CATOCTIN CREEK DISTILLING COMPANY WINS REGIONAL FOOD AND BEVERAGE PRODUCER AT PACKED INDUSTRY GALA

June 7, 2015, Washington DC – Top foodservice industry professionals and their fans gathered tonight at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center for the 33rd Annual RAMMY Awards as Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington (RAMW) announced and celebrated winners in 21 award categories. The selection process for the winners involved two esteemed groups, the voting public and an anonymous panel of volunteer judges, consisting of food and dining journalists, educators and foodservice industry professionals.

Catoctin Creek Distilling Company won in the category of Regional Food and Beverage Producer.  Noted in the program for the evening, the RAMW highlighted the following about the Purcellville distillery:

A recent distribution expansion to Europe after half a decade of wowing the DMV ensures that soon the world will also appreciate these top shelf eco-ganic spirits distilled in Purcellville, Virginia.

Also nominated in the category were finalists: DC Brau Brewing Company, Dolci Gelati, Early Mountain Vineyards, and New Columbia Distillers.

"We are so incredibly honored by this award," said Scott Harris, co-founder of the distillery.  "The first person I must thank is my wife, Becky, who gets up every morning to make the whisky.  Just as importantly, I wish to thank all of the restaurants in the DC area who support what we do by buying our products.  There's no place quite like DC for supporting local liquor!  We are truly thankful!"

For more information regarding the winners of these awards, visit therammys.org or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

About The RAMMYS:  Presented by the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington (RAMW), The RAMMY Awards Gala honors the exceptional ability and accomplishments of the hard-working individuals and organizations of the region’s restaurants and foodservice community. Named the #1 Food & Restaurant event by BIZBASH Magazine for four consecutive years, The RAMMYS celebrate one of Metropolitan Washington’s greatest assets: its restaurants.

About Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington (RAMW):  The Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington (RAMW) is the regional trade association representing restaurants and the foodservice industry in the Washington, DC Metropolitan Area. Established in 1920, RAMW is an advocate, resource and community for its members. The Association works to promote and sustain the growth and development of the industry while providing its members legislative and regulatory representation, marketing and small business support, programming and events. RAMW strives to serve its members with professionalism and integrity, and provide them the training, education and support they need to grow a successful business.

About Catoctin Creek Distilling Company:  Catoctin Creek Distilling Company (120 West Main Street, Purcellville, VA 20132; Phone: 540-751-8404; Twitter: @CatoctinCreek) is the first distillery in Loudoun County, Virginia since before prohibition. Certified eco-ganic and kosher, and family owned and operated, Catoctin Creek produces premium Virginia spirits: rye whisky and gin from eco-ganic sources, and seasonal brandy from Virginia wines. For media-related inquiries, please contact Kyle Schmitz at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or for more information on Catoctin Creek Distilling Company please visit www.catoctincreek.com.

Photo courtesy Elaine Chon-Baker via Instagram and used with permission.

Recognized as a Top Performing Attraction as Reviewed by Travelers on the World’s Largest Travel Site

Purcellville, Virginia – May 20, 2015 – Catoctin Creek Distillery today announced that it has received a TripAdvisor® Certificate of Excellence award. Now in its fifth year, the award celebrates excellence in hospitality and is given only to establishments that consistently achieve great traveler reviews on TripAdvisor. Certificate of Excellence winners include accommodations, eateries and attractions located all over the world that have continually delivered a superior customer experience.

When selecting Certificate of Excellence winners, TripAdvisor uses a proprietary algorithm to determine the honorees that takes into account the quality, quantity and recency of reviews and opinions submitted by travelers on TripAdvisor over a 12-month period as well as business’s tenure and ranking on the Popularity Index on the site. To qualify, a business must maintain an overall TripAdvisor bubble rating of at least four out of five, have a minimum number of reviews and must have been listed on TripAdvisor for at least 12 months.

“Winning the TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence is a true source of pride for the entire team at Catoctin Creek, and we’d like to thank all of our past guests who took the time to complete a review on TripAdvisor,” said Hannah Blymier, Tasting Room Manager at Catoctin Creek. “There is no greater seal of approval than being recognized by one’s own customers. With the TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence based on customer reviews, the accolade is a remarkable vote of confidence to our business and our continued commitment to excellence.”

