Catoctin Creek Distilling Company Explained

39.1365°N -77.715°W

Catoctin Creek Distilling Company, LLC
Foundation:Purcellville, Virginia, 2009
Founder:Scott and Rebecca Harris
Location City:Purcellville, Virginia
Location Country:United States
Industry:Manufacturing of distilled spirits
Owner:Scott and Rebecca Harris
Num Employees:18

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.[1] The distillery is a certified organic and kosher[2] microdistillery in Purcellville, Virginia, that produces brandy, rye whiskey,[3] and gin from local fruit, organic grain and Virginia wine.[4]

The distillery was founded in 2009 by Scott and Rebecca Harris[5] using an SBA 7(a) loan for start-up capital.[6] Initially, the company operated using custom-made 400 and 1200 liter Kothe hybrid pot-column stills.[7]

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.[8] 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.[9]

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.[10] [11] [12]

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..."[13] Scott and Rebecca Harris, the co-founders, remain 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.[14]

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.[15]

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.[16]

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.[17] 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."[18]

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

Awards

Distribution

Catoctin Creek is distributed in the United States in the following states:

Catoctin Creek is distributed internationally in:

Notes and References

  1. http://www.loudountimes.com/index.php/news/article/first_legal_distillery_in_loudoun_to_open_since_prohibition576/ "First legal distillery in Loudoun to open since prohibition"
  2. http://tastingtable.com/entry_detail/dc/1534/Catoctin_Creek_gives_birth_to_organic_kosher_liquor.htm "Pure of Spirit: Catoctin Creek gives birth to organic, kosher liquor"
  3. https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/18/AR2010051800892_2.html "Spirits: Craft whiskey distillers are over a barrel"
  4. https://archive.today/20120907143242/http://www.proof66.com/article_display.asp?id=94 "Wildcatting at Catoctin Creek Distillery"
  5. http://americancraftspirits.com/?p=1362 "Meet the Makers"
  6. https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB125441647838456813 "Sour Year for SBA Loans Ends in Uptick"
  7. http://catoctincreekdistilling.com/news/media/146-nbcnews "NBC Nightly News: A Start Up ... with a twist!"
  8. http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?ses=111&typ=bil&val=SB1249 Virginia 2011 "Senate Bill 1249"
  9. http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?101+sum+HB952 Virginia 2010 "House of Delegates Bill 952"
  10. http://www.wtop.com/120/3433834/Local-distillery-drinks-in-the-sun WTOP.com "Local distillery drinks in the sun"
  11. http://catoctincreekdistilling.com/images/stories/news/2013/20130423-NOVA-Mag.png Northern Virginia Magazine "Greenprints"
  12. http://www.leesburgtoday.com/business/mid-july-opening-slated-for-catoctin-creek-s-new-purcellville/article_4cf08f50-d9b1-11e2-a0ff-0019bb2963f4.html Leesburg Today, "Mid-July Opening Slated for Catoctin Creek's New Purcellville Distillery"
  13. http://catoctincreek.com/news/51-press-releases/1326-press-release-constellation-brands "Press Release: Constellation Brands Invests in Virginia's Catoctin Creek Distillery"
  14. https://loudounnow.com/2021/08/12/bigger-batches-catoctin-creek-distilling-triples-capacity "Loudoun Now: Catoctin Creek Triples Capacity"
  15. https://catoctincreekdistilling.com/news-2023?view=article&id=166&catid=24 "Press Release: Catoctin Creek Distilling Company reacquires company from Constellation Brand Ventures"
  16. ""Blue Ridge Leader, April 30, 2020", April 30, 2020
  17. ""Blue Ridge Leader, April 30, 2020", April 30, 2020
  18. https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?202+ful+SR519ER "Virginia's Legislative Information System, 2020 Senate Resolution No. 519"
  19. http://sfspiritscomp.com/results/browse "San Francisco World Spirits Competition, 2017"
  20. http://www.thespiritsbusiness.com/issue/august-2016/ "The Spirits Business, August 2016"
  21. ""NY World Wine and Spirits Competition, 2015", September 11, 2015
  22. http://thewhiskytastingclub.co.uk/Blogs/domblog/2015/01/30/wizards-of-whisky-worlds-best-other-grain-whiskies-2015-2 "Wizards of Whisky Awards, 2015"
  23. http://sfspiritscomp.com/results/browse "San Francisco World Spirits Competition, 2015"
  24. http://thewhiskytastingclub.co.uk/Blogs/domblog/2015/01/30/wizards-of-whisky-worlds-best-other-grain-whiskies-2015-2 "Wizards of Whisky Awards, 2015"
  25. http://artisanawards.com/artisan-medalists-2014/catoctin-creek-rye-whisky/ "Artisan Awards, Rye Whiskey, 2014"
  26. http://www.thefiftybest.com/spirits/best_rye/ "The Fifty Best, Rye Whiskey, 2014"
  27. http://www.goodfoodawards.org/good-food-awards-finalists-2012/ "The Good Food Awards Finalists, 2013"
  28. http://www.thefiftybest.com/spirits/best_rye/ "The Fifty Best, Rye Whiskey, 2012"
  29. http://distilling.com "American Distilling Institute Whiskey Competition, 2011"
  30. http://www.tastings.com/scout_spirits.lasso?id=193481 "Beverage Testing Institute, 2011"
  31. https://archive.today/20120713002039/http://nyispiritscompetition.com/?p=165 "New York International Spirits Competition, 2010"
  32. http://distilling.com "American Distilling Institute Whiskey Competition, 2011"
  33. http://www.ultimate-beverage.com/wine_reviews/spirits-results/#category_12 "Ultimate Spirits Challenge 2011"
  34. http://www.tastings.com/scout_spirits.lasso?id=193482 "Beverage Testing Institute, 2011"
  35. https://archive.today/20120713002039/http://nyispiritscompetition.com/?p=165 "New York International Spirits Competition, 2010"
  36. http://drinkingtheworld.com/2010/05/07/adi-2010-artisanal-whiskey-competition "ADI 2010 Artisanal Whiskey Competition"
  37. http://www.tastings.com/scout_spirits.lasso?id=193483 "Beverage Testing Institute, 2011"
  38. http://nyispiritscompetition.com/winners/2011-winners/ "New York International Spirits Competition, 2011"
  39. http://ramw.org/news/2015-rammy-award-winners "2015 RAMMY Award Winners"
  40. http://www.vafinest.vi.virginia.gov/default.aspx?category=All+Beverages "Virginia's Finest Program"
  41. http://www.loudountimes.com/index.php/news/article/chamber_honors_loudoun_small_businesses999/ "Chamber Honors Loudoun Small Businesses"
  42. http://www.leesburg2day.com/news/loudoun/article_b8161444-05d2-11e1-bf58-001cc4c03286.html "Catoctin Creek Wins Twice at Chamber Small Business Awards Ceremony"
  43. http://gardenandgun.com/viewAllPhotos?type=photo_gallery&nid=2018 "Made in the South Awards 2010"

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Catoctin Creek Distilling Company".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.