Overview: Catoctin Creek Distillery in Purcellville, Virginia, was co-founded by Scott Harris and Becky Harris in 2009. The couple transitioned from careers in technology and chemical engineering to distilling after visiting operations in Germany, Scotland, and Ireland during family vacations. Their business model evolved from wholesale distribution through the Virginia ABC to a tasting room experience supported by federal and state approvals received in January 2010.
The Full Story
Scott Harris spent two decades working in technology and government contracting before approaching 40 and considering a different future. His work on U.S. Navy aircraft projects offered a sense of purpose, particularly after the September 11 attacks. Becky Harris is a chemical engineer with experience in petroleum products and contact lenses. She had worked for companies including Amoco and CIBA.
When Scott proposed starting a distillery, she responded, “I know I could make your whiskey.” The more difficult question was whether they could build a viable business around it. By the end of September 2009, they secured approval for a $250,000 Small Business Administration loan. This financing brought unexpected publicity when Harris posted the news on Twitter, attracting the attention of Wall Street Journal reporter Emily Maltby. The couple appeared in the newspaper that October before producing any whiskey.
Production & Profile
Rye whiskey remains the focus of Catoctin Creek’s production. The distillery’s offerings include Roundstone Rye at 80 proof, the 92-proof Distiller’s Edition, and cask-proof expressions. Other products include Rabble Rouser Bottled-in-Bond Rye Whisky, Applejack, Hot Honey Rye, and gin. Seasonal and specialty releases allow the distillery to experiment with different finishes, such as a rye finished in a barrel that previously held maple syrup and Ragnarök Rye, a collaboration with the heavy metal band GWAR that uses a rum-cask finish. The company also produces brandy.
Virginia ingredients remain central to production. A farmer near Warsaw grows rye for the distillery, mills it into flour, and delivers it. The company also uses Virginia water and sources barrels from Virginia and Minnesota. Becky handled production, much of which involved physically demanding work. Without pumps, the couple relied on lifting and pouring buckets.
Brand & Industry History
Scott Harris earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in computer science from Georgia Tech in Atlanta and worked in telecommunications systems before entering the spirits industry. He and Becky moved to Virginia in 1997 after marrying in Atlanta. Becky challenged him to write a business plan during the financial crisis of 2008, when the couple planned to invest savings accumulated during their engineering careers. Looking back, Harris said his experience preparing government proposals helped him develop the plan and make the case for financing. He realized that his job as a government contractor really prepared him well for that. The distillery began as an organic operation requiring detailed records to track ingredients and products through the supply chain.
What This Means
The company’s products have earned ratings of 90 to 94 points from Wine Enthusiast, along with medals in spirits competitions and recognition from the Loudoun Chamber of Commerce. From 2010 until the COVID-19 pandemic, the business recorded annual double-digit growth. The pandemic disrupted that trajectory and forced the couple to find another source of revenue by producing hand sanitizer for public agencies and local governments. For a business conceived during the financial crisis and later sustained through a public health emergency, adapting became part of the work.
Consumer Takeaway
The distillery’s offerings include Roundstone Rye at 80 proof, the 92-proof Distiller’s Edition, and cask-proof expressions. Virginia ingredients remain central to production, with a farmer near Warsaw growing rye for the distillery. The appeal rests on flavor, craftsmanship, and a connection to its surroundings. Whiskey is not a necessity but a luxury to have it.
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