"TripAdvisor is pleased to honor exceptional hospitality businesses that have received consistent praise and recognition by travelers on the site,” said Marc Charron President, TripAdvisor for Business. “By putting a spotlight on businesses that are focused on delivering great service to customers, TripAdvisor not only helps drive increasing hospitality standards around the world, it also gives businesses both large and small the ability to shine and stand out from the competition.”

About Catoctin Creek Distilling Company: Catoctin Creek Distilling Company (120 West Main Street, Purcellville, VA 20132; Phone: 540-751-8404; Twitter: @CatoctinCreek) is the first distillery in Loudoun County, Virginia since before prohibition. Certified eco-ganic and kosher, and family owned and operated, Catoctin Creek produces premium Virginia spirits: rye whisky and gin from eco-ganic sources, and seasonal brandy from Virginia wines. For media-related inquiries, please contact Kyle Schmitz at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or for more information on Catoctin Creek Distilling Company please visit www.catoctincreek.com.

About TripAdvisor: TripAdvisor® is the world's largest travel site*, enabling travelers to plan and book the perfect trip. TripAdvisor offers trusted advice from travelers and a wide variety of travel choices and planning features with seamless links to booking tools that check hundreds of websites to find the best hotel prices. TripAdvisor branded sites make up the largest travel community in the world, reaching 340 million unique monthly visitors**, and more than 225 million reviews and opinions covering more than 4.9 million accommodations, restaurants and attractions. The sites operate in 45 countries worldwide. TripAdvisor also includes TripAdvisor for Business, a dedicated division that provides the tourism industry access to millions of monthly TripAdvisor visitors.

*Source: comScore Media Metrix for TripAdvisor Sites, worldwide, December 2014
**Source: Google Analytics, average monthly unique users, Q1 2015

CATOCTIN CREEK DISTILLERY’S BECKY HARRIS WINS WCR: WOMEN CHEFS & RESTAURATEUR ‘GOLDEN GOBLET’ AWARD AT “WOMEN WHO INSPIRE” AWARDS GALA IN NYC ON APRIL 20TH

April 22, 2015, Purcellville, VA – On Monday, April 20th, amongst a sea of hundreds of some of the most celebrated women in the hospitality industry nationwide, Becky Harris, co-owner and chief distiller at Catoctin Creek Distillery, received the WCR Golden Goblet Service Award at the 2015 WCR: Women Chefs & Restaurateurs’ “Women Who Inspire” Awards Gala hosted in New York City. The award recognizes excellence in the beverage profession and honors a woman whose making or serving of beer, wine, spirits, coffee or tea enhances the dining experience.

Becky and husband and business partner Scott Harris launched the award-winning Catoctin Creek Distillery – the first distillery to open in Loudoun County, Virginia since before prohibition – in 2009.  Becky Harris is one of less than a dozen female distiller-operators in the United States. A chemical engineer and graduate with honors from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, Becky has worked at companies like Amoco, YDK America, and CIBA, specializing in industrial processes and production systems. Eventually after her husband brought the idea of opening a distillery to the table several years ago, Becky’s background has since played a major role in taking her knowledge and applying it to something she loved – making the finest distilled spirits in Virginia.

"It was such an honor not only attend the awards gala surrounded by some of the most talented and respected women in the food and beverage industry, but to receive the Golden Goblet award honoring my work in the spirits industry. I’m just so humbled and grateful to be recognized for such a prestigious award!" said Ms. Harris.

Becky Harris receives the "Golden Goblet" award from Chef Carla Hall at the 2015 WCR "Women Who Inspire" Awards Gala.  Photo credit WCR.

About WCR: Established by Barbara Tropp and seven pioneering women chefs and restaurateurs, WCR is an active resource for women seeking to advance culinary education and gain recognition in various areas of the food and beverage industry. Through invaluable experiences and opportunities, WCR helps leverage the voice of talented women, helping to elevate their position while building a strong connection of industry peers. These connections have influenced the careers of many notable chefs today. For more information on WCR: Women Chefs & Restaurateurs, please visit www.WomenChefs.org.

