"Just bought some of your Roundstone Rye. Seriously, one of the best whiskeys I've had. Well done, you. Delish! Can't wait to try more."

-- Caroline Jane Kenney

Latest News

Big news! Virginia Senate Bill 1249 was signed by Governor Bob McDonnell, allowing us to sell bottles at our distillery! The law, in effect, allows us to operate as an ABC store, selling all of our products in our retail store starting on July 1. Look for a "store grand opening" on that date. Perhaps you can be the first to buy a bottle at the distillery when we open on Friday morning, July 1st!

Because of the expected increase in sales, we've ramped up production of our spirits. This means more rye grain, more yeast, more water, and yes, more barrels. We're filling barrels like crazy, working to get enough Roundstone Rye into inventory so that we're ready when people can start buying directly from us. Becky has been filling barrels at a rate of about two per week, which should put us in good shape come July.

Two More Awards from American Distilling Institute

We were very pleased to obtain two more medals from the American Distilling Institute. Mosby's Spirit received another bronze medal and was named "Best In Category" for un-aged rye whiskey. Roundstone Rye picked up a silver medal at the competition and was also named "Best In Category" for aged rye whiskey. These medals are great, and we certainly welcome the recognition, but most of all, we're really glad that people are enjoying our spirits.

Mosby's Available in Virginia ABC

In May, Mosby's Spirit will start to appear on the shelves of your local Virginia ABC stores. ABC decided to pick it up as a "listed item" earlier this quarter, and now almost one thousand bottles sit poised in Richmond for delivery to the stores early this month. And in case the store clerks are unfamiliar with Mosby's Spirit, you can ask for it by product number #27488. No more special ordering required!

Events

In May and early June, look for a few very cool events on the calendar:

• May 11 - Kennedy Center Wine & Cultural Celebration - A wonderful event at the Rooftop Terrace Restaurant.  We'll be pouring drinks and there will be lots of local foods provided.
• May 14 - Bottling Day Workshop - Our popular, and free event.  A hands on bottling workshop.
• May 21 & 22 - Loudoun County Farm Tours - Come and see free tours of production at the distillery.  We'll be mashing and distilling all day with nonstop tours through the day.
• June 4 - Barrel Tasting at Park Hyatt, DC - Gather at the entranceway of Blue Duck Tavern, surrounded by barrels, and sample the true flavors of American wine and spirits.

In Closing...

As always, there are lots of fun and information on our Facebook and Twitter pages, where you can stay up to date with the daily activities at the distillery.  Tours are always free, so stop by and see us sometime!

Remember, "Think Global, Drink LOCAL!"^SM

Cheers!
Scott & Becky

Latest News

I'll eat when I'm hungry, I'll drink when I'm dry
If the hard times don't kill me, I'll lay down and die
I'll tune up my fiddle and I 'll rosin my bow
I'll make myself welcome, wherever I go

Rye whiskey, rye whiskey, rye whiskey I cry
If a tree don't fall on me, I'll live till I die

-- Tex Ritter, "Rye Whiskey"

March was a whirlwind month for us at Catoctin Creek. Early in the month, our Mosby's Spirit was featured in a story on rye whiskey in DRAFT Magazine. The very next day, in Imbibe, they featured our Watershed Gin, along with a nice spot for our friends at Mokomandy! (including a recipe for their Hibiscus 75, which is an amazing gin cocktail!)

Later in the month, we picked up news that we received two silver medals at the Beverage Testing Institute in Chicago, both for our Mosby's Spirit and our Roundstone Rye. And finally, after that, we received word that our Mosby's Spirit was rated a "Strong Recommendation" from F. Paul Pacult's Ultimate Spirits Challenge In fact, Mosby's Spirit was the third highest rated spirit in the category of American Whiskey.

Wow! What a great month!

Events

In March, we kicked off with a great cocktail party, courtesy smörgie and Church & State in DC. Thanks to Shakti from smörgie and Erik from C&S for hosting the event. We had a great time pouring our whiskies and telling the story about starting the distillery. Plus, there was a cool cocktail contest, with some very creative and unusual new cocktails.

Coming in April, we have the EarthDay@Loudoun family festival at Clyde's of Willow Creek in the Broadlands. Catoctin Creek is the proud sponsor this year of the Wine, Beer and Spirits Garden. That means we'll be pouring! Come by for a tasting, and sample great local wines and beers while you're there as well. (Grown-ups only, of course.)

