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News and Press Releases - 2023

Press Release: Catoctin Creek Distilling Company earns PLATINUM at Fred Minnick's ASCOT Awards

The Virginia Rye Whisky ℠ distillery wins big at Fred Minnick's awards competition

PURCELLVILLE, Va. (May 10, 2023) - - - Catoctin Creek Distilling Co., The Virginia Rye Whisky ℠, earned a platinum medal for it's Ragnarök Rye at the 2023 ASCOT Awards. The ASCOT Awards is an international spirits competition created by spirits personality and veteran tasting judge, Fred Minnick. The competition provides a unique opportunity for distillers to have their products recognized through Fred’s YouTube channel, social media, news articles, newsletters, and festival.

The tasting notes from the judging mention, "A toffee and sweetly spiced nose leads to buttery feel with notes of caramel, brown sugar and spices with a buttery mouthfeel."

As a platinum medal winner, it is one of the top finishers in a competition with hundreds of entrants.

“We are delighted to win this awards from the ASCOT Awards,” said Scott Harris, Founder and General Manager of Catoctin Creek. “Fred Minnick has been a go-to personality for whiskey connoisseurs for a long time now, and we know how much he loved the Ragnarök Rye collaboration with GWAR.  So, it was great to get some official acknowledgement of just how good that liquid is inside the GWAR bottle.”

More information about the award can be located, here.

About Catoctin Creek Distilling: Catoctin Creek Distilling Company, The Virginia Rye Whisky ℠, was founded by Scott and Becky Harris in 2009. Inspired by the history and craft of Virginia, Catoctin Creek made a name for itself as the first legal distillery since Prohibition in Purcellville, Virginia’s Loudoun County. The craft distillery is home to Virginia’s most-awarded whisky, Roundstone Rye, which has been presented gold medals across the globe and stands out through its old-world production methods. Catoctin Creek prides itself on sourcing rye whisky, gin, and seasonal brandy from local grains and fruits, with spirits available in 47 states and 3 continents. The Harris’ intricate attention to detail results in high quality internationally acclaimed products, including seasonal releases and private cask offerings, that recognize the true craft of Virginia spirits. For more information, call (540) 751-8404 or visit CatoctinCreekDistilling.com. Follow Catoctin Creek on Instagram, Mastodon and Facebook.

Platinum

Ragnarök Rye


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Rye Whiskey Distillers Take Their Own Approach to Grain-to-Glass - Imbibe

Another great article from the folks at Imbibe!  Paul Clarke does the comprehensive story on the history of rye whiskey in America and where it has brought us today.  He writes:

When Scott and Becky Harris were scoping out plans for their Virginia distillery, Catoctin Creek, prior to its 2009 debut, they turned to the history books to help determine what spirits they planned to make. “If you look at Colonial times, rye was the partner crop to tobacco, which was something that was very prevalent here. Rye was the cover crop that would replenish the soil,” says Becky Harris. “And [rye whiskey] was mostly made by women, because the men were in the fields tending tobacco. We liked the story, and we really just liked the flavor.” Scott Harris agrees. “We loved that history. Rye was Virginia’s native spirit since we started calling this place Virginia, and it all sort of fit together. We love the flavor, we love the history, and that’s why we developed our rye.”

You can read the full story, here.


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Press Release: Catoctin Creek introduces Barrel Select Premium, a "Fill Your Own" Experience at the Distillery

The Virginia Rye Whisky distillery will offer rye whisky from rare, one-of-a-kind barrels for a fill-your-own bottle experience at the distillery

PURCELLVILLE, Va. (March 13, 2023) - - - Catoctin Creek Distilling Co., The Virginia Rye Whisky ℠, is offering a new experience for visitors to the Purcellville distillery.  In addition to touring and enjoying flights of spirits and cocktails, visitors will now have the option to fill their own bottle from our new "Catoctin Creek Filling Station." 

Barrels with unique profiles and collaborative stories will be chosen from our inventory and offered for hand filling at the station.  Visitors will be instructed how to apply the label, cork the bottle, seal it, and then they can write the special batch information upon each bottle with their own signature, making this a unique bottle found nowhere else in the world.