About Catoctin Creek Distilling Company:  Catoctin Creek Distilling Company (120 West Main Street, Purcellville, VA 20132; Phone: 540-751-8404; Twitter: @CatoctinCreek) is the first distillery in Loudoun County, Virginia since before prohibition. Certified eco-ganic and kosher, and family owned and operated, Catoctin Creek produces premium Virginia spirits: rye whisky and gin from eco-ganic sources, and seasonal brandy from Virginia wines. For media-related inquiries, please contact Kyle Schmitz at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or for more information on Catoctin Creek Distilling Company please visit www.catoctincreek.com.

*** Additional Information, Images & Interviews Available Upon Request ***

Arriving in Spring 2015 in Germany, the United Kingdom, and surrounding EU countries.

April 6, 2015, Purcellville, VA – Catoctin Creek has expanded its international distribution into Europe through Haromex Development GmbH.  The products available in the EU will be:

• Roundstone Rye, 80 proof (40% ABV), 700 mL
• Roundstone Rye, 92 proof (46% ABV), 700 mL
• Roundstone Rye, CASK PROOF (58% ABV), 700 mL
• Roundstone Rye "Haromex bottling" (58% ABV), 700 mL
• Watershed Gin, 92 proof (46% ABV), 700 mL

Catoctin Creek's products will initially launch in the countries of Germany, the United Kingdom, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Denmark, and the Czech Republic. Distribution into other EU countries is available through Haromex's exclusive network of preferred partners.

"Welcome to Europe! We are happy to have our spirits reach the great people of Europe!" remarked Scott Harris, founder of the distillery. "Catoctin Creek has been visiting Europe for a few years now, both in Germany and in the UK, and we've always had such great reception to our products. We are very happy, therefore, to finally reach this deal and begin importing into the continent."

Owned by the van Soest family, Haromex Development GmbH is one of the leading alcohol niche suppliers in Germany, but also to numerous other EU countries through subsidiaries and a loyal network of partners. Located in the small German town of Brüggen, near the Dutch border, Haromex employs two generations of van Soests. The Company's founder and CEO is John van Soest. John has almost 50 years of experience as a spirits supplier and still enjoys life at the company helm. Harald van Soest is in charge of all commercial activities and his brother Roger is responsible for company finances & administration.  Each year Haromex sells a staggering amount of some of the world's highest quality spirits to European shops and restaurants. Haromex provides drinks manufacturers worldwide with a specialized distribution channel for high-quality products.

About Haromex: Haromex Development GmbH (Weihersfeld 45, D-41379 Brüggen, Germany; Phone: +49 2163-95 73 0, Fax: +49 2163-95 73 25, E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) is one of the largest specialty importers of spirits products into Europe. The company's cooperation partners include top quality outlets and specialists in the target areas. For this reason, the portfolio contains over 5,000 of the finest spirits. For more information, please visit www.haromex.com.

About Catoctin Creek Distilling Company:  Catoctin Creek Distilling Company (120 West Main Street, Purcellville, VA 20132; Phone: 540-751-8404; Twitter: @CatoctinCreek) is the first distillery in Loudoun County, Virginia since before prohibition. Certified eco-ganic and kosher, and family owned and operated, Catoctin Creek produces premium Virginia spirits: rye whisky and gin from eco-ganic sources, and seasonal brandy from Virginia wines. For media-related inquiries, please contact Kyle Schmitz at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or for more information on Catoctin Creek Distilling Company please visit www.catoctincreek.com.

Purcellville, VA, March 29, 2015 — On a crisp Sunday evening, Catoctin Creek held their event to announce the winners in the 2015 Catoctin Creek Art Contest.  A large crowd of artists were present to witness the results:

• In first place:  "Party at Catoctin Creek", by Randy Krinkles, winning $1000.
• In second place:  "Case Building Etching in Black", by Paige Ulvi, winning $500.
• In third place:  "Distillery Vats", by Dora Ramirez, winning $250.

The winning entries were selected from among 141 entrants to the contest.  The selection process was done using blind ballots by the employees of the Purcellville distillery, and the results were tabulated to find the winners.  Also attending the event were representatives for the Loudoun Arts Council and the Round Hill Arts Center, both of whom received donations from the distillery and patrons of the event.

