact in your path to becoming a master distiller?
I would say that the people in the distilling industry have been incredibly welcoming. Early in our distilling business I met Dave Pickerell at Mount Vernon, and he had a lovely way of sharing knowledge in a collegial fashion. Although we never consulted with him, I was incredibly influenced by his joy in what he did, as well as his passion for talking about the craft of distilling and engaging everyone in that creation process.
You can read the full interview, here.
Catoctin Creek wins two golds and one silver in London
Created 2021-04-02 09:37:34
Catoctin Creek's flagship line of rye whisky - Roundstone Rye - has received numerous medals at the London-based The Drinks Business & The Spirits Business Spring 2021 Blind Tasting.
"Roundstone Rye Distiller’s Edition 92 Proof received a Gold in this flight, enjoyed for its “luxurious texture” and “slight resinous quality on the palate”. Roundstone Rye Cask Proof also secured a Gold medal with its “great balance”. Roundstone Rye 80 Proof was awarded a Silver medal.
“You can see why it’s such a popular category at the moment,” said Dixon. “It offers something unique. There’s lots of buzz around rye, and lots of producers are experimenting with it.”
You can read the full article, here.
Fred Minnick: This Whiskey Brand Threatened to Kill Me
Created 2021-05-05 04:00:00
It's not every day that we commit high crimes and felonies. But on April 28th, we did just that, to one of the most influential whiskey personalities in the industry today. Probably not good policy, but in practice, I think it worked out pretty well this time, all things considered. Here's our interview with Fred Minnick, with the members of GWAR, reviewing Ragnarök Rye:
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Read more about Ragnarök Rye, here and here.
Forbes: Ragnarök Rye collaboration with GWAR
Created 2021-05-11 14:46:32
Very cool to get coverage in Forbes this week on our collaboration with GWAR. Claudia Alarcón writes:
In the latest, and perhaps the coolest partnership between a distillery and a celebrity, Virginia’s Catoctin Creek and outrageous metal band GWAR will finally release their infamous Ragnarök Rye on May 28. The award-winning distillery known for its rye whisky, was set to launch the collaboration this past February, but according to a press release, “the monster metal rock band drank it... all of it.”
You can read the full article, here.
GWAR helps with bottling Ragnarök Rye
Created 2021-05-28 11:39:19
GWAR visits Catoctin Creek to help with the bottling... oh, dear!
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Song credit to Lavern & Shirley, original video by GWAR.
Catoctin Creek receives two golds and a silver from John Barleycorn Awards
Created 2021-06-09 15:56:13
Catoctin Creek continues to amass the awards, with two new gold medals and a silver medal from the John Barleycorn Awards. Three spirits were reviewed and received awards:
GOLD - Catoctin Creek Roundstone Rye 92 Proof "Distiller's Edition"
"Fudgy and full flavored with buttery notes of caramel corn and shortbread. Tons of caramel and toffee and a really nice Red Hots cinnamon note on the finish."
GOLD - Catoctin Creek Roundstone Rye Cask Proof
"This is a sensational sipper. Aromas of caramel chews, dark raisin and sugared figs lead to a palate of bananas foster, vanilla, and dark cocoa with a drying finish that’s powdery with dried flowers and more cocoa."
SILVER - Catoctin Creek Roundstone Rye 80 Proof
"This whiskey is beautifully proofed to showcase juicy and light flavors of cereal grains and honey. Delicate and elegant, this is nice work."
You can read about all the winners, here.
Visit Loudoun: Profile on Purcellville
Created 2021-06-22 14:42:40
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Visit Loudoun did a wonderful video and article on our hometown, Purcellville! Come and visit sometime and have a little whisky from our town distillery!
Settled in 1764 and named Purcellville in 1853 after prominent businessman Valentine Purcell, this bustling Blue Ridge piedmont settlement still has something of a frontier feel to it. The low-slung buildings of downtown, including a renovated grain mill turned restaurant and a former Buick dealership turned whiskey distillery, are reminiscent of a Western film set, while the handsome Victorian homes in the neighborhoods give it a Norman Rockwell charm. The W&OD Trail, built on the bed of the former Washington & Old Dominion railway line, ends in downtown, adjacent to the now restored Purcellville Train Station, bringing in cyclists from across the region.
You can read the entire article and plan your trip, here.
Best American whiskeys: Eight bottles to try - Decanter
Created 2021-07-06 16:24:48
Catoctin Creek Roundstone Rye Distiller's Edition 92 Proof
This whisky (yes, they omit the ‘e’) from Virginia is a great example of Catoctin Creek’s rye expertise. The higher proof helps to carry its classically rich, spicy notes of bread, pepper and punchy spice, making this a great bet for cocktails and sipping alike. Vanilla fudge and lighter citric notes add complexity and texture. Alc 46%
You can read the full store, here.