The distillery will run a poll on social media beginning on March 13th, which will allow the Catoctin Creek audience to select which barrel will be first in the line-up.  The first barrels that Becky has chosen for this poll are:

  • 1) #2899 - Roundstone Rye finished in a Buffalo Trace Bourbon (Weller) barrel that was used for maple syrup and then stored an Adroit Theory stout.  One year in new oak, one year and 10 months in the finish barrel (around 57% abv)
  • 2) #1559 - Very leaky Rabble Rouser barrel (concentrating the flavors), four years in Virginia oak 53 gallon barrels (~64% abv)
  • 3) #2981 - Roundstone Rye finished in a Pinot Noir barrel , one year new oak, one year and 6 months in the finish barrel (~58%)

"We're really excited to offer this program to our customers," said Becky Harris, President and Chief Distiller of Catoctin Creek.  "Usually, these rare barrels would be set aside for commercial customers, but we thought it would be nice, from time to time, to offer them to our visitors.  I've seen fill-your-own experiences at other distilleries in the USA, and people really enjoy that process and getting a truly unique bottle."

The Barrel Select Premium whisky, as it will be called, comes in a beautiful Italian glass bottle, with a gorgeous black and copper label.  All offerings from the program will be unfiltered at natural cask proof, 750mL and $129.99 per bottle.  These bottles will not be available for purchase outside of the Catoctin Creek tasting room.

For more information, or to cast your vote for the starting whisky, please visit:   https://catoctincreekdistilling.com/vote-barrel or press the button below.

VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE

About Catoctin Creek Distilling: Catoctin Creek Distilling Company, The Virginia Rye Whisky ℠, was founded by Scott and Becky Harris in 2009. Inspired by the history and craft of Virginia, Catoctin Creek made a name for itself as the first legal distillery since Prohibition in Purcellville, Virginia’s Loudoun County. The craft distillery is home to Virginia’s most-awarded whisky, Roundstone Rye, which has been presented gold medals across the globe and stands out through its old-world production methods. Catoctin Creek prides itself on sourcing rye whisky, gin, and seasonal brandy from local grains and fruits, with spirits available in 47 states and 3 continents. The Harris’ intricate attention to detail results in high quality internationally acclaimed products, including seasonal releases and private cask offerings, that recognize the true craft of Virginia spirits. For more information, call (540) 751-8404 or visit CatoctinCreekDistilling.com. Follow Catoctin Creek on Instagram, Mastodon and Facebook.

High Resolution Photos:

  • Barrel #1559

  • Barrel #2981

  • Barrel #2899

  • Barrel Select Premium

  • Barrel Select Premium

  • Barrel Select Premium


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18 Woman-Owned Spirits Brands To Toast Women's History Month - Tasting Table

March is Women's History Month, and Tasting Table has a little piece highlighting several female producers.  We're happy to be one of them:

When most people think of American whiskey, they think of bourbon, and therefore, Kentucky. However, the earliest origins of American whiskey actually belongs to Virginia, when George Thorpe's partnership with the Powhatan tribe led to him using their [grain] for distilling, the first of its kind in the so-called new world.

Virginia holds more of a claim to American whiskey than any other part of the country, and Catoctin Creek has been pushing that legacy forward since 2009. The brand was founded by Becky Harris and her husband Scott, and it produces a wide range of distinctly American spirits, made up of various ryes and brandies.

All Catoctin Creek spirits are locally grown and sourced, and the grains and fruits alike are additive and pesticide-free. This whiskey brand has made its Virginian heritage proud, as its signature Roundstone Rye has earned multiple awards on the international stage.

You can read the full article, here.


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10 American Rye Whiskies to Drink Right Now - Imbibe

Always great to be in the top ten on anybody's list, including Imbibe:

Imbibe 75 alumni Becky and Scott Harris helped spark the rye whiskey revolution among craft distillers at Catoctin Creek Distillery in Virginia. Making rye the focus of their attention, they’ve released a range of expressions over the years, including this 92-proof version of their flagship Roundstone Rye. Bottled as a single-barrel whiskey, this rye is fragrant with notes of mint, maple, and cocoa, with ginger, vanilla, and nutmeg emerging in the glass, along with a bright touch of lemon zest. $52.79, catoctincreekdistilling.com

You can read the full article, here.


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