Catoctin Creek Distillery Buys Back Equity Shares from Constellation Brands

Oct. 11, 2023

Constellation Brands had purchased a minority stake in the Virginia distillery in 2017.

Catoctin Creek Distilling Co., a Virginia-based rye whiskey producer, has repurchased equity shares bought by Constellation Brands nearly seven years ago, according to news reports. With Constellation Brands’ support as a minority shareholder, Catoctin Creek invested in distillery operations to increase production and warehouse capacity, the reports said. In addition, Constellation helped launch the brand internationally and expand its U.S. distribution network.

Both companies said in the news reports that the time was “ideal” for the buyback. Catoctin Creek’s portfolio includes its roundstone rye and recently launched Hot Honey Rye, a whiskey infused with honey and chilies that was the brand’s first product launch in five years.

Catoctin Creek was founded by Scott and Becky Harris in 2009, and Constellation Brands purchased the minority stake in 2017 through its corporate venture capital division Constellation Ventures.

About the Author

Andy Hanacek | Senior Editor

Andy Hanacek has covered meat, poultry, bakery and snack foods as a B2B editor for nearly 20 years, and has toured hundreds of processing plants and food companies, sharing stories of innovation and technological advancement throughout the food supply chain. In 2018, he won a Folio:Eddie Award for his unique "From the Editor's Desk" video blogs, and he has brought home additional awards from Folio and ASBPE over the years. In addition, Hanacek led the Meat Industry Hall of Fame for several years and was vice president of communications for We R Food Safety, a food safety software and consulting company.