The Catoctin Creek Distilling Company ( ), which operates under the trade name of Catoctin Creek, is the first legal distillery in Loudoun County, Virginia, since prohibition."First legal distillery in Loudoun to open since prohibition" , Rachel Leon, Loudoun Times Mirror, May 5, 2010. The distillery is a certified organic and kosher"Pure of Spirit: Catoctin Creek gives birth to organic, kosher liquor", Tasting Table website, posted May 11, 2010. microdistillery in Purcellville, Virginia, that produces brandy, rye whiskey,"Spirits: Craft whiskey distillers are over a barrel", Jason Wilson, Washington Post, May 19, 2010. p. 2. and gin from local fruit, organic grain and Virginia wine., Proof66.com website, posted May 28, 2010.
History The distillery was founded in 2009 by Scott and Rebecca Harris"Meet the Makers" , Matt Colglazier, American Craft Spirits, September 20, 2010 using an SBA 7(a) loan for start-up capital."Sour Year for SBA Loans Ends in Uptick", Emily Maltby, Wall Street Journal, October 2, 2009 Initially, the company operated using custom-made 400 and 1200 liter Kothe hybrid pot-column stills."NBC Nightly News: A Start Up ... with a twist!" , NBC Nightly News, June 2, 2010.
In the 2011 session of the Virginia General Assembly, the company sought approval to sell its spirits at the distillery. Virginia Senate Bill 1249 passed both the Senate and the House of Delegates and was then signed by Governor Bob McDonnell on March 26, 2011, allowing direct bottle-sales to the public from the distillery.Virginia 2011 "Senate Bill 1249" . With the prior year's passage of 2010 House of Delegate Bill 952, the company now provides tastings at their distillery store, in a fashion similar to wineries within the state.Virginia 2010 "House of Delegates Bill 952".
In 2012, the distillery purchased the historic Case Building (built 1921) on Main Street in Purcellville, and renovated the building as the home of their new distillery. Renovations included structural repair to the roof, complete electrical upgrade, new plumbing systems, fire sprinklers, a new tasting room, extensive masonry repair, and a 41kWh solar array.WTOP.com "Local distillery drinks in the sun"Northern Virginia Magazine "Greenprints" .Leesburg Today, "Mid-July Opening Slated for Catoctin Creek's New Purcellville Distillery" , June 20, 2013.
In 2017, the distillery announced a new minority partner and investor, Constellation Brands of Victor, New York. In a company press release, Rebecca Harris, the co-founder and chief distiller, stated the reasoning behind the investment: "In order to expand our production and portfolio, we needed the right partner for the next level of growth. Constellation has a strong commitment to this category...""Press Release: Constellation Brands Invests in Virginia's Catoctin Creek Distillery" , January 5, 2017 During this time, Scott and Rebecca Harris, the co-founders, remained the majority owners and managers of the business.
In 2021, the company upgraded their production equipment, tripling their capacity, including a new mash cooker, fermenters, and a 2000 liter Specific Engineering hybrid pot-column still, replacing the older 400 liter pot still."Loudoun Now: Catoctin Creek Triples Capacity", Loudoun Now, August 12, 2021. That same year, Catoctin Creek collaborated with the Virginia based heavy-metal band, Gwar to produce Ragnarök Rye, a limited-edition rye whiskey.
In a 2023 press release, the company states that it had re-purchased the shares from Constellation Brands, returning the company to full independent ownership, with Scott and Rebecca Harris maintaining control."Press Release: Catoctin Creek Distilling Company reacquires company from Constellation Brand Ventures", Press Release, October 4, 2023.
COVID-19 pandemic During the COVID-19 pandemic and a subsequent shortage on sanitizing products in March 2020, Catoctin Creek shifted most of its production operations to provide free sanitizing alcohol to over 100 families, six police stations, two emergency services, two hospitals, one senior center, and the FAA in Leesburg, Virginia. Instead of laying people off, management brought regional sales staff in to help on the production line, while working with elected officials to distribute bottles to organizations in need.""Blue Ridge Leader, April 30, 2020" , April 30, 2020
After producing, bottling and selling bulk hand sanitizer to first responders at the end of March, Catoctin Creek announced the release of their FDA approved 6 oz. hand sanitizer bottles to the general public in early April, which sold out in three weeks. Due to the lack of availability of raw materials to produce the sanitizer, their production of hand sanitizer ended in April 2020. In the end, Catoctin Creek made over 2,050 gallons of sanitizer available to the public, first responders, front-line workers and others in need. The craft distillery also raised and donated over $12,000 to local charities, including hospitality relief funds, clinics and food banks in Baltimore, Washington, DC, and Virginia.""Blue Ridge Leader, April 30, 2020" , April 30, 2020 The distillery received a commendation from the Virginia Senate for their efforts during the pandemic, noting "through its decisive and selfless actions in the face of a historic public health emergency, Catoctin Creek Distilling Company has exemplified what makes the Commonwealth a wonderful place to live, work, and raise a family.""Virginia's Legislative Information System, 2020 Senate Resolution No. 519", August 19, 2020
Catoctin Creek is still producing and selling its award-winning rye whisky, gin and brandy on its online shop for curbside pickup or delivery.