"Choosing the winning entries was really difficult," remarked founder and president, Becky Harris.  "There were so many styles and so many wonderful pieces; honestly, I wish we could have chosen ten or twelve winners!"

The contest was created to foster arts in the community, and the distillery received a diverse set of entries, including photography, paintings, mixed-media, charcoal drawings, etchings, pottery, and watercolors.  All entries in the contest will be on display at the distillery now and throughout the month of April.  Now that the contest voting period is over, the artists' names will be placed on each piece so that they may receive recognition for their work.  The general public is invited to view the pieces at Catoctin Creek's Main Street location in Purcellville.

"We were really pleased with the results of this contest," said Scott Harris, founder and general manager of the distillery.  "The art we received is top notch, showing we live in a county rich with the arts."  During the evening event, Scott spoke further about the need for arts in the community: "There is so much discussion today in our news and in politics, both on the left and the right, about the need for STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) based-education and job-training.  In the process, arts and humanities are being cut back and removed from our public curricula.  I think it does our country and our people a disservice to focus solely on STEM without the respect and time due to the humanities.  Humanities enrich our lives in ways far beyond mere physical wealth.  That is one reason that we wanted to hold this contest, to encourage those out there who don't fit into the typical STEM philosophy."

After the success of Catoctin Creek's first art contest, look for it to return in 2016.

The Winning Entries

Show below, left to right, art by Randy Krinkles (1st place), Paige Ulvi (2nd place), and Dora Ramirez (3rd place).

The Winning Artists:

Show below, left to right, posing with Scott Harris, are artists Randy Krinkles (1st place), Paige Ulvi (2nd place), and Dora Ramirez (3rd place).

About Catoctin Creek Distilling Company:  Catoctin Creek Distilling Company (120 West Main Street, Purcellville, VA 20132; Phone: 540-751-8404; Twitter: @CatoctinCreek) is the first distillery in Loudoun County, Virginia since before prohibition. Certified eco-ganic and kosher, and family owned and operated, Catoctin Creek produces premium Virginia spirits: rye whisky and gin from eco-ganic sources, and seasonal brandy from Virginia wines. For media-related inquiries, please contact Kyle Schmitz at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or for more information on Catoctin Creek Distilling Company please visit www.catoctincreek.com.

Roundstone Rye "92 Proof" receives Silver Medal at the 2015 San Francisco World Spirits Competition and 87 point rating at Ultimate Spirits Challenge

Purcellville, VA, March 28, 2015 — In the same week, Catoctin Creek Distilling Company has been awarded two medals for its Roundstone Rye "92 Proof" whisky from two of the top international spirits judging contests:  a silver medal from the San Francisco World Spirits Competition (SFWSC) and an 87 point rating (Very Good, Strong Recommendation) from F. Paul Pacult's Ultimate Spirits Challenge (USC) in New York City.  Both competitions are very well regarded as some of the most impartial and well attended competitions in the world.

From the USC review:

Roundstone Rye "92 Proof" - Very pretty pale gold color. Big, bright, floral aromas followed in the mouth by a huge blast of sweet grain and spice. This one goes to 11! The finish leans toward bitter almond and spice, and then the floral elements return. 87 points - Very Good, Strong Recommendation

"We are very excited by this happy news:  two medals in one week!" remarked Scott Harris, founder and general manager at Catoctin Creek.  "These two competitions are the gold standards for spirits judging, receiving thousands of entrants from across the industry worldwide.  To be selected for these medals, in competitions that perform completely blind tastings, shows that our spirits truly stand up to the international standard and are truly among the best in the world!"

The San Francisco World Spirits Competition is regarded as the most respected spirits competition in the world. The Competition was the first comprehensive, international spirits judging ever held in the United States on an annual basis. Products are evaluated by top spirits professionals and are judged in a blind, consensual procedure ensuring competitive integrity and making this annual competition the most reputable and recognized competition in the spirits industry.

Ultimate Beverage Challenge is the definitive spirits and wine evaluation company today. Its two world-class competitions Ultimate Spirits Challenge and Ultimate Wine Challenge provide unparalleled value, offering results that are reliable and easily understandable in today’s marketplace, creating opportunities for the industry, and establishing the platinum standard that defines what beverage evaluation should be. 