We've also set the date for our next Distilling Workshop. The last workshop was a complete success, and the folks really enjoy learning the details behind the distillation process. The June workshop includes a full tasting at Magnolia's restaurant included in the price of the seminar. So be sure to reserve your spot if you're interested, because these do sell out.

Mosby's Spirit "Listed" in Virginia ABC

Our beloved Mosby's Spirit has finally been graduated from the "special order" status to a full "listed" product in Virginia ABC. That means you should find it on the Virginia shelves starting no later than May. Look for it next to the Roundstone Rye, but if you don't see it, be sure to ask your ABC store clerk for product number #27488. This should make Mosby's much easier to obtain going forward!

So, head on out to your ABC stores and get a bottle of a true Virginia historical spirit, and our most award winning product!

In Closing...

As always, there are lots of fun and information on our Facebook and Twitter pages, where you can stay up to date with the daily activities at the distillery.  Tours are always free, so stop by and see us sometime!

Remember, "Think Global, Drink LOCAL!"^SM

Cheers!
Scott & Becky

Latest News

February was another busy month for us at Catoctin Creek. During the month, we hosted two private bottling workshops (one for a volunteer food kitchen in DC, and one for a wedding party), got ourselves into a lot of new restaurants, and hosted a table at the first ever Loudoun Food Expo in Purcellville.

The Loudoun Expo was incredibly well attended, and quite surprising. We visited with over 1,000 people, mostly locals, interested in our spirits, plus the fine array of local wines, meats, and produce available from producers in Western Loudoun. Many people don't realize, we have quite an agricultural area in the county, and it's been growing in recent years. We always encourage people to support their local businesses, or they won't exist anymore!

Photo credit Shannon Sollinger, Leesburg Patch. Read more about the Leesburg Patch story on the Loudoun Expo, here.

Major Win in Richmond!

Although it hasn't gotten as much attention as the Governor's ABC privatization bill, we have a bill working its way quietly through Richmond. Senate Bill 1249, designating an eco-ganic distillery as an agent of the ABC board, has passed both the Senate and the House of Delegates! (Hooray!) It remains to be signed by the Governor before becoming law. SB1249 will allow us to now sell bottles at our distillery. That means, if you cannot find the bottles at your local store, you can always come by and pick up a bottle or two from us.

And at the federal level, if you'd like to support smaller excise taxes for small producers like us, please support HR#777.  Supporting the bill is easy using the PopVox web site.  They do all the work in contacting your local representatives!  Click here for more details.

March Events

Looking forward to March, we have several great events planned:

• March 1 - Cocktails at Church & State in DC - Register now with coupon code "confess" and receive 10% off!
• March 4 - Bottling Workshop - These fill up fast! RSVP via email today.
• March 9 - Tasting at Wine Underground in Baltimore
• March 19 - Distilling Workshop (still some space available)

More great events are scheduled in April and May, so check our web site for full details.

Increasing Capacity

We've been so busy keeping up with demand, we've decided to double our production and mash twice per week now. That should allow us to ready ourselves for in-distillery sales, and provide better product availability in Virginia. We know it's frustrating not to find our stuff on the shelves when you go to your store, and we're working very hard to try to address that situation. Hopefully, the increased production means more product available when you want it, where you want it.

So for now, I better get back to the distillery floor! There's rye to be mashed!

As always, there are lots of fun and information on our Facebook and Twitter pages, where you can stay up to date with the daily activities at the distillery.  Tours are always free, so stop by and see us sometime!

Remember, "Think Global, Drink LOCAL!"^SM

Cheers!
Scott & Becky

Latest News

Whew! We're still trying to catch our breath after a very busy 2010 holiday season. With all the mundane year-end tasks (like closing the accounting year), we're still focusing a ton of effort on keeping the stores stocked with Roundstone Rye, Mosby's Spirit, Watershed Gin and Pearousia. We're working like crazy, but this is a good thing!

In January, we celebrated our first full year in production. Yep, we're a year old! Still in diapers, but also still here and making whisky! We enjoyed a few nice pieces of press in January, including a story in The Loudoun Times, a four page feature in Flavor magazine, a mention on the very popular WTOP radio station, and a front page cover story in The Indie. We're blessed for all the press we're getting. I guess it shows Northern Virginia's interest in its first (legal) distillery since Prohibition!