Spirits produced Rye whiskey Brandy from grapes, pears, peaches, and apples. Gin
Awards Roundstone Rye Double Gold medal for Cask Proof, San Francisco World Spirits Competition, 2017"San Francisco World Spirits Competition, 2017" , October 1, 2017 Gold medal for Cask Proof, American Whiskey Masters, 2016"The Spirits Business, August 2016", August 2, 2016 Gold medal for Cask Proof, Wizards of Whisky Awards, 2016 Gold medal for 92 Proof, New York World Wine and Spirits Competition, 2015""NY World Wine and Spirits Competition, 2015", September 11, 2015 Gold medal for Cask Proof, Wizards of Whisky Awards, 2015"Wizards of Whisky Awards, 2015", January 30, 2015 Silver medal for 92 Proof, San Francisco World Spirits Competition, 2015"San Francisco World Spirits Competition, 2015" , March 30, 2015 Silver medal for 92 Proof, Wizards of Whisky Awards, 2015"Wizards of Whisky Awards, 2015", January 30, 2015 Gold medal for rye whiskey, Artisan Awards, 2014"Artisan Awards, Rye Whiskey, 2014", October 20, 2014 Gold medal for rye whiskey, The Fifty Best, 2014"The Fifty Best, Rye Whiskey, 2014", September 21, 2014 Bronze medal, San Francisco World Spirits Competition, 2013 Bronze medal, American Distilling Institute, 2013 Gold seal, Good Food Awards, 2013"The Good Food Awards Finalists, 2013" , December 4, 2012 Gold medal for rye whiskey, The Fifty Best, 2012"The Fifty Best, Rye Whiskey, 2012", September 21, 2012 Silver medal and best in category for aged rye whiskey, American Distilling Institute, 2011"American Distilling Institute Whiskey Competition, 2011", April 8, 2011 Silver medal (87 - highly recommended) for rye whiskey, Beverage Testing Institute, 2011"Beverage Testing Institute, 2011" , February 24, 2011 Silver medal for aged craft distillery less than two years (less than $40), New York International Spirits Competition, 2010, November 22, 2010 Mosby's Spirit Bronze medal and best in category for un-aged rye whiskey, American Distilling Institute, 2011"American Distilling Institute Whiskey Competition, 2011", April 8, 2011 Strong recommendation (87 - very good), American Whiskey, Ultimate Spirits Challenge, 2011"Ultimate Spirits Challenge 2011" , March 16, 2011 Silver medal (85 - highly recommended) for unaged whiskey, Beverage Testing Institute, 2011"Beverage Testing Institute, 2011" , February 24, 2011 Silver medal for unaged craft distillery (less than $40), New York International Spirits Competition, 2010, November 22, 2010 Bronze medal for unaged whiskey, American Distilling Institute, 2010"ADI 2010 Artisanal Whiskey Competition" , Drinking The World, posted May 7, 2010 Watershed Gin Gold medal (91 - exceptional) for gin, Beverage Testing Institute, 2011"Beverage Testing Institute, 2011" , July 27, 2011 Silver medal for Gin, New York International Spirits Competition, 2011"New York International Spirits Competition, 2011" , November 28, 2011 Regional Food and Beverage Producer - 2015 RAMMY Awards, Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington (RAMW) "2015 RAMMY Award Winners", June 7, 2015 Virginia's Finest - Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services"Virginia's Finest Program" , May 13, 2013 2012 Small Business of the Year - Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce"Chamber Honors Loudoun Small Businesses" , Loudoun Times Mirror, November 12, 2012 2011 Entrepreneur of the Year and Rural Business of the Year - Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce"Catoctin Creek Wins Twice at Chamber Small Business Awards Ceremony" , Leesburg Today, November 3, 2011 Made in the South 2010 Awards - Garden and Gun magazine"Made in the South Awards 2010" , Garden and Gun magazine, December 2010/January 2011 issue
Distribution Catoctin Creek is distributed in the United States in the following states:
Arizona California Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia Florida Georgia Idaho Illinois
Kentucky Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Missouri Nevada New Jersey New Mexico
New York Pennsylvania South Carolina Tennessee Texas Virginia Washington Wyoming
Catoctin Creek is distributed internationally in: Europe Mexico Singapore
References