Catoctin Creek Distilling

Out in Purcellville VA, there is a little distillery by the name of Catoctin Creek, owned by two people who have the combined smarts to run a country, but instead decided to open a local distillery. Becky and Scott Harris started their venture in 2009, with Becky being a chemical engineer, distilling would be a cinch, and Scott being a software engineer things would be computing easily. The two have a passion for spirits that goes beyond the simple love of distilling, they believe in the full circle of local, organic, and environmental progression that would bring a tear to any progressive environmentalists eye.

When you walk in, you are struck by the well placed lighting and chair set up, around a U shaped bar that focalizes the different liquors on the wall. Medals from national and international competitions are abounded, these people know what they are doing says the professionals, this novice may be in the right place. While I ask for a taste of their flagship 80 proof Rye Whiskey before the tour begins I start to get the vibe from the atmosphere that those who are here are truly meant to be. The rustic brick walls, to the burly man with grizzly beard, things don’t feel like a façade, they feel like a part of the natural scene, one that puts warmth in your smile and fire in your belly, or maybe that fire is this whiskey.

By the time I get over the quaint subtleties of this small town distiller it was time to get a tour of where all the magic happens. I happened to be lucky that the tour I ended up on had the owner himself showing us around, giving us a very in depth and holistic view of their process.

This is a small distillery with only 2 stills to do all the dirty work of distilling their brandy, gin, and whiskey. Catoctin uses a specialized hybrid pot column still to help control reflux, and the cut. The cuts from the distilling process will find themselves in three places: The heads (stuff that is poisonous to drink) will all be kept as cleaning materials, the heart will be utilized for the obvious reason of liquor, and the tail will be distilled once again to become their flagship gin. At this point, the clear spirit will either be bottled as non-aged, or make its way into barrels made from Minnesota white oak (or used French Bordeaux for some brandies) that has been charred on the inside. Their barrels are then moved to an open storage farmhouse that allows the seasons to shape the taste from anywhere from two to four years.

Throughout this process, nothing is being wasted or thrown away. Catoctin touts that they are a zero landfill and waste distillery and you can see why; they are supremely dedicated to the local community and to preserving the area they keep. From the use of all parts of the distilling, to the left over mash that is given for free to the local farmers, to the certified organic grain bill, these guys practice but they don’t preach.

After all this talk about spirits, I was feeling quite parched… it was time to indulge in the finer things in life.

Although the exact nature of how they make some of their liquor is a close kept secret (and rightfully so) they explain that their flagship whiskey: Roundstone Rye (both 80 and 92 proof) is a one hundred percent organic rye mash bill.

The 80 proof version that is bottled around 2 years in the barrel is a little bit mild on the nose with a floral smell. On the taste it hits the tip of the tongue lightly but by the time it gets to the back the feel of slight spice hits that rye is known for. This has a medium body to it and the aftertaste lasts a decent amount of time, but is not overwhelming. This would make a great mixed drink, especially if it calls for a bit of spice at the end.

The 92 proof really shined in my eyes. It is aged slightly longer and comes in with a bit more alcohol, but you cannot really distinguish this with the added flavor of this bottle. There is about the same amount of floral smell to this but with a hit more wood as well. The taste is smoother on the front end, however the spice is ramped up on the rye, and the aftertaste lasts the same as the 80 proof. Overall this is a good sipping whiskey I think, one that deserves its accolades as a rye whiskey.

Next I moved onto their Brandies. I was able to try their 1757 brandy, and one of their peach brandies.

The 1757 brandy has a similar smell as their whiskey, floral and a bit spicy. It was sweet on the front end and moved to an uncommon earthy taste on the back of the palate. This taste may be coming from the native VA grape used for distilling that I was unable to identify by taste. If you like brandy and you want to try something a bit different from the normal grape taste, this would be a great bottle to start with.

The peaches… oh the peaches… I had some of their Short Hill Mountain Peach Brandy, and oh my goodness am I converted. After a year in charred oak barrels this liquid gold is put into these thin bottles. The smell is very sweet with a hint of the peaches. On the taste, there is a further enticement of peach with a little bit of spice on the back of the palate. It warms you up with a medium mouth feel that lasts long on the tongue. This would be wonderful on a warm summer day, just like I had it.

Last but not least I had their Watershed Gin. The first thing you smell is the juniper berries front and center, it is powerful but does not overwhelm. It is light on the tongue, but the moment you breathe in you taste the light aromas of their mixed herbs, but boy does that juniper come forward. I was surprised at how light this felt on the aftertaste and was not dry at all. If you want a gin that is light and would easily mix with things that pair well with herbs, this would work wonders.

The day was getting late and I was watching the sun dance on the ceiling as it was heading beyond the horizon, it was time for me to head out but not before I surveyed the area one last time. The warmth and comfort that I felt at the beginning had not waned one bit, and the people had changed many times but their sense of community and enjoyment were the same as the last one on the bar stool. This place deserves a stop if you’re in the area, you will not be disappointed if you’re a small town homey feel type of person.

For more information on Catoctin Creek Distillery visit: http://catoctincreekdistilling.com