We have lots of great new cocktails on our web site, so be sure to check out the cocktails page for many cool ideas. Experiment a little, and if you come up with something good (or great), give it a name and send it to us. We'll gladly stick the best ones on the web page and give you credit. Be sure to include a photo so we can see what the cocktail looks like!

In January, we kept busy with two bottling workshops and our quarterly distilling workshop. Our distilling workshop overflowed at well over 30 people, but I think everybody had a great time learning about making whisky. And we always have a super time with our bottling volunteers. It is always a great way to meet new people, and folks enjoy the experience of working the bottling line for an hour or two on a Saturday. If you're ever interested in joining us, drop us a line!

As always, there are lots of fun and information on our Facebook and Twitter pages, where you can stay up to date with the daily activities at the distillery.  Tours are always free, so stop by and see us sometime!

Remember, "Think Global, Drink LOCAL!"^SM

Cheers!
Scott & Becky

Happy New Year!!

And surely ye'll be your pint stowp!
And surely I'll be mine!
And we'll tak a cup o'kindness yet,
For auld lang syne.
— Robert Burns, 1788

Happy New Year!! ... Or as they say in Scotland, "Happy Hogmanay!"

What a year we had in 2010. January marks our first anniversary in full-scale production, and looking back, it has been quite a first year! I won't bore you with a 2010 "Year-End Review"; there's always our web site for that.

Instead, let us raise a glass and toast "Cheers!" to a prosperous and healthy 2011! Sláinte!

News for December

December was one of our busiest months ever.  Naturally, with all the seasonal giving for Hanukkah and Christmas, our sales were the strongest ever.  (And we thank you for that!)  What a great way to end the year!

As the year ended, we were very lucky to get featured in the Washington Business Journal and KosherEye, a leading national kosher food review site.  We always enjoy the press, and it helps us get the word out there and tell our story.

As for events, we have a few in store for January:

• Jan. 8 - Our bottling workshop, where we'll be bottling 120 cases of Roundstone Rye.  The demand for this eco-ganic rye whisky has been strong, and we're now bottling double per month what we were bottling only a few months ago!  If you are one of the folks who responded to our invitation, you'll have a great time and get to see some pretty neat behind-the-scenes operations at the distillery.
• Jan. 15 - Our artisan distilling workshop, where the uber-whiskey-geeks get to learn about the craft, science, and business of distilling, and get to be a distiller for a day.  This day-long session goes deep into the operations at the distillery from mashing, to fermentation, to distillation, to aging, filtering, and finally bottling.  We conclude the day with a tasting at Magnolia's, which is a great way to end the day!
• Jan. 21 - Tasting and cocktails at Food Matters in Alexandria.  Food Matters is one of the coolest new restaurants in the DC area, focusing on eco-ganic, sustainable and (shall I say?) DELICIOUS food!  We're overjoyed to be bringing our spirits in to sample some of their awesome cocktails.

Finally, the last of the Pearousia pear brandy is in the ABC system.  If you haven't yet had a chance to purchase any, there are about 100 bottles left.  You'll need to special order it through your local ABC store.  Just tell the clerk you want a bottle of Catoctin Creek Pearousia, and give them the order code #952556.  When it's gone, IT'S GONE!  These limited edition, hand numbered bottles won't last.  So get yours today.

As always, there are lots of fun and information on our Facebook and Twitter pages, where you can stay up to date with the daily activities at the distillery.  Tours are always free, so stop by and see us sometime!

Remember, "Think Global, Drink LOCAL!"^SM

Cheers!
Scott & Becky

Give him strong drink until he wink,
That is sinking in despair;
And liquor good to fire his blood,
That is pressed with grief and care:
There let him drink deeply, and deep carouse,
With bumpers flowing over,
Till he forgets his loves or debts,
And minds his griefs no more.
— Solomon's Proverbs, xxxi. 6, 7
(as transcribed by Robert Burns)

News for November

As December brings its chill winds, we now see the closure of 2010 approaching.  What an incredible year it has been for us.  This year was our first full year in production, and now, as we look forward to the holidays, we smile and think back gratefully on the start of our business and how fortunate we were.

