Catoctin Creek Distilling Company

What Catoctin Creek Distilling Company does

Catoctin Creek Distilling Company, founded in 2009 by Becky Harris (Chief Distiller, chemical engineer) and Scott Harris (General Manager) in Purcellville, Virginia, is a craft distillery operating as Virginia's first legal distillery since Prohibition. The company produces a portfolio of grain-to-bottle spirits at a single Purcellville facility using copper pot stills and a proprietary 9-hour distillation process, including 100% rye whiskies (Roundstone Rye 80/92/Cask Proof, Rabble Rouser Bottled-in-Bond, Hot Honey Rye, Braddock Oak Rye, Ragnarok Rye), gin expressions (Watershed, Old Tom, Shenandoah), and brandies (1757 Virginia Brandy, XO, Pearousia, Short Hill Mountain Peach, Quarter Branch Apple, AppleJack). A 41 kWh solar array installed in 2013 offsets approximately 85% of distillery electrical usage, functioning as both a cost and marketing differentiator.

The business operates a multi-channel revenue model: off-premise bottle sales through Virginia ABC stores statewide, Total Wine & More nationally (with Braddock Oak Rye as a Total Wine exclusive), and state-level distributors in New York (PM Spirits, 2026), Texas (Alvfor, 2026), and Taiwan (dxcel and Joie de Vivre, 2025); direct-to-consumer e-commerce shipping from the website; on-premise sales via the Purcellville tasting room (flights, tours, cocktails, and a unique Barrel Select Premium 'Filling Station' experience); recurring revenue through the Cornerstone Club VIP membership and a quarterly Bottle Subscription program; and experiential/event revenue including private cask purchases, bottling workshops, 'Distiller for a Day' experiences, distillery dinners ($130/person), and a multi-day Tuscany foodie tour ($4,100-$5,400/person). Pricing ranges from $22 for a 750mL AppleJack to $129 for a Barrel Select Premium, with flagship expressions in the $45-$99 range.

Following the October 2023 reacquisition of the Constellation Brands Ventures interest and the return to full family ownership, Catoctin Creek has executed a sequenced expansion push: Taiwan launch (Dec 2025), NY distribution (Feb 2026), TX distribution (June 2026), a private investment raise (Sept 2025) earmarked for a new high-traffic expansion location and new national products, and a tasting-room refresh and Grand Re-Opening (July 2026) under expanded Virginia SB424 legislation. The company employs 11-50 people across founding/family leadership, operations, marketing, and seasonal/tasting-room staff.

Name

Catoctin Creek Distilling Company

Legal name

Catoctin Creek Distilling Company, LLC

Website

https://catoctincreekdistilling.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Catoctin Creek Distilling Company is a Purcellville, Virginia-based craft distillery, founded in 2009, producing award-winning 100% rye whisky, gin, and brandy grain-to-bottle on-site for retail, on-premise tasting room, and DTC e-commerce channels.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Craft Distilled Spirits

NAICS

Distilleries (312140), Wine and Distilled Alcoholic Beverage Merchant Wholesalers (42482), Beer, Wine, and Liquor Retailers (445320)

SIC

Beverages (2080), Wholesale-Beer, Wine & Distilled Alcoholic Beverages (5180)

akta.pro primary industry

Spirits Distilling & Brands (CRADAIAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Distilleries (Tasting Rooms) (THAFALAG), Distilled Spirits Production & Distilling (AFAFAAAC), Spirits Distillery Tours & Tastings (Whiskey, Rum, Gin, Vodka) (THAJAGAF), Spirits Retail & Whiskey Shops (Off-Premise) (CRANAAAD)

Keywords

• Craft distillery
• Rye whisky
• Bottled-in-bond spirits
• Craft brandy
• Craft gin

Headquarters

HQ city

Purcellville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Bottle Sales (Off-Site Consumption): The primary revenue driver. Products (whisky, gin, brandy) are sold through Virginia ABC stores, Total Wine & More, PM Spirits (NY), Alvfor (TX), dxcel/Joie de Vivre (Taiwan), and other retailers nationwide. The company notes most revenue is generated from off-site bottle sales.
2. Tasting Room / On-Site Sales: Revenue from flights of whisky, brandy, or cocktails, plus tours and events conducted at the Purcellville tasting room. Virginia law previously limited consumers to four 0.5 oz pours; new legislation (SB424, 2026) expands tasting room pour limits. The company also sells merchandise in the tasting room.
3. VIP Membership Programs (Cornerstone Club & Bottle Subscription): The Cornerstone Club offers quarterly exclusive bottles, retail discounts, virtual and in-person events, skip-the-line access, and member concierge access. The Bottle Subscription delivers curated bottles quarterly, delivered to members' doorsteps, with separate Virginia and non-Virginia resident programs.
4. Private Cask / Barrel Sales: The Barrel Select program allows customers to purchase approximately 30 cases (180 bottles) of their own private, hand-chosen cask expression, including a 30-gallon barrel, VIP tour, four 100ml samples, custom bottle labels, and participation in the bottling process. Pricing varies by proof. The 'Distiller for a Day' experience also offers hands-on distilling experiences.
5. Events and Private Rentals: Revenue from hosting private events including weddings, rehearsal dinners, corporate functions, cocktail parties, and sit-down dinners. Additional paid experiences include distillery dinners (e.g., May 2026 dinner with Savoir Faire at $130/person), bottling workshops, and the Tuscany travel tour ($4,100-$5,400 per person).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Catoctin Creek Distilling Company is a Virginia craft distillery that produces 100% rye whiskies, gin, and fruit and grape brandies from grain to bottle on-site in Purcellville, Virginia. The company sells its spirits direct-to-consumer through an e-commerce shop and a tasting room, and through distributors and retail chains. It also offers on-site experiences including tours, flights, private barrel/cask programs, bottling workshops, distillery dinners, and VIP membership subscriptions.

