The Whiskey Trip - Season 2, Episode 23 - Rebecca Harris, Chief Distiller - Catoctin Creek Distilling Co.

The Bourbon Life

This week on The Whiskey Trip Podcast, Big Chief takes a ride to Northern, Virginia to visit Rebecca Harris from Catoctin Creek Distilling Company.

Becky takes the big man through the history of Catoctin Creek and their Virginia Rye Whiskies. After years of being a chemical engineer she, along with her husband, started this craft distillery in Purcellville, Virginia.

Their passion is rye whiskey done their way. All her products begin with the finest local and organic grains to create the cleanest spirit possible. At the heart of the distillery is a pair of pot stills, where Becky insists on cooking the distillate for a full nine hours, more than twice as long as most other distilleries, to create the unique and award-winning flavors in her distillate.

They start the show with the Roundstone Rye Distiller’s Edition. Only one in every ten barrels gets selected to be in the Roundstone Rye "92 Proof" whisky. This 100% rye mash-bill is something special.

They then move on to the cask proof version of our ever-popular Roundstone Rye. Released at approximately 58% ABV (it varies depending on the individual barrels), this is seriously strong whisky! Delicious, dark, complex and ridiculously smooth for the proof

To start the second half Becky and Big Chief sip on Rabble Rouser Bottled in Bond Rye Whiskey. "Where Roundstone Rye is sort of restrained and elegant," says Scott Harris, founder of the distillery, "Rabble Rouser is more unruly and vivacious.".

To finish the show Becky treats the big man Catoctin Creek Hot Honey Rye. Just as you're savoring the whisky, the peppers come in with a surprising and delightful bit of heat. Smooth and sweet, with a ZING! This is a fun one!

This ride on The Whiskey Trip shows Big Chief isn’t afraid to make a correction from previous shows.

Cheers!