About Catoctin Creek Distilling Company:  Catoctin Creek Distilling Company (120 West Main Street, Purcellville, VA 20132; Phone: 540-751-8404; Twitter: @CatoctinCreek) is the first distillery in Loudoun County, Virginia since before prohibition. Certified eco-ganic and kosher, and family owned and operated, Catoctin Creek produces premium Virginia spirits: rye whisky and gin from eco-ganic sources, and seasonal brandy from Virginia wines. For media-related inquiries, please contact Kyle Schmitz at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or for more information on Catoctin Creek Distilling Company please visit www.catoctincreek.com.

Purcellville, VA, March 6, 2015 — Catoctin Creek Distilling Company has been awarded a silver medal from the Beverage Testing Institute in Chicago, Illinois. Catoctin Creek eco-ganic Roundstone Rye "92 Proof" was awarded 87 points (Highly Recommended) and won silver in the category of rye whiskey.

From the review:

Roundstone Rye "92 Proof" - Amber color. Bright, fruity, spicy aromas of spumoni gelato, beeswax candle, cedar spice rack, and burnt sugar with a supple, racy, dry-yet-fruity medium-to-full body and a peppery, intriguing, medium-long nutmeg, pink pepper, dried fruits, and chili pepper finish. A very spice forward rye that will pop in cocktails. 87 points - Highly Recommended - Silver

The Beverage Testing Institute was founded in 1981 with the objective of producing fair and impartial wine reviews for consumers. Today, this philosophy still holds true. Over the years, their buying guides have appeared in the Wine Enthusiast, Restaurant Hospitality, The New Yorker Magazine, Wine & Spirits, International Wine Review, Epicurious.com, All About Beer, and many others.

"We are very glad to receive these awards," said founder and co-distiller Scott Harris. "BTI is one of the most respected names in beverage reviews, and we're very happy to get this praise for our whisky." Mr. Harris is the Vice President and General Manager at Catoctin Creek, a family run "mom and pop" operation he and his wife, Becky Harris, started in 2009.

For more information about the Beverage Testing Institute, see http://www.tastings.com.

About Catoctin Creek Distilling Company:  Catoctin Creek Distilling Company (120 West Main Street, Purcellville, VA 20132; Phone: 540-751-8404; Twitter: @CatoctinCreek) is the first distillery in Loudoun County, Virginia since before prohibition. Certified eco-ganic and kosher, and family owned and operated, Catoctin Creek produces premium Virginia spirits: rye whisky and gin from eco-ganic sources, and seasonal brandy from Virginia wines. For media-related inquiries, please contact Kyle Schmitz at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or for more information on Catoctin Creek Distilling Company please visit www.catoctincreek.com.

Arriving in March, 2015 in the Golden State.

February 23, 2015, Purcellville, VA – Catoctin Creek expanded its distribution into California through JVS Imports, a wine and spirits importer and wholesaler located in South San Francisco.  Initially, the Purcellville distillery will ship its award winning Roundstone Rye and Roundstone Rye "92 Proof" into the California market.

"This is a watershed day for us, since California is one of the biggest and most significant markets in the US," said Scott Harris, founder of the distillery.  "We've waited quite some time before feeling like we were ready for the west coast again. We feel JVS will be an excellent partner in distribution into the state."

This marks the return of the Virginia distillery into the California market.  Originally in California in 2010, the company later pulled back from the state to focus on local markets like Virginia, DC, and Maryland.  "Now, with the expanded capacity of the new distillery on Main Street in Purcellville, we feel we have the product supply to move into California more confidently," said Mr. Harris.

"We at JVS Imports are delighted to be adding the Catoctin Creek selection of products to our existing portfolio of American Craft Spirits," said Sam Filmus, president of JVS Imports.  "This multi-award winning distillery offers the finest spirits available. The JVS Team is excited to introduce the line to California's fine spirits consumers."

Initial distribution will start around the southern California area before moving into the rest of the state.

About Catoctin Creek Distilling Company:  Catoctin Creek Distilling Company (120 West Main Street, Purcellville, VA 20132; Phone: 540-751-8404; Twitter: @CatoctinCreek) is the first distillery in Loudoun County, Virginia since before prohibition. Certified eco-ganic and kosher, and family owned and operated, Catoctin Creek produces premium Virginia spirits: rye whisky and gin from eco-ganic sources, and seasonal brandy from Virginia wines. For media-related inquiries, please contact Kyle Schmitz at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or for more information on Catoctin Creek Distilling Company please visit www.catoctincreek.com.