Yes, November has come and gone, and, good heavens, what a busy month it was! We received so much good news last month that it seems unbelievable! We are so lucky and blessed to be enjoying this great new career we've made for ourselves.  Becky and I are so thankful for each and every one of you out there who enjoy our products.  This holiday season, we raise a glass to you!

Cheers!

In a single overwhelming week last month, we received three very big pieces of news.  The first was winning two silver medals at the New York International Spirits Competition!  Up against some 150 spirits from around the world, we came away with silvers for both of our whiskies (Roundstone Rye and Mosby's Spirit).  We now have a growing list of awards and accolades that we can proudly publish on our web site.  Secondly, we received a great review from the Jewish Single Malt Whisky Society, and finally, we found ourselves as a winner in Garden and Gun magazine's "Made in the South" awards. Any one of these would have been a great boost to the week, but all three in one week? Whew! Thank you, all!

Also in November, MyJoogTV released their video episode about Catoctin Creek with musician Andrew McKnight performing one of his songs. If you haven't seen it yet, check it out. It has some neat history about establishing the distillery and some enjoyable music from Andrew McKnight–a real friend of the distillery.

Great Gift Idea for the Holidays

As we turn our minds to the holidays, and gifts for Christmas and Hanukkah, don't forget those hard-to-buy-for folks on your list. Every year, it seems I never know what to buy my father for Christmas. If you are like me, why not buy a bottle of Roundstone Rye, Mosby's Spirit or Pearousia? There are still about 100 bottles of Pearousia left, so order yours today!

(Did you know it is perfectly OK to mail liquor in the US mail, UPS, or Fed-Ex? Although our distillery cannot ship directly to consumers, person-to-person shipments have always been legal.)

Check out our web site for details on where to buy our products locally.  The list grows more and more every month.

Shipping Nationwide

And did you know you can now buy Catoctin Creek products nationwide? YES! Just call the good folks at Schneider's of Capitol Hill and ask for Catoctin Creek. We're new at the store, so we're not appearing in their online store yet, but just call them at 1-800-377-1461, and Schneider's can take care of packing and shipping for any destination you choose.

Events Calendar

Keep an eye out for these cool events in December and January:

• Dec. 2 - Charity Dinner at Patowmack Farm Restaurant
• Dec. 4 - Bottling Workshop (Now full)
• Jan. 15 - Distilling Workshop - Learn how to make whisky!  Hands on workshop!

As always, there are lots of fun and information on our Facebook and Twitter pages, where you can stay up to date with the daily activities at the distillery.  Tours are always free, so stop by and see us sometime!

Remember, "Think Global, Drink LOCAL!"^SM

Cheers!
Scott & Becky

Announcing the November Bottling Workshop... Volunteers Wanted!

Catoctin Creek® Distilling Company will conduct a BOTTLING DAY on Saturday, November 13. Volunteers wanted. Find out more here and contact us to register.

Due to overwhelming demand, space is limited to the first 15 people responding.

News for November

Lift up your glass both Bold and Meek,
For those beyond praise!
Those good folks at Catoctin Creek
(with nary ought an amber liquid),
have cured somber mood and general malaise!
-- John Clarkson

October is over; the leaves are turning, and a brisk wind is blowing. It is autumn in Virginia. What an appropriate time to return to rye spirits! By day we're busily mashing and distilling our rye whisky, and by night, we're hunkered by the fire sipping a glass of Roundstone Rye or Mosby's Spirit.

Early in October, we received some great reviews on American Craft Spirits. It is safe to say that ACS enjoyed the Roundstone Rye, loved the Watershed Gin, and fell over the moon for the Mosby's Spirit. Indeed, they rated it a 95, saying it was "hands down the best white [whisky] ever tasted." Wow! For those of you interested, you can read the full reviews by clicking the links to the products above. And thank you, American Craft Spirits!

We were also honored that Catoctin Creek was selected as a finalist in the Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce Small Business of the Year awards. Further, both of us personally were chosen as finalists in the Chamber's Entrepreneur of the Year award. Thank you to all of you out there who voted for us in this competition. We'll find out next week how we do in the awards, but win or lose, we're just happy to be nominated.

