Catoctin Creek Distilling Company, LLC
Overview of the Distillery
Catoctin Creek is located in Purcellville, Virginia, and is a family-run distillery founded in 2009 by Becky and Scott Harris. They have specialized in 100% rye whiskey — called The Virginia Rye Whisky™ — and combine local ingredients, pot-still distillation, and spring water from the region. The distillery is known for the Roundstone Rye series and a number of Barrel Select finishes.
History
The history stretches from Virginia’s early distilling practices at Jamestown in colonial times to Catoctin Creek’s modern revival of the rye tradition. Rye played a central role in the Mid-Atlantic from colonial times and was dominant in cocktail culture in the 1800s. Prohibition (1920–1933) halted much of the commercial production, and only in the 21st century did craft distilleries begin reviving the local traditions. Becky and Scott Harris founded Catoctin Creek in 2009 as the first legal distillery in Loudoun County since before Prohibition, with the aim of reviving 100% rye whisky made from local crops and distilled in copper pot stills.
Raw Materials and Production
Production is based on 100% rye mash for their rye whiskies, with grain and fruit largely sourced locally. The mash and fermentation take place on-site, and the distillation is performed in a pair of copper pot stills. Chief Distiller Becky Harris sets an unusually long boil time for the distillate — nine hours — to develop deeper character in the spirit. The distillates are diluted with natural Virginia spring water before bottling. These choices — 100% rye, local grain supply, pot-still work, and longer boil time — define the craft and set the production apart from industrial, column-distilled spirits.
Maturation and Cask Types
The whiskies are primarily aged in white oak barrels, where Virginia’s changing climate contributes to flavor development over time. The distillery also releases Barrel Select variants, where Roundstone Rye Cask Proof gets extra resting or finishes in special casks such as maple or hickory finishes, as well as a few club releases finished in Norton brandy casks. These finish experiments are used to broaden the portfolio and offer pronounced, contrasting variants beyond standard oak aging.
The Whiskies
Core portfolio centers on Roundstone Rye in several versions (80 Proof, 92 Proof/Distiller's Edition, and Cask Proof) and includes special editions and Barrel Select finishes. Rabble Rouser Bottled-in-Bond, Hot Honey Rye, Braddock Oak, and several limited releases such as Ragnarök Rye supplement the lineup. Additionally, American malt whisky and a range of brandy products are produced, but Rye is clearly the core of the distillery’s identity. Many of the releases are available via webshop and distillery pickup in Virginia.
| Whisky | Type / Series | Alcohol | Age | Barrel and Style | Flavor Profile | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roundstone Rye 80 Proof | Rye whiskey | 40 % | White oak barrels | Flagship rye in the core lineup; made from 100% rye, matured in white oak barrels and proofed with natural Virginia spring water. | Current; Core range; Available (webshop / distillery pickup in Virginia) | |
| Roundstone Rye 92 Proof "Distiller's Edition" | Rye whiskey | 46 % | White oak barrels | A stronger version in the Roundstone family, marketed as "92 Proof" Distiller's Edition; still 100% rye and pot-still distillation. | Current; Core range; Available | |
| Roundstone Rye Cask Proof | Rye whiskey | White oak barrels | Cask Proof edition of Roundstone Rye, sold as a core/iconic release in several variants including Barrel Select finishes. | Current; Core range; Available | ||
| Roundstone Rye Cask Proof - HICKORY CASK | Rye whiskey; Roundstone Rye (Barrel Select) | Hickory cask (finish); finish: Hickory cask finish | Barrel Select‑variant finished in a hickory finish as a special edition of Roundstone Rye Cask Proof. | Current; Available (Barrel Select / special finish) | ||
| Roundstone Rye Cask Proof - MAPLE CASK | Rye whiskey; Roundstone Rye (Barrel Select) | Maple cask (finish); finish: Maple cask finish | Barrel Select‑finish in maple‑fade released as a special variant of Cask Proof. | Current; Available (Barrel Select) | ||