About JVS Imports: JVS Wine and Spirit Imports (360 Swift Ave. Block B Suite 9, South San Francisco, CA 94080; Phone: 650-869-5555) was started over 10 years ago in the San Francisco Bay Area. In 1997 Sam Filmus and his family began the business of importing and distributing wines from Eastern Europe. The business grew in two important directions. The first was the development of JVS as an importer with a national network of distributors for its products. The second was the growth of JVS as a wholesaler in California.  For more information, please visit www.jvsimports.com.

Announcing Pearousia Barrel "Old Tom" Style Watershed Gin!

February 12, 2015, Purcellville, VA – Catoctin Creek is pleased to announce the limited release of our Pearousia Barrel "Old Tom" style Watershed Gin.  We took our regular, award-winning Watershed Gin, and set some aside for a time to rest in a re-used Pearousia pear brandy barrel.  The result is a golden, rich, and surprisingly fruity gin which gleams in those cocktails made for Old Tom gins, like the famous Ramos Gin Fizz.*

"This entire product is the work of our brand ambassador, Chad Robinson," said Scott Harris, founder of the distillery.  "Chad came to us with the idea, and begged us to reserve a couple spent Pearousia barrels for him.  We filled them with gin, let them rest, and when the time was right--and the flavors were at their peak--we pulled the gin from the barrel to bottle it.  The result is very exciting!"

There will only be 344 bottles available for sale, which will be evenly divided between Catoctin Creek Distillery's tasting room, and the Maryland / Washington DC market served by Bacchus Importers, Ltd.  "Obviously, we expect this to sell out very quickly," added Mr. Robinson. "If you're in the DC area, I'll be pouring tastings at Weygandt Wines in Cleveland Park on March 14th."

Each 750 mL bottle is bottled at 92.4 proof (46.2% ABV).  The Virginia ABC price is $50.90.

The formal release schedule for the "Old Tom" Watershed Gin is:

At the Distilery:

• Sunday, March 1 -- Available for purchase to VIP members
• Sunday, March 8 -- "Ramos Gin Fizz" Shake Off Event -- For VIP members, a cocktail party celebrating the new gin with classic cocktail fun!
• Sunday, March 15 -- Available for purchase to the general public

At Weygandt Wines in DC:

• Saturday, March 14 -- Chad will be pouring tastings at Weygandt Wines with the new gin, among other Catoctin Creek products

At Hank's on the Hill in DC:

• Monday, March 16 -- Launch party at Hanks on the Hill from 5pm - 7pm, featuring a $5 happy hour punch and special cocktail menu at $10 apiece.

The new Catoctin Creek Pearousia Barrel "Old Tom" Watershed Gin will only be available in limited release, and each bottle is hand numbered.  Look for this and more exciting releases to come in 2015.

*Need that recipe for a Ramos Gin Fizz?  Happy to oblige:

Ramos Gin Fizz

3 oz Catoctin Creek "Old Tom" Watershed Gin
1/2 oz parts fresh lime juice
1/2 oz fresh fresh lemon juice
1/2 oz simple syrup
4 oz cream
1 egg white
3 dashes Orange flower water
2 drops Vanilla extract
Soda water

Pour all ingredients except soda in a mixing glass, dry shake (no ice) for two minutes, add ice and hard shake for another minute.

Strain into a highball glass without ice, top with soda.

Recipe courtesy Wikipedia.

About Catoctin Creek Distilling Company:  Catoctin Creek Distilling Company (120 West Main Street, Purcellville, VA 20132; Phone: 540-751-8404; Twitter: @CatoctinCreek) is the first distillery in Loudoun County Virginia since before prohibition. Certified eco-ganic and kosher, and family owned and operated, Catoctin Creek produces premium spirits: rye whisky and gin from eco-ganic sources, and seasonal brandy from Virginia wines. For media-related inquiries, please contact Kyle Schmitz at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or for more information on Catoctin Creek Distilling Company please visit www.catoctincreek.com.

