NPR: How tariffs are affecting one Virginia distillery
NPR's Scott Detrow, of All Things Considered, visited the distillery last week to learn about our business, and find out how tariffs are affecting our business. This is a good story, with a deeper level of discussion on tariffs than you're seeing in the headlines.
"The books are trickier these days. The first hundred days of the second Trump administration has brought new tariffs and threats of tariffs, which have upended the spirits industry in the U.S. It is, in some ways, a replay of the first Trump administration. And in recent years, Catoctin Creek has had to change its business plans over and over again."
Press Release: Becky Harris receives the Gable Erenzo Spirit of Community Award from ACSA
The American Craft Spirits Organization honors Becky Harris for work for the craft spirits industry.
TUCSON, AZ. (March 12, 2025) - - - The American Craft Spirits Association (ACSA), at their 11th annual ACSA conference and awards ceremony, presented the Gable Erenzo Spirit of Community Award to Becky Harris of Catoctin Creek Distilling Co. for her unfettered gift of time for the advancement of the craft spirits community.
The Gable Erenzo Spirit of Community Award recognizes the generosity of spirit, resilience, and resourcefulness to advance the interests of our small business entrepreneurs. It is given for an extraordinary commitment of time, working selflessly through weekdays, nights, and weekends. And, it is given to someone who puts the needs of the association and our business community before any personal aims.
The award was named for someone who embodied all of those attributes, whom the craft spirits community lost far too soon. Gable Erenzo was the co-founder (along with his father Ralph, and Brian Lee) of Tuthilltown Spirits and he later founded Gardiner Liquid Mercantile in Gardiner, N.Y. Gable passed away suddenly in 2021. He was known throughout the industry as someone who wouldn’t hesitate to help his craft spirits peers.
During ACSA’s Town Hall on Tuesday, Ralph Erenzo addressed attendees via a recorded video, and Mark Shilling, who received the inaugural Gable Erenzo Spirit of Community Award in 2021, presented the award to Harris. A past president of ACSA, Harris is also currently a member of ACSA’s Board of Directors, the chair of ACSA’s Government Affairs committee, and a co-chair of the Membership committee.
“I am really grateful for the recognition, but it will make me even more grateful if you call your Representatives … and [do] all the other things out there that we need to get done,” said Harris as she accepted the award. "It’s not about me, it’s about us. This is what we do together.”
Catoctin Creek also receives two Silver medals for Short Hill Mountain Peach Brandy.
At the same awards ceremony, ACSA also awarded two silver medals for the Catoctin Creek Short Hill Mountain Peach Brandy, one medal for packaging design, and one medal for the quality of the brandy in the bottle. These are the first medals received for our peach brandy, which is available for purchase at our distillery store, and online for shipping nationally from our products page.
"We are always delighted when our products receive accolades," said Scott Harris, co-founder and General Manager at Catoctin Creek. "The peach brandy is a product that we only make in limited quantities, but it is such a beautiful representation of our local fruit. We are honored to receive this recognition."
The packaging design, featuring a watercolor painting of a peach, was done by the late Allan Guy, of Manassas, Virginia. This award is a wonderful honor for him and his legacy.
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 independent 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 making rye whisky, gin, and seasonal brandy from local grains and fruits, with spirits available throughout the United States, Mexico, Canada, Australia and Europe. 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) 751-3294 or visit CatoctinCreek.com. Follow Catoctin Creek on Instagram, Blue Sky and Facebook.
About the American Craft Spirits Association: ACSA is the only 501(c)(6) national trade group representing craft producers in the U.S. and run by craft producers. They can be reached at P.O. Box 470, Oakton, VA, 22124 or https://americancraftspirits.org.
Catoctin Creek is Top-Selling Whiskey from Virginia - Times of India
The Times of India not only does a story on the history of American whiskey, but also includes a roundup of the top-selling whiskey in each state. We are delighted to be picked as the top-selling whiskey from Virginia! (There are some very good products coming out of Virginia!)
Whiskey has roots in the country's colonial era and, over time, became emblematic of rugged individualism and authenticity, themes often celebrated in American folklore and music. ... It also conveys a sense of collective loss and sentimentality, with the drink symbolising both the simple pleasures and the weight of memory — a potent part of American identity, as whiskey has often marked milestones, celebrations, and moments of reflection.Americans’ love affair with whiskey dates back centuries, rooted deeply in the country's colonial history.
Susannah Skiver Barton, of Distiller, does an article on the emerging trend for alcohol-free spirits and cocktails at some craft distilleries. Although we don't offer anything non-alcoholic in the bottle (we remain committed to being a "wet" distillery), we do have non-alcoholic options for our customer in the tasting room:
Catoctin Creek in Purcellville, Virginia, doesn’t list alcohol-free drinks on its menu, but co-founder and Chief Distiller Becky Harris says they’re always available if consumers ask. “Our tasting room crew is really thoughtful about getting creative about adapting the menu for special requests,” she says. “Especially since we are in a wine region, so they see plenty of designated drivers!” Catoctin Creek purposefully programs events in January to attract tasting room visitors, and Harris says that keeps consumers coming in the door.