Catoctin Creek® Cask Purchase Program

Ever wish you could own your own cask of whisky? The Catoctin Creek® Cask Purchase Program may be for you. For an investment of $5000 (taxes and shipping extra), you can own a whole cask (estimated at 150 bottles at cask strength) of a truly unique single-cask expression of Catoctin Creek eco-ganic rye whisky. Here is an opportunity to own a one-of-a-kind treasure which you can even get the chance to help distill yourself at our distillery. Now, where else are you going to get that kind of opportunity?  Click here fore more details.

Pearousia Pear Brandy - Only 150 Bottles Left

If you're looking for a unique gift for Christmas or Hanukkah, you might consider our Pearousia pear brandy as a stocking stuffer. Now available throughout Maryland, DC and Virginia, we have only 150 bottles left in stock. In Virginia, you'll need to go to the ABC store and tell the clerk that you'd like to special order product #952556. (You won't find it on most of the shelves because it's so limited.) Be sure to get yours today... before it's gone!

Finally, a big thanks to the latest bunch of restaurants to bring in Catoctin Creek spirits. Restaurant Eve, PX, The Chesapeake Room, Mokomandy, and Buck's Fishing and Camping all picked up Catoctin Creek last month. Be sure to pay these fine folks a visit, and don't be afraid to ask for "Catoctin Creek" at your local retailer.

As always, there are lots of fun and information on our Facebook and Twitter pages, where you can stay up to date with the daily activities at the distillery.  We just topped 2500 users on Facebook! Tours are always free, so stop by and see us sometime!

Remember, "Think Global, Drink LOCAL!"^SM

Cheers!
Scott & Becky

"She was only a whisky maker, but he loved her still."  –Anonymous

October is here, and we now return to rye.  After a solid month of grape brandy production, distilling Chambourcin and Seyval Blanc from Tarara Winery, we now have our young brandy safely entombed in three large French Bordeaux casks.  Two years it will sleep, until we reopen the casks to check the brandy for the first time in 2012.  What a lesson in patience!!

If you haven't already heard... Pearousia Limited Edition Pear Brandy is now available in Virginia ABC stores.  You must special order it using code 952556 at your local store. Just tell the clerk your name and phone number, how many bottles you want, and give them that code and they should call you when it arrives.  $42 per hand-numbered 375 ml bottle. Just in time for Christmas and Hanukkah! These will sell out quickly, so get yours ordered today!  Pearousia will also be available through select stores in Maryland and the District of Columbia, through Bacchus Importers, LTD.

In October, we received our first formal review of Roundstone Rye and Watershed Gin from American Craft Spirits.  We were thrilled with the 88 and 89 point scores they received.  Moreover, the write-ups were entertaining and really honed in on what we're trying to accomplish with our spirits. American Craft Spirits also took the time to feature us in an interview, which is a fun read if you have a few extra moments in your day.

Mark your calendar for a few great events coming up in October/November:

• Fall Farm Color Tour - Oct. 16 and 17 - We will be offering free tours and a full scale production demonstration all weekend long.  Come by and see how to make whisky and meet Scott & Becky.
• Catoctin Creek Distilling Workshop - Oct 23 - Ever want to do hands-on distillation yourself?  Thinking of starting a business like this?  This is the class for you!
• WhiskyFest NYC - Nov 9 - Sample hundreds of whiskies from around the world, including your own local Catoctin Creek!

Finally, for those of you who might be interested in owning a small piece of this business, we are now seeking investment to fund our expansion phase.  Investors must qualify under SEC rules to invest in this private placement offering.  For more information about this limited time opportunity, please contact us or review the information at the company investment site on our web page.

As always, there are lots of fun and information on our Facebook and Twitter pages, where you can stay up to date with the daily activities at the distillery.  Tours are always free, so stop by and see us sometime!

Remember, "Think Global, Drink LOCAL!"^SM

Cheers!
Scott & Becky

September is here, and a young man's fancy turns to brandy!

As August drew to a close, we wrapped up our rye production season.  In September, we focus our attention on all the grapes that have begun to arrive, and we begin distilling brandy.

This year's grape harvest could be one of the best ever in Virginia.  Drought conditions have concentrated the flavors and sugars in the berries, so we have very high expectations for an excellent vintage!

Our first grape brandies will be made from a blend of Seyval Blanc and Chambourcin, but it will be at least two years before we see any ready for bottling.  So, until then... we wait!

