A Woman’s Touch - Catoctin Creek Distillery

A Woman's Touch

BECKY AND SCOTT HARRIS ARE TURNING THE RYE WHISKY WORLD ON ITS HEAD

By Victoria CeCe

If there’s anyone going against the grain in the whisky world, it’s Catoctin Creek.

This Virginia-based distillery started back in 2009 as the first of its kind in Loudon County since Prohibition. Founded by Becky and Scott Harris, the husband and wife duo saw a real gap in the whisky world—the absence of rye whisky crafted from local grain.

“When we first started producing rye whisky, people often told us, ‘This doesn’t taste like rye!’ We were flabbergasted!” recounts Becky and Scott, “How can it not taste like rye? It’s 100% rye!” Their whisky, crafted from locally Virginia-grown rye, revealed a secret in the spirits world. “What we learned was that much of the rye whisky on the market at that time (in 2010) was coming from Indiana and was showing up in many different bottles.”

As innovators do, Becky and Scott committed to their dream of creating real Virginia rye whisky. This goes even beyond the grain. “We choose to pot-still our whisky, which we believe develops a deeper, richer, creamier flavor and texture,” explains Scott. “The process takes about eight hours per batch, which is about 16 times longer than it would take to render on a column still.”

This extra TLC in their whisky shows how being an innovator in the industry doesn’t necessarily mean creating something brand new. To Becky, Catoctin Creek is about respecting the past. “Our rye follows the traditions of whisky making in Virginia since 1607. That’s 400+ years of whisky making in America that predates bourbon by at least 100 years,” comments Becky. “It is that original craft, locally farmed rye whisky that we wanted to produce.”

Now, Catoctin Creek’s old-school process isn’t its only game-changing aspect. As a female Chief Distiller, Becky’s work is challenging the norm of the maledominated whisky industry.

“In American whisky spaces, until recently, most women contributed to only the business or blending side, not in the stillhouse,” mentions Becky. “I’m eager to see how the spirits change and develop as we truly become equal partners and leaders with the men in the industry.”

Becky’s commitment to transforming the industry expands beyond Catoctin. In fact, Becky is the first female President of the American Craft Spirits Association. “She puts in many, many hours on her position as President, advocating for fairness and equality for America’s craft distillers. That’s a thankless position, but she makes a big difference in the lives of many craft distillers across the country,” says Scott.

“Becky likes to say, ‘We do things the big guys wouldn’t trouble themselves with!’ And, boy, is she right!” adds Scott.

What Catoctin Creek is up to next has us on our toes. With Becky’s sophisticated tastebuds and Scott’s business sense behind it, we know it’s going to be groundbreaking. As Becky and Scott joke, “Nothing short of world domination. That’s our goal!”

With Catoctin Creek, it seems as if they found the perfect blend of tradition and transformation, a balance between centuriesold Virginia’s whisky history and America’s female-lead distillery future.