Catoctin Creek Watershed Gin
Catoctin Creek Watershed Gin is a 92-proof (46% ABV) American gin distilled in Purcellville, Virginia, and shipped in a 750mL bottle. Built on a 100% organic rye base instead of neutral grain, this is a gin with a whiskey-maker's backbone — a bold choice that holds its ground in stirred drinks and sours. Order it online from Del Mesa Liquor with fast San Diego delivery.
- ABV: 46% (92 proof)
- Size: 750mL
- Style: Rye-based American gin with a secret organic botanical blend
- Origin: Distilled in Purcellville, Virginia, USA
- Distillery: Catoctin Creek — first legal distillery in Loudoun County since Prohibition (2009)
A Rye Distillery's Take on Gin
Catoctin Creek was founded in 2009 by Scott and Rebecca Harris as the first legal distillery in Loudoun County, Virginia since Prohibition, and it built its name on certified-organic rye whiskey. Watershed Gin — the distillery's only clear spirit — is what happens when that rye-first philosophy gets aimed at a different glass: the same organic rye base behind their acclaimed Roundstone Rye is twice distilled and macerated with a secret recipe of ten organic herbs and spices. It takes its name from the Chesapeake Bay watershed, the waterway into which Catoctin Creek itself flows.
Tasting Notes
Watershed Gin pours clear and opens with a fresh, bright nose of dry juniper, sweet citrus, and exotic florals. Beneath the botanicals sits unmistakable organic rye character — black pepper spice, cereal sweetness, and a chalky minerality — joined by citrus, cinnamon, and notes of fresh-cut hay. The palate is wonderfully rounded with a full, creamy mouthfeel and warming, minty spice; candied lemon peel, fennel, and sweet resin lead into a long, licorice-laced finish. The peppery rye core gives it the body of a traditional-style gin even as the botanicals read contemporary.
How to Enjoy
This is a cocktail-first gin, but don't overlook it neat or over ice — the higher proof carries the flavors through dilution beautifully. The distillery's recommended serve is tonic with a slice of Meyer lemon; it also excels in a Negroni, where the rye spice stands up to bitter orange, or in a classic gin sour. Browse more bottles in the gin collection to build out your home bar.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the proof of Catoctin Creek Watershed Gin?Watershed Gin is bottled at 92 proof (46% ABV), which is notably higher than many standard 80-proof gins — the extra strength gives its botanicals and rye spice more presence in cocktails.
What makes Watershed Gin different from other American gins?Its base: most American gins start from neutral wheat or corn spirit, while Watershed is distilled from 100% organic rye — the same base as the distillery's rye whiskey — giving it a peppery, cereal backbone that reads almost like a bridge between whiskey and gin.
Where is Catoctin Creek Distilling Company located?The distillery is in Purcellville, Virginia, in the heart of Loudoun County wine country — about 30 miles west of Washington, D.C. It was the first legal distillery in the county since Prohibition when it opened in 2009.
Add Catoctin Creek Watershed Gin to your cart at Del Mesa Liquor — America's craft gin shelf deserves one bottle with a rye backbone, and this is it.