Editor’s Be aware: These whiskeys have been offered to us as a overview pattern by Catoctin Creek Distillery. This by no means, per our editorial insurance policies, influenced the ultimate consequence of this overview. It also needs to be famous that by clicking the purchase hyperlink in the direction of the underside of this overview our web site receives a small referral fee which helps to help, however not affect, our editorial and different prices.
Catoctin Creek Distillery is situated in Purcellville, Virginia, the place President and Chief Distiller Becky Harris and her husband, Founder and Normal SupervisorScott Harris, hand craft their rye whiskies (and sure, they go for the “whisky” spelling). When it opened in 2009, theirs grew to become the first authorized distillery to open in Loudoun County since Prohibition.
Catoctin is pronounced “Ka-TOCK-tin.” The phrase is derived from the Native American tribal title Kittocton, which interprets roughly to imply “place of many deer.” Catoctin Creek makes use of conventional strategies impressed by pre-Prohibition types to create their whiskies, comparable to sourcing all of their components domestically, utilizing small pot stills and new, charred 30 gallon American oak barrels, proofing their spirits with Virginia spring water, and incorporating household recipes.
Taking their cues from mid-Atlantic distilling traditions, their whiskies focus solely on rye. Their flagship Roundstone rye, which is distilled from 100% unmalted rye, is available in an 80 proof bottling, a 92 proof bottling, and a cask power bottling. All are single barrel releases bottled with out chill filtration which might be additionallynatural, vegan, kosher, and gluten free.
This overview focuses on the 80 proof and 92 proof releases of Roundstone Rye. The 80 proof Catoctin Creek Roundstone Single Barrel Virginia Rye Whisky is the distillery’s flagship expression. It makes use of a mash invoice of 100% natural Virginian rye, fermented and distilled in a copper pot nonetheless. The distillation course of takes over 9 hours, which permits for the utmost quantity of taste to be extracted from the rye grain earlier than it’s aged for 2-3 years in new charred Minnesota white oak and Virginia white oak barrels.
The Catoctin Creek Distillers Version follows the identical formulation of utilizing 100% domestically sourced natural rye. It’s bottled at 92 proof with out chill filtration as a single barrel product. Moreover, what units this rye whiskey aside from Catoctin Creek Distillery’s flagship rye is that solely sure barrels make the minimize.
In a ready assertion, Harris mentioned, “For a number of years now, we’ve been placing whisky away for storage, we pulled a few of the extra fascinating barrels from the again of the barn and determined to launch these at a better proof: a whisky specifically curated for taste, whereas nonetheless being remarkably easy, as is our current 80 proof Roundstone.”
In Could of 2022 Catoctin Creek was awarded #1 Better of Virginia for Distillery in Northern Virginia in Virginia Residing journal. Catoctin Creek Virginia Rye Whisky received Double Gold within the 2018 New York World Wine & Spirits Competitors, and Catoctin Creek Distillers Version Rye Whisky received a Gold Medal within the Wizards of Whisky World Awards in 2016 and the New York World Wine and Spirits Competitors in 2015.
Catoctin Creek Roundstone Single Barrel Virginia Rye Whiskey and Distillers Version Rye Whiskey (picture through Jennifer Williams/The Whiskey Wash)
Important Stats: Aged 2-3 years, 80 proof (40% ABV), mash invoice: 100% natural Virginia rye, 750 ml MSRP $44.
Look: Chestnut
Nostril: A broad aroma profile with woody oak, smoke, candy bread, black tea, inexperienced peppercorn, and rock salt. There’s additionally an intriguing observe of high-end Tequila.
Palate: At 80 proof (40% ABV),there may be low burn on the nostril and the palate. Flavors embody cereal, malty, spicy, raisin, black currant, candy prunes, hints of clove, nutty, dried fruit, butterscotch, and hints of cigar, with a creamy lengthy end that coats the tongue.
Closing Ideas: Total, I discovered this to be a extremely complicated rye whisky with a pleasing lengthy end that insisted I spend extra time attempting to suss out its many flavors.
Important Stats: Aged 3 years, 92 proof (46% ABV), mash invoice: 100% natural rye, 750 ml MSRP $52.
Look: Russet
Nostril: On the nostril are notes of heat caramel apple, citrus, and sea salt. Much like the 80 proof rye, it additionally gives the shocking trace of high-end Tequila on the nostril, with out tasting like a Tequila.
Palate: The palate gives heat baking spices, cinnamon, buttery peppermint, hazelnut, dried figs, and vanilla. The well-rounded lengthy end gives scrumptious notes of buttery peppermint, caramel apple, hazelnut, and sea salt.
Closing Ideas: This 92 proof rye delivers a well-rounded complexity of flavors just like Catoctin Creek’s 80 proof expression. Nonetheless, it gives a barely extra sturdy, spice-forward taste profile. This can be a smoky, woody, and hearty rye general, with a well-balanced and broad taste profile providing plenty of fascinating character notes between the nostril and palate.