CATOCTIN CREEK DISTILLERY’S ROUNDSTONE RYE CASK PROOF & ROUNDSTONE RYE 92 PROOF AWARDED GOLD & SILVER MEDALS AT THE 3RD ANNUAL ‘WIZARDS OF WHISKY’ WORLD AWARDS IN THE UK

February 5, 2015, Purcellville, VA – Catoctin Creek Distillery’s critically acclaimed Roundstone Rye “Cask Proof” and Roundstone Rye “92 Proof” each took home medals at the 3rd Annual Wizards of Whisky World Awards for 2015, hosted in the UK. The Roundstone Rye “Cask Proof” secured the gold medal for the ‘World’s Best Other/Grain Whisky’ category and the Roundstone Rye “92 Proof” received the silver medal for the same category.

The international awards – founded by whisky connoisseur Dominic Roskrow – has become one of the most talked about and respected competitions celebrating the best whisky from all across the globe. Entries for the international competition were due on October 30th, the judging process took place in two stages throughout November and December, and winners were selected and announced in January 2015. The awards were judged by two panels of experts made up of bloggers, writers, retailers, and members of Wizard’s founder Dominic Roskrow’s VIP club, which have been tasting whisky from around the world for over 10 years.

"We are absolutely thrilled to have been awarded with two medals as a result of entering our Roundstone Rye products into this prestigious international whisky competition," said Scott Harris, founder of Catoctin Creek Distilling Company. "It’s such an honor that the Wizards of Whisky World Awards, after performing blind tastings of hundreds of spirits from around the world, named Catoctin Creek Roundstone Rye "Cask Proof" its #7 whisky in the grain whisky spirits category, and earning it a gold medal. That's beating out some pretty big names in the whisky world right now, like Whistlepig, Bushmills, Redbreast, and Greenspot, just to name a few! And Roundstone Rye "92 Proof" came in at a very respectable #18 in the same category, earning silver.”

2015 Wizards of Whisky Categories:

• World’s Best Whisky
• World’s Best Single Malt
• World’s Best Blend
• World’s Best Other/Grain Whisky
• American Whiskey of the Year
• African/Asian Whisky of the Year
• Canadian Whisky of the Year
• European Whisky of the Year
• Irish Whisky of the Year
• Japanese Whisky of the Year
• World Distiller of the Year
• American Distiller of the Year
• African/Asian Distiller of the Year
• Canadian Distiller of the Year
• European Distiller of the Year
• Irish Distiller of the Year
• Japanese Distiller of the Year
• Independent Bottler of the Year
• World's Top 20 Whiskies
• Next Big Thing Award

About Catoctin Creek Distilling Company:  Catoctin Creek Distilling Company (120 West Main Street, Purcellville, VA 20132; Phone: 540-751-8404; Twitter: @CatoctinCreek) is the first distillery in Loudoun County Virginia since before prohibition. Certified eco-ganic and kosher, and family owned and operated, Catoctin Creek produces premium spirits: rye whisky and gin from eco-ganic sources, brandy from Virginia wines, and seasonal brandy. Catoctin Creek prides itself on offering high-quality and eco-ganic spirits. For media-related inquiries, please contact Kyle Schmitz at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or for more information on Catoctin Creek Distilling Company please visit www.catoctincreek.com.

Loudoun County distillery sponsors its first Art Contest for local artists - $1000 Grand Prize!

January 28, 2015, Purcellville, VA – Catoctin Creek is proud to announce its first ever art contest.  Intended as a way to support and promote the diverse local art community of Loudoun County, Virginia and surrounding areas, Catoctin Creek will accept submissions of art, with a grand prize of $1000 for the winning piece!

Just announced:  Awards Event - March 29, 7pm.  Details here.

"Becky and I have always loved art, and live in a county rich with local artists," remarked Scott Harris.  "We wanted to see what kind of art is out there, and give local artists a platform to show off their work."

Submissions will be accepted until March 13, 2015, at 5:00pm.  The contest will be judged by the employees of the Loudoun distillery, and a winner will be chosen on March 20th.

• Grand Prize:  $1000
• Second Place:  $500
• Third Place:  $250

All submitted entries will be eligible for display in our tasting room for the entire month of April. 