Product overview

Catoctin Creek Distilling Company produces Virginia's most awarded spirits with a portfolio centered on 100% rye whiskies (Roundstone Rye line in 80, 92, and Cask Proof expressions), bottled-in-bond spirits (Rabble Rouser), and flavored variants (Hot Honey Rye, Braddock Oak). The portfolio extends to gin expressions (Watershed Gin, Shenandoah Gin, Old Tom Style), fruit brandies (Pearousia, Short Hill Mountain Peach, Quarter Branch Apple), and grape brandy (1757 Virginia Brandy). Specialty offerings include GWAR collaboration Ragnarok Rye and Finch and Hawk American Malt Whisky. Direct-to-consumer experiences encompass tasting room visits, whisky club subscriptions, barrel select programs, private cask purchases, and distillery events including bottling workshops and distiller-for-a-day experiences.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Roundstone Rye: Flagship pre-Prohibition style 100% rye whisky available in 80 proof, 92 proof Distiller's Edition, and Cask Proof expressions.
• Rabble Rouser
• Hot Honey Rye
• Watershed Gin
• Old Tom Watershed Gin
• Shenandoah Gin
• AppleJack
• 1757 Virginia Brandy
• 1757 Virginia XO Brandy
• Pearousia Pear Brandy
• Short Hill Mountain Peach Brandy
• Quarter Branch Apple Brandy
• Braddock Oak Rye Whisky
• Finch and Hawk
• Ragnarok Rye

Products and services

• Roundstone Rye 80 Proof Flagship 100% rye whisky aged approximately two years in new charred white oak casks; most popular Catoctin Creek whisky offering with caramel, butter toffee, and lemon notes.
• Roundstone Rye 92 Proof Distiller's Edition Becky's curated selection of only 1 in 10 barrels, released at higher proof (92) for enhanced flavor while remaining smooth.
• Roundstone Rye Cask Proof Most awarded Catoctin Creek whisky, released at approximately 58% ABV with rich notes of chocolate, tanned leather, and tobacco.
• Roundstone Rye Cask Proof Maple Finish Roundstone Rye finished in maple syrup barrels for velvety maple notes.
• Roundstone Rye Cask Proof Hickory Finish Roundstone Rye finished in hickory syrup barrels with smoky notes.
• Rabble Rouser Bottled-in-Bond Rye 100% rye whisky distilled at lower proof to highlight grain character, aged seven years making it among the oldest craft whiskeys in the US.
• Hot Honey Rye Pot-stilled 100% rye whisky with three types of local Virginia honey and chile pepper infusion for sweet heat; the company's first new product in over five years.
• Ragnarok Rye (Oderus Edition) GWAR collaboration 100% rye whisky aged with white oak, sugar maple, cherrywood, and finished in rum casks; sold in Oderus Edition with special labels and bottle toppers.
• Braddock Oak Rye Virginia Blue Ridge Mountains rye aged in charred new oak, available in standard expression and red wine finished version.
• Finch and Hawk American Malt Whisky First release of Loudoun County malted barley whisky aged in charred new oak, red wine casks, and Adroit Theory stout casks.
• Watershed Gin Rye-based gin with herbs, spices, subtle citrus, cinnamon, and fresh cut hay notes with crisp juniper character.
• Watershed Old Tom Gin Historic reproduction of mid-1800s American gin, aged in Pearousia pear brandy barrels and sweetened with sugar.
• Shenandoah Gin Appalachian-inspired gin featuring natural strawberry and pawpaw flavors with pink color from black carrot juice.
• 1757 Virginia Brandy Virginia's first commercial grape brandy since 1607, distilled from locally-grown Virginia wine grapes and aged in French Bordeaux oak barrels for at least two years.
• 1757 Virginia XO Brandy Bottled-in-Bond 10-year-old bottled-in-bond brandy from 100% Virginia grapes (Vidal Blanc and Chambourcin) with only 173 bottles produced.
• AppleJack Blend of 100% heritage Virginia apple brandy with notes of crisp apple, baking spice, and vanilla, bottled at 80 proof.
• Pearousia Pear Brandy Collaboration with Fabbioli Cellars using pear wine distilled into brandy with musky pear aroma and caramel-vanilla oak notes.
• Short Hill Mountain Peach Brandy Limited release peach brandy from western Loudoun County peaches with notes evoking peach cobbler.
• Quarter Branch Apple Brandy Collaboration with Blue Bee Cidery using heritage apples (Old Winesap, Arkansas Black, Albemarle Pippin) aged two years in Minnesota white oak.
• Whisky Gift Pack Sampler pack with 200mL bottles of Roundstone Rye 80 Proof, 92 Proof, and Cask Proof for vertical tasting.
• Barrel Select Private Cask Program Custom single cask purchase program yielding approximately 180 bottles with personalized label, distillery tour, four 100ml samples, and participation in bottling process.
• Barrel Select Premium (Filling Station) Fill-your-own bottle experience at the distillery tasting room with rare, one-of-a-kind casks at natural cask proof, with custom labels and corks.
• Cornerstone Club Membership Annual members-only club offering quarterly exclusive bottles, retail discounts, virtual and in-person events, skip-the-line access, member concierge, and core tastings at the distillery.
• Bottle Subscription (Quarterly Whisky Club) Quarterly delivery of the rarest Catoctin Creek whisky bottles to members' doorsteps, with separate Virginia and non-Virginia resident programs.
• Tasting Room Experience In-person tastings at the Purcellville tasting room featuring whisky flights, brandy, and seasonal cocktails with daily tours.
• Private Events Venue rental for weddings, rehearsal dinners, corporate functions, cocktail parties, and fundraisers with catering and distillery tours.
• Bottling Workshop Hands-on workshop learning bottling, capping, sealing, and labeling with a free tour and tasting included.
• Distiller for a Day Experience Full distilling experience where participants mash, ferment, and distill their own whisky and create a custom bottle label.
• Tuscany Foodie Tour

