Scott Harris, co-founder and general manager of Catoctin Creek Distilling Company, has been appointed to the Virginia Spirits Board by Governor Ralph Northam, overseeing the operations and marketing of the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority (ABC). Harris currently sits on the Craft Distiller Advisory Board for the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS) and is a member of the Virginia Distillers Association Board of Directors.
The new board will set direction and innovate new courses for the growing Virginia ABC. Harris is joined by Jeff Bloem, founder and maltster of Murphy & Rude Malting Co.; Joshua Chandler, plant manager of Speyside Bourbon Cooperage, Inc.; David Cuttino, co-founder and CEO of Reservoir Distillery; Bill Karlson, owner of KO Distilling; Kara King, creative director of Ironclad Distillery; Gareth H. Moore, CEO of Virginia Distilling Co.; and Brian Prewitt, master distiller of A. Smith Bowman Distillery.
“I am excited to engage in this new role and honored to have been selected for this initial board,” said Harris. “I look forward to working with my peers in the industry, and the leadership of the Virginia ABC, to innovate and continue to achieve the best results for spirits consumers and citizens in the Commonwealth.”
Following his graduation from Georgia Tech, Harris spent 20 years building a software career in telecommunication systems and government IT solutions before opening Catoctin Creek Distilling Co., The Virginia Rye Whisky ℠ with his wife, Becky, in 2009. A tireless advocate for craft spirits both in the Commonwealth of Virginia and internationally, Harris was named the Entrepreneur of the Year in 2011 and awarded Small Business of the Year in 2012 by the Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce.
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About Catoctin Creek Distilling:
Catoctin Creek Distilling Company, The Virginia Rye Whisky ℠, was founded by Scott and Becky Harris in 2009. Inspired by the history and craft of Virginia, Catoctin Creek made a name for itself as the first legal distillery since Prohibition in Purcellville, Virginia’s Loudoun County. The craft distillery is home to Virginia’s most-awarded whisky, Roundstone Rye, which has been presented gold medals across the globe and stands out through its old-world production methods. Catoctin Creek prides itself on sourcing rye whisky, gin, and seasonal brandy from local grains and fruits, with spirits available in 26 states and 3 continents. The Harris’ intricate attention to detail results in high quality internationally acclaimed products, including seasonal releases and private cask offerings, that recognize the true craft of Virginia spirits. For more information, call (540) 751-8404 or visit CatoctinCreekDistilling.com. Follow Catoctin Creek on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.