August was so busy.  In August, we saw our distribution expand into Northern California (along with present day Maryland, DC and Virginia).  Apparently, a lot of people are interested in fine eco-ganic spirits!  Our PR engine was in full swing, as we poured spirits for the Mike O'Meara show and cruised down the Hudson on the Whisky Cruise.

There are still so many more events planned, including the Washington Redskins "Return to Glory" party on Sept. 8th with many Redskins alum and GM Bruce Allen.  (Admission is free!)  Be sure to check out the full list at http://www.catoctincreekdistilling.com/enjoy/events.

We are constantly asked, "Where can we buy your spirits?"  Well, the list of stores, restaurants and pubs is growing day by day.  The best way to stay up to date is to check our web site at http://www.catoctincreekdistilling.com/enjoy/wheretobuy.  If you see a restaurant or store with Catoctin Creek, and we don't have it on our list, let us know!  Check back often, as the list continues to grow!  And don't be afraid to ask your server, "Can I get Catoctin Creek?"

As always, there are lots of fun and information on our Facebook and Twitter pages, where you can stay up to date with the daily activities at the distillery.  Tours are always free, so stop by and see us sometime!

Remember, "Think Global, Drink LOCAL!"^SM

Cheers!
Scott & Becky

The dog days of summer are among us, and it makes it a hard time to be a distiller.

With temperatures peaking above 100 degrees Fahrenheit, we're really struggling to keep cool as we continue to work at making whisky and gin.  Mind you, this job generates lots of heat, and we have no air conditioning in the distillery (except for the fermentation room), so ours is truly a labor of love.  And our desire to get you guys more spirits as soon as we can!

We are now shipping our spirits into Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia, and we're just starting to see some awesome restaurants carrying our products.  Around home, we have the wonderful Magnolias at the Mill in Purcellville, the Greene Turtle and Tuscarora Mill in Leesburg, just to name a few.  And let's not forget Patowmack Farm in Lovettsville, where we are doing cocktails paired with dinner on August 6.  Further afield, the first restaurant in the District to carry our spirits is the well renowned Passenger on 7th Street NW. Look for more and more as we ramp up on our distribution, and don't be shy to ask your retailer or server, "Can you get me some Catoctin Creek?"

Another wonderful milestone occurred just before July came to a close.  We received our first order from northern California!  Now, if you're out in the Lake Tahoe or Sacramento area on vacation, you should be able to find our spirits there as well.  This is a great new market for us, and we're excited that folks are interested in eco-ganic spirits across the nation.  We'll need to ramp up our production to meet the growing demands, but this is a good problem to have.

There are lots and lots of cool activities coming up this fall.  Whether you want to learn to be a distiller, or just want to hang out with us for a little while, there's a little something for everyone.  Briefly, they are:

• Interview on the Mike O'Meara radio show, August 6 at 10:30am (http://www.mikeomearashow.com/)
• Dinner at Patowmack Farm Restaurant, Aug. 6, 7pm  (Not too late for reservations, call the restaurant!)
• Next bottling workshop, tentatively planned for August 21, 10am (RSVP now to reserve a free space)
• Whisky Cruise on the Hudson, New York City, August 26
• Loudoun Fall Color Farm Tour, October 16-17 (a free event)
• Autumn distilling workshop, October 23.  Register online
• Whisky Fest in New York City - November 9

You can find out much more about any of these on our website at http://catoctincreekdistilling.com/enjoy/events.  Of course, tours are always free.  Just call ahead to make sure we're there.

As always, there is lots of fun and information on our Facebook and Twitter pages, where you can stay up to date with the daily activities at the distillery.  We haven't had too much traffic in FourSquare yet, so any of you who wish to be the mayor of our distillery, better get crackin!

Remember, "Think Global, Drink LOCAL!"^SM

Cheers!
Scott & Becky

June has passed, and so we reach the halfway point of 2010.

June saw a few milestones in our distribution, as we picked up distribution in Maryland and the District of Columbia with Bacchus Importers, Ltd. Bacchus is the premium distributor of high end and craft spirits in the Maryland and DC area, so we were naturally pleased to partner with them for selling our spirits north of the Potomac. Look for the spirits to start to arrive in stores this summer. And if you go into your local stores or restaurants, be sure to ask for Catoctin Creek!