Photo credit: Christian Bringolf, and used with permission.
Fred Minnick: 5 Best Bourbons for a Zombie Apocalypse
Created 2021-07-20 14:25:10
A fun show from Fred Minnick. Check us out coming in at #2 around the 2:55 mark.
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American Whiskey: Castaway with Scott Harris
Created 2021-07-22 12:44:51
American Whiskey magazine featured our founder and general manager, Scott Harris, in their recurring "Castaway" article, where they ask industry people what five whiskeys and one luxury item would they take if they were stranded on a desert island. Scott's opinions tend toward Scottish malts, with a few exceptions. When asked for a luxury item to bring to the island, he responds:
"I suppose it would be too much to ask for a yacht. Obviously, with a yacht, I could leave the island, but maybe I wouldn’t want to. It sounds quiet. Honestly, after spending the last year-plus quarantining at home and working like a dog, being stranded on an island sounds perfect. So, yes, a yacht would be excellent. I would live in it, and have parties, and drink my whisky collection. I promise not to leave. But I may send it out for more whisky."
You can read the entire article, here.
Catoctin Creek receives two golds and a silver from the American Whiskey Masters 2021
Created 2021-08-01 12:00:00
Catoctin Creek continues to amass the awards, with two new gold medals and a silver medal from the American Whiskey Masters from the Spirits Business in London, UK. Three spirits were reviewed and received awards:
GOLD - Catoctin Creek Roundstone Rye 92 Proof "Distiller's Edition"
GOLD - Catoctin Creek Roundstone Rye Cask Proof
SILVER - Catoctin Creek Roundstone Rye 80 Proof
"The American Whiskey Masters 2021 entries were up by over 85% on last year and was therefore very well represented and very competitive with 78 x entries from 16 x different companies and therefore to receive any sort of medal is something that every company should be extremely pleased with. However, for Catoctin Creek Distilling Co, as a first time entrant to this specific masters competition, to receive 2 x GOLD medals and 1 x SILVER from their combined total of 3 x entries and from within a very competitive Masters competition is a truly fantastic achievement! Massive Congratulations!"
Daily Beast: Yes, Heavy-Metal Band GWAR Has a Rye Whiskey and It’s Good
Created 2021-07-29 12:42:15
The Daily Beast has the round-up on the history of our collaboration with the heavy metal band, GWAR. Max Watman, who has been writing about craft spirits for well nigh twenty years now, has the whole backstory on the band, and even about Catoctin Creek in the early days. He also manages to make the history damn fun to read:
At first, the marriage of Catoctin Creek and GWAR would seem unlikely, even ill advised. GWAR isn’t exactly the sort of music you put on to enhance your contemplation of the complexities of aroma rising up from your tasting glass. Scott Harris, who founded Catoctin Creek Distillery with his wife Becky in 2009, told me “I’m kind of a Neil Diamond, Barbra Streisand kind of guy.”
The reason the union makes sense, however, is because Catoctin Creek comes from a very similar place. Different medium, different aesthetic, but Scott and Becky Harris got into the distilling with the original handful of small scale distillers. Back then, it wasn’t clear that distilling was a viable business. It wasn’t even clear that you could get a fire marshal to give you approval for a distillery. In fact, the odds of it working were perhaps longer than the probability that a horror movie-inspired heavy metal band would take off in a college town.
You can read the full article, here.
Becky Harris on Bourbon Pursuit podcast
Created 2021-08-26 13:48:46
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Scott Harris talks GWAR collaboration on Distill & Disrupt
Created 2021-09-09 13:59:02
Check out Scott Harris talking on episode 4 of the Distill and Disrupt podcast. Here he is talking about the GWAR collaboration and how we came to bottle whisky for the heavy metal band.
Listen on Spotify, here.
Whiskey Vault has fun and reviews Cask Proof rye
Created 2021-09-28 13:23:37
I think they enjoyed it. Have fun with this! Thanks for the review, guys!
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AP: American distillers look to rebuild business in Europe
Created 2021-11-02 19:22:11
The EU tariffs on American whiskey are finally gone! After three long years, we can now compete on a fair basis of free trade. Bruce Schreiner writes for the Associated Press:
With the trade barrier coming down, Catoctin Creek Distillery in Virginia is looking to start reshipping its rye whiskey to EU markets, said Scott Harris, the distillery’s co-founder and general manager.
“We have a chance to go over to Europe now and compete fairly and bring our products back in at competitive prices,” he said. “This is what we’ve been waiting for the whole time.”
But it could take a few years to regain the lost European business, Harris said.
Read the full story, here.
