Virginia Living magazine did a feature asking local Virginia bartenders to present some of their favorite cocktails.  We were delighted to find ourselves in two of them: I Am Virginia by Todd Thrasher, and The Blue Puppy by Hunter Johnson.  

We could all use something tall and cool heading into the summer season. And Virginia's top mixologists are only too happy to oblige. For stylish and delicious cocktails made in true Virginia fashion, try these signature quaffs from bars and restaurants around the state.

You can read the whole article and see the other recipes by clicking here.

Eater did a piece on the 10 best rye whiskies under $35, and gave Catoctin a shout-out in the latter half of the article, in their "5 Under $45" section.  We're pleased to be mentioned in such good company.

Catoctin Creek Roundstone Rye (80 proof), $39.99: Virginia's Catoctin Creek uses a 100 percent rye mash bill for its Roundstone Rye, which we haven't seen much or any of on this list. Roundstone is aged for under two years in 30 gallon casks. It's spicy and with a lighter profile than many ryes, and also showcases some cereal grain notes.

Read the full story, here.

If you've ever wanted to learn what it was like starting the distillery, and what were some of the biggest challenges we faced, this podcast is a great in-depth interview with Scott Harris, our founder:

If the embedded widget above doesn't work, you can directly hear the podcast, here.

Northern Virginia got special attention in this month's travel section of The Huffington Post.  Malorie Yolen-Cohen lists the top 27 things to do while in our area, and calls us out at #4:

This territory just west of our Nation’s Capital, encompassing the growing-hipper-by-the-day towns of Leesburg and Purcellville, is touted as “DC’s Wine Region.” But though Loudoun County claims over 40 wineries, breweries and distilleries are also opening at fast pace. Many, not surprisingly, are owned and operated by former government contractors - engineers and scientists who wish to apply their knowledge of physics and chemistry to the spirits world.

...

4. Try out a slew of spirits at the source in Catoctin Creek Distillery’s repurposed 1921 garage (Purcellville). Engineers Becky and Scott Harris now apply their brainpower towards making incredibly good small batch whisky, gin and brandy. The world is slowly taking notice.

You can read the full article and check out the other fun places that were mentioned, here.

Thanks to the Loudoun Business Journal for naming Becky Harris, our chief distiller and founder (and my loving wife!), in their 100 Women in Loudoun County in the Spring 2016 issue.  Becky's hard work has gotten her a place, literally, right alongside Madeleine Albright!  She's obviously in fine, and well-deserved company!

Congrats to Becky and to all the other wonderful ladies who shared the honor!

We are very proud to announce that Catoctin Creek won gold in the category of Best Distillery in Virginia in Virginia Wine Lover magazine's Best Of Reader's Choice awards.  About 28,000 people participated in the polling, in categories spanning across wine, beer, cider and yes, distilled spirits!  What an honor to be selected from such a fine group of companies in the Commonwealth!

Click on the image below to expand the text, or click here to read the story online.

Much thanks to Erica Moody, who writes for Washington Life, and does a nice profile of Catoctin Creek in her piece on area distilleries:

In the quaint downtown of Purcellville, Va., a family-owned business is breaking the mold and challenging convention.  Certified kosher, sustainable, with production run by a woman whiskey-maker, Catoctin Creek is certainly not your run-of-the-mill (pun intended) distillery, and Scott and Becky Harris never intended it to be.

Read her full story, here.

It was nice to see our largest customer, the Virginia ABC, serve up a featured story on our distillery this week.  What's more, if you live in Virginia, you can now order our products online!

In the heart of Loudoun County, Catoctin Creek produces kosher rye whiskeys, gin and several brandies. In addition to their regular spirits, they also offer many special releases and experimental offerings. Catoctin Creek has a tasting room and offers distillery tours and special events throughout the year, including regular cocktail dinners and a special “Art of the Cocktail” seminar. They would be happy to have you visit!

Indeed, we would love you to visit!

You can read the full article, here.

Wow! Even Russia is taking notice of Becky and her awesome whisky-making abilities.  Here's an article that popped up on our radar this week:

Firstly, women have always been employed in its manufacture, pausing only in the second half of the XX century. Secondly, today they feel no less comfortable. Becky Harris - co-founder of the [Catoctin Creek] distillery company in Virginia, Meredith Grella - in Pittsburgh, Marianne Barnes - Chief taster of one of the largest producers of alcohol and Peggy Noe Stevens - a fan of bourbon and founder of the company Bourbon Women.

Read the full story, here.  You might need to hit Google Translate first, if you don't speak fluent Russian!

The Malaysian Insider reports on the growing speakeasy scene in Kuala Lumpur.  

Tinged by a forbidden air lent by Prohibition times, these hidden bars all over Kuala Lumpur are just waiting to be found by the right people, for late nights with the coolest crowds.

Catoctin Creek even gets a cool shout-out from the good folks at 44 Bar: 

44 specialises in American spirits, particularly gin, bourbon whisky, vodka, and tequila. You can order a tasting flight (RM40) of any three of their spirits. Our very learned bartender made great suggestions – the See 7 Stars moonshine made of barley and corn, the smokey Pinckney Bend whiskey (derived from corn, barley, and rye), and the purely rye Catoctin Creek Roundstone [Rye].

If you're headed to KL, or live there presently, you'll want to read the full story!

Such a fun video, and a pretty comprehensive tour of the distillery:

Check out more from The Whisky Guy, including podcasts and more videos!

Foodable TV does an in-depth story on how we started the distillery, and all the challenges we faced as we got started.  It's a nice piece covering lots of ground on getting started.  Allison Levine writes:

They began in 2009. Surprisingly, getting through all of the regulatory processes took less than a year. And while some traditionalists might assume a man is better suited for production and a woman is more fit for marketing, Becky and Scott nixed the stereotype, flip-flopping these roles based on their personal strengths. Once they got started, the question was not how to distill but how to make money doing it.

You can read the full story, here.