Submissions should reflect some aspect of Catoctin Creek (the distillery or the creek), life in Virginia, Maryland or Washington DC, and reflect revelry, culture, enjoyment of life, whiskey, drinking, etc.  We give wide latitude for the maximum artistic creativity.  Nearly any submission will be acceptable, including, but not limited to:

• Landscapes
• Still Lifes
• Portraits
• Sculpture
• Music
• Jewelry
• And any media types:  Watercolors / Mixed Media / Photography / Painting / Ink / etc.

Submissions may be made in person at the distillery, or electronically in a high-quality file TIFF, AI, PDF, to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Pictured above, clockwise from top left, art by Andrew Spell, Jay Cliburn, David Buchanan, and Firefly Imageworks.

Rules of the Contest

All entries become the property of Catoctin Creek Distilling Company, LLC.   Don't want to submit the original?  That's cool!  We get that.  Then just submit a digital image or a print of the artwork.  That's fine with us!  That's what we'll keep, and you can keep the original if you like.

We may elect to use your art in national promotions (even non-winning entries), and in all such cases, the artist will be given credit for their work.

All artwork must be 100% original, and artists must verify that their work is unique through a provided affidavit. 

For fairness, Catoctin Creek employees will select the winning pieces through a blind process (artist name is unknown during the selections). 

For further information, or questions, please contact the distillery at the address provided below.

About Catoctin Creek Distilling Company: Catoctin Creek Distilling Company (120 West Main Street, Purcellville, VA 20132; Phone: 540-751-8404; Twitter: @CatoctinCreek) is the first distillery in Loudoun County Virginia since before prohibition. Certified eco-ganic and kosher, and family owned and operated, Catoctin Creek produces premium spirits: rye whisky and gin from eco-ganic sources, brandy from Virginia wines, and seasonal brandy. Catoctin Creek prides itself on offering high-quality and eco-ganic spirits. For media-related inquiries, please contact Kyle Schmitz at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or for more information on Catoctin Creek Distilling Company please visit www.catoctincreek.com.

Loudoun County distillery absorbs Virginia ABC mark-up; Mosby's Spirit and Watershed Gin prices will drop

November 25, 2014, Purcellville, VA – Despite the increase in mark-ups recently announced by the Virginia ABC board, Catoctin Creek will hold steady its retail pricing, essentially absorbing the cost of the mark-ups at the wholesale level and shielding the consumer from the price mark-up for its own products.  The retail price on Watershed Gin and Mosby's Spirit, the distillery's "white" spirits category, will be further reduced.

"We felt it was unfair to push another price increase to the consumers in a state that already sees the third highest liquor mark-up in the country," remarked Scott Harris, founder of the distillery.  "This time, we've decided to absorb the mark-up increases to hold our prices essentially steady so our customers do not feel this pain."

The distillery will still see minor changes in their pricing due to the Virginia ABC's new policy of "rounding to the nines," which means all pricing within the ABC system will be rounded up to nine cents in the last digit.  (For example, a product that once cost $34.15 would become $34.19.)

Catoctin Creek's new per-bottle retail pricing in Virginia, will be as follows:

• Roundstone Rye "80 proof" - $44.99
• Roundstone Rye "92 proof" - $52.79
• Mosby's Spirit - $29.49 (new lower price)
• Watershed Gin - $34.19 (new lower price)
• 1757 Virginia Brandy - $49.99
• Pearousia Pear Brandy - $42.49
• Short Hill Mountain Peach Brandy - $42.49

As required by law, the pricing at the distillery store will match the Virginia ABC system pricing.  New pricing becomes effective December 8, 2014.

About Catoctin Creek Distilling Company:  Catoctin Creek Distilling Company (120 West Main Street, Purcellville, VA 20132; Phone: 540-751-8404; Twitter: @CatoctinCreek) is the first distillery in Loudoun County Virginia since before prohibition. Certified eco-ganic and kosher, and family owned and operated, Catoctin Creek produces premium spirits: rye whisky and gin from eco-ganic sources, brandy from Virginia wines, and seasonal brandy. Catoctin Creek prides itself on offering high-quality and eco-ganic spirits. For media-related inquiries, please contact Kyle Schmitz at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or for more information on Catoctin Creek Distilling Company please visit www.catoctincreek.com.