Maxim: Best New American Rye Whiskeys of 2021
Created 2021-12-20 19:22:16
Recent coverage in Maxim magazine was quite good:
Catoctin Creek teams up with metal maestros of havoc, gore and monstrosity GWAR for their highly limited edition Ragnarök Rye release. The intergalactic monsters apparently traveled to Purcellville, Virginia to destroy Planet Earth, as they are wont to do.
“We were quite surprised when GWAR showed up at our distillery,” Catoctin Creek founder Scott Harris tells us. “Purcellville is a quiet town, so to have these intergalactic visitors was honestly a little stressful. We had to constantly keep an eye on them to keep them from breaking stuff, and they even tried to eat our dog, Otto. The only way we could get them to leave was to agree to bottle their whiskey for them.”
So Harris and Catoctin Creek did, crafting a 92-proof rye first aged in charred new white oak, then sent for another sentence in both sugar maple and cherrywood barrels. Beyond brokering galactic peace Catoctin Creek also managed to make one helluva rye. $100 / 46% ABV
Read the full story, here.
WSJ: Heavy Metal Bands Find Subtle Notes Selling Fancy Whiskey
Created 2022-01-28 16:28:42
Heavy metal is all over whiskey these days, and GWAR is certainly among the bands doing whiskey releases. Tripp Mickle breaks it down at The Wall Street Journal:
The prog-metal band Gwar, who claim to be ancient aliens abandoned on Antarctica, partnered on a rye with Catoctin Creek Distillery in Purcellville, Va. The development was led by drummer Brad Roberts who performs as Jizmak da Gusha and wears a mask on stage that resembles the mythological teeth-gnashing dog guarding hell, Cerberus. He said that he and the band’s guitarist, who calls himself Balsac the Jaws ‘o Death, went to the distillery once a week to sample whiskey before selecting one to bottle.
“We liked the first one they made but lied so we could go back and get more drunk,” said Mr. da Gusha, whose band’s songs include “Fire in the Loins,” “We Will Kill Everything,” and “Biledriver.”
You can read the entire story, here.
Scott and Becky featured on The Bourbon Show Podcast
Created 2022-02-07 12:59:36
This is one of our favorite podcasts, and it was a real pleasure to be on this show. The comfortable style of the interview led to a lot of background and personal history on the distillery. Plus, it was a lot of fun!
Steve, Renee & Jeremy interview Becky and Scott Harris, co-founders of Catoctin Creek Distillery in Purcellville, Virginia. The Bourbon Show music (Whiskey on the Mississippi) is by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com).
(If the podcast module above doesn't load, you can find the show, here.)
The Spirits Business: Ten female-founded spirits brands
Created 2022-03-09 18:02:31
Nice to see Becky included in The Spirits Business roundup of ten female-founded spirits brands on International Women's Day.
Becky Harris co-founded Catoctin Creek Distilling Company in Virginia with her husband Scott in 2009. Based in Loudoun County in the north of Virginia, Catoctin Creek produces whiskey, gin and brandy.
With a degree in chemical engineering, Harris also serves as the chief distiller for the company and has previously worked at companies such as Amoco, YDK America, and CIBA, specialising in industrial processes and production systems.
In May 2020, Harris was appointed president of the board of directors for the American Craft Spirits Association.
In 2017, Constellation Brands acquired a minority stake in Catoctin Creek Distilling Company.
Last year, the producer spent US$1m on new equipment to triple its production capacity.
You can read the full article, here.
American Whiskey: Profile on Catoctin Creek
Created 2022-03-09 18:06:58
Maggie Kimberl of American Whiskey magazine recently caught up with Becky Harris for an update on the distillery:
MK: Catoctin Creek whiskeys have garnered some major accolades over the years. What are you most proud of?
RH: This is a really challenging question: if we are talking about the whiskies, they’re like my children, and I love them all! As for the accolades, I am most proud of the consistency we have shown over the past years, reflected in those scores.
You can read the full article, here.
Catoctin Creek - Best of Virginia 2022
Created 2022-05-12 14:22:30
Nestled* on the banks of its namesake creek, Catoctin opening in 2009 as the first legal distillery in Loudoun County since before Prohibition. The distillery's flagship spirit, Roundstone Rye, has received international acclaim. Pick your poison from one of the brand's full line of products including whisky, gin and brandy, plus seasonal releases and exclusive cask offerings.
You can read the full article on page 97, here.
*Scott's note: Not so much nestled, as near.
Catoctin Creek - Best of the City 2022
Created 2022-07-12 14:22:30
The DC Magazine team is excited to officially announce the release of our annual Best of City July/August 2022 Issue (linked here). This year, the reader response and voting was overwhelming and we are so excited to say that this is our biggest issue since 2015.
You can read the feature article, here.
