About Catoctin Creek Distilling Company

Cuisine Type: Distilled Spirits—Whisky, Gin, and Brandy

Established: 2009

Reservations: Required

Handicap Accessible: Yes

Parking: Free street parking

Most popular offering: Roundstone Rye

Alcohol: Full bar

Delivery / Take-out Available: No

Outdoor Seating: No

Pro Tip: Bottles may be purchased on site directly from the distillery.

Q&A with Scott Harris, Owner

What is one fun, unusual fact about your business?

The building we call home was built in the first year of Prohibition in a town known for it's support of the Temperance movement.

Is there anything else you want to add that we didn't cover?

Catoctin Creek Distilling Company was founded by Becky and Scott Harris in 2009 as the first legal distillery in Loudoun County since before Prohibition. We are located in Purcellville, Virginia, in the heart of the Loudoun Valley. Loudoun County, often called D.C.'s Wine Country, is home to more than twenty vineyards and wineries, and it now has a distillery.

The name "Catoctin" is a regional name. Pronounced Ka-TOCK-tin. The name derives from the Indian tribal name "Kittocton" which, legend has it, meant "place of many deer". Catoctin describes a range of mountains and the creek which flows picturesquely into the Potomac River and Chesapeake Watershed.

At Catoctin Creek, we believe in high quality food and spirits. Organic means higher quality: grain and fruit, sourced locally when possible, free of pesticides and chemical additives that would come through in the spirits we produce. Sure, it is more difficult to produce organically, but the results speak for themselves. And kosher is another way to respect the tradition of high quality foods.

Décor can say a lot about the type of food a restaurant serves. How does your décor inform or reflect your culinary practice?

Industrial chic. This working distillery is in a beautifully renovated 1920's era Buick dealership. Exposed brick, huge windows and open ceilings give a spacious and inviting feel to the tour experience.

In your own words, how would you describe your distillery?

Visit the first family-owned distillery in Loudoun County since before Prohibition. See this working distillery in production, including our custom-made Kothe potstills and condensers. Tours will highlight the process of making distilled spirits, including fermentation, distillation, aging, and bottling.

Often, depending on the day, you may see much of this equipment in operation and meet and speak with the owners.