In June, we were also pleased to obtain our final approval for our USDA certified eco-ganic labels. The new labels should roll out on products starting in July. Same great products as before, it's just that now they bear that coveted "eco-ganic" mark, proving our commitment to high quality spirits and sustainable practices.

We have several great events coming up in July and early August. Keep an eye out for the following:

• July24 - Catoctin Creek Distilling Workshop
• July 31 - Bottling Day - Volunteers Wanted
• August 6 - Catoctin Creek Dinner at Patowmack Farm Restaurant

For more information on these, or any other events, check our web site: http://catoctincreekdistilling.com/enjoy/events

If you are a Virginia customer, it still helps to give the ABC manager the ordering codes when asking for our products. Some of the stores are becoming more familiar with the product, but some are still learning. If you are in a store and cannot find our product, ask the clerk to look up or order the following:

• 27030 - Roundstone Rye
• 952482 - Mosby's Spirit (special order by the case - 6 bottles)
• 952483 - Watershed Gin (special order by the case - 6 bottles)

Some stores will even sell you the special order products by the bottle. (Ask real nicely, and they might for you too!)

Finally, we were thrilled beyond words to be highlighted in a story on the NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams. The news story is a great little history about starting the distillery, and we never get tired of watching ourselves! Check it out on our web site: http://catoctincreekdistilling.com/news/media/146-nbcnews

As always, there is lots of fun and information on our Facebook and Twitter pages, where you can stay up to date with the daily activities at the distillery.

Remember, "Think Global, Drink LOCAL!"^SM

Cheers!
Scott & Becky

In May, we started selling... And what a wild ride it's been!

As Richmond began distributing our spirits to the various stores in Northern Virginia, we were overwhelmed to see the Roundstone Rye flying off the shelves. Reports from Loudoun County ABC stores were that the product was selling out within hours of arrival. This is always encouraging for a new business, and we thank all of you who have bought a bottle. We truly hope you enjoy your rye whisky.

Sales have settled into a more normal clip now, with the product generally available in all stores throughout the Commonwealth. If you are in a store and cannot find our product, ask the clerk to look up or order the following:

• 27030 - Roundstone Rye
• 952482 - Mosby's Spirit (special order by the case - 6 bottles)
• 952483 - Watershed Gin (special order by the case - 6 bottles)

With sales in Virginia underway, we're starting to see our spirits showing up in local bars and restaurants--The Ashby Inn in Paris, VA, and the Old Brogue in Great Falls, VA--to name a few. If you have a favorite restaurant or bar, ask them if they carry your local spirit--Catoctin Creek--and if they do, let us know about it! If they don't, tell them they should!

On our web site, we've expanded our section on cocktails and recipes. Many of our Facebook friends have sent in great cocktails, like the Sazerac and the Maryland Mint Julep, which we are happy to share on our site. Have a favorite cocktail that we don't know about? Send it to us and we'll post it!

May was also the month when we received our official eco-ganic certification. eco-ganic is really important to us. Besides affirming a standard of care for sustainable practices, eco-ganic equals truly better spirits. Why? Well, when you have grain that has been treated with synthetic pesticides, fungicides, and fertilizers, those chemicals attach to the grain. And if distillation is anything, it's the art of concentration. When you distill the grain, those chemicals come through in the spirit, giving "off" flavors and foul chemical taints that must be absorbed by the charred carbon in the barrel. But when you use 100% eco-ganic rye, as we do, the spirit is clean and crisp, and absolutely wonderful on day one. I guess that's why Jason Wilson, of the Washington Post, called it "a beautiful unaged whisky." Thanks, Jason. We definitely agree.

Keep an eye out, for in the coming weeks, we'll be announcing another bottling party. These are great fun, where we set up an assembly line of volunteers to bottle and pack cases of Roundstone Rye for shipment. The last time, we had 20-30 volunteers, and we cranked through 60 cases of rye in less than two hours! Everybody had a great time, got a free lunch, and was able to sign their name on a bottle or two.

As always, there is lots of fun and information on our Facebook and Twitter pages, where you can stay up to date with the daily activities at the distillery.

Remember, "Think Global, Drink LOCAL!"^SM

Cheers!

Scott & Becky