| Rabble Rouser Bottled‑in‑Bond - 7YO | Rye whiskey (Bottled‑in‑Bond) | 7 years | White oak barrels | Bottled‑in‑Bond edition of Rabble Rouser; an older and respectable bottle in the distillery’s lineup marked as a special edition. | Current; Available | |
| Hot Honey Rye | Flavoured rye whisky | Seasonal/positioned special release with honey/chili‑infusion as part of the distillery’s broader portfolio. | Current; Core range; Available | |||
| Braddock Oak Rye | Rye whiskey | Red wine finish (specific release); finish: Red wine finish | A rye release in their lineup, also issued in variants with red wine finish. | Current; Available (special releases and exclusive retail variants) | ||
| Ragnarök Rye "Oderus Edition" | Rye whiskey (special edition) | A named, limited release of Ragnarök Rye sold as a special edition via a dedicated sales channel; earlier editions had a limited number of bottles. | Limited; Limited / special release (only a few bottles left in earlier press); 300 bottles | |||
| Dracomalt American Malt Whisky | American malt whisky | American malt whisky released by Catoctin Creek as part of their broad line of grain-based distillates. | Current; Available |
The Whiskies’ Style and Flavor Profile
Overall, there is a throughline of fruitiness, sweetness, and spice across the portfolio. Reviews and releases mention red apples and, in some reviews, tropical banana as fruit notes. Caramel and butterscotch‑like sweet directions recur in reviews of Cask Proof releases, while a spicy, classic rye profile — including dill notes and general spice — is highlighted in several descriptions. These three directions (fruit, caramel/sweetness, spice) provide a consistent overview across many of their rye releases.
Visit the Distillery
The distillery is open to the public with a tasting room experience, guided tours, and tasting menus. Tours are held once daily at 1:00 PM; reservations are recommended for both tours and tastings. In the tasting room you can reserve flights of whiskey, brandy, or cocktails, and guests can participate in the “Filling Station” activity, where they fill their own bottle. The location has ample free parking in downtown Purcellville. Note that Virginia law places limits on how much spirits per customer, and rules on age and conduct are enforced.
The stated hours are Mon: Closed; Tue: Closed; Wed: 12:00–18:00; Thu: 12:00–18:00; Fri: 12:00–22:00; Sat: 12:00–22:00; Sun: 13:00–21:00. Tours daily at 1:00 PM.
Philosophy and Craft
Catoctin Creek’s philosophy centers on recreating and celebrating Virginia’s rye tradition: 100% rye mash, locally sourced non-pesticide ingredients, pot-still distillation, and longer boil times to achieve deeper distillate character. Proofing with natural regional spring water and a strong focus on craft and small-batch production are central values, along with a local rooting and reference to Virginia as the birthplace of much American whiskey.
Awards and Recognitions
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Double Platinum (2024, Double Platinum, Roundstone Rye Cask Proof)
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Double Gold & Best in Category (2023, Double Gold & Best in Category, Roundstone Rye 92 Proof)
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Double Gold (2017, Double Gold, Roundstone Rye Cask Proof)
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94 Points (2021, 94 POINTS, Quarter Branch Apple Brandy)
Latest News
Loudoun Times: New hours, revamped menu at Purcellville's Catoctin Creek Distillery – 2026-07-04
Article about the grand reopening and changes in laws enabling extended hours and a new menu. Describes the distillery’s reopening in their historic building and the new guest-experience initiatives.
Catoctin Creek receives GOLD MEDAL and BEST‑IN‑SHOW from the Kosher Spirit Awards – 2026-07-02
Catoctin Creek Roundstone Rye Cask Proof received the GOLD MEDAL and BEST‑IN‑SHOW at the Kosher Spirit Awards; Applejack received Bronze. The distillery’s products are kosher-certified by Star‑K.
Press Release: Catoctin Creek Announces Tasting Room Refresh, Expanded Hours, and Grand Re‑Opening Celebration – 2026-05-15
Official press release about a comprehensive update of the tasting room, expanded hours, expanded cocktail program, and a Grand Re‑Opening on July 1.