Quantifiable outcome

• Wine Enthusiast 94 Points — Quarter Branch Apple Brandy (2021) and Roundstone Rye 92 Proof (2020)
• +8 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• PM SpiritscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 20 February 2026Catoctin Creek announced a new distribution partnership with PM Spirits for the state of New York. PM Spirits will represent Catoctin Creek's full portfolio throughout New York state, expanding the brand's presence in the Northeast market.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Woodford Reserve: Brown-Forman's premium bourbon and rye portfolio with national distribution and a strong visitor/distillery experience business. Comparable to Catoctin Creek as a premium craft-positioned whiskey brand with on-site tourism, but operating at materially larger scale.
• Bulleit Frontier Whiskey: Mainstream high-rye bourbon and rye brand owned by Diageo with broad national distribution. Comparable as the dominant premium rye benchmark Catoctin Creek must compete against on shelf placement, trade spend, and bartender mindshare.

Direct peers

• Smooth Ambler Spirits: West Virginia craft distillery best known for Contradiction bourbon and Old Scout ryes. Comparable to Catoctin Creek as a mid-Atlantic craft rye producer selling through independent and national retail.
• Virginia Distillery Company: Virginia-based craft whisky and brandy producer (Port Cask-finished American single malts). Directly comparable as a fellow Virginia craft distillery competing for the same regional on-premise accounts, Virginia ABC shelf space, and tourist traffic in the Loudoun/Blue Ridge corridor.
• WhistlePig Whiskey: Premium craft rye-focused distillery in Vermont, widely regarded as the leading American craft rye brand. Directly comparable to Catoctin Creek on rye specialization, premium pricing, and trade advocacy, though at meaningfully larger scale and now backed by Pernod Ricard.
• Copper Fox Distillery: Virginia craft distillery producing rye, bourbon, and applejack with on-site tasting rooms. Most direct sub-peer given shared Loudoun-adjacent geography, fruit-and-rye portfolio overlap (AppleJack), and visitor experience model.
• High West Distillery: Utah-based craft distillery specializing in rye and bourbon with a strong tasting-room and food-pairing business, now owned by Constellation Brands. Closely comparable to Catoctin Creek's craft positioning, tasting-room GTM, and rye-forward portfolio.
• Koval Distillery: Chicago-based craft distillery producing organic whiskey, gin, and brandy. Comparable to Catoctin Creek as an independently operated, award-winning craft distiller with a broad portfolio (rye, gin, brandy) and on-site tasting experience.
• Wilderness Trail Distillery: Kentucky craft rye and bourbon producer recognized for award-winning small-batch whiskies. Comparable to Catoctin Creek on craft positioning, rye focus, and competition-circuit validation.
• Tuthilltown Spirits (Hudson Whiskey): New York craft distillery producing Hudson Whiskey ryes and bourbons, now part of William Grant & Sons. Comparable to Catoctin Creek on craft rye positioning, premium pricing, and relevance as a NE craft rye brand now expanding through major distribution.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/watch?v=bO8Dm3vYr5M&list=PLFA4601F0DD745366
• Facebookfacebook.com/734701646663461

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Catoctin Creek Distilling Company