A Franklin County distillery is deciding to move and expand their business in another part of the county.

Chris Prillaman along with some help from his friends and family started Twin Creeks Distillery, Inc. a couple years ago. "We're trying to focus on staying true to our roots in Franklin County and making some good stuff," Prillaman explained.

The distillery began selling its moonshine products in December of 2015 on the shelves of more than 70 ABC liquor stores in the Commonwealth.

"Twin Creeks Distillery’s 1st Sugar Moonshine was recently awarded a bronze medal at the NY International Spirits competition held in May 2017," marketing manager Susan Carter said in a news release. "This award was achieved from over 600 entries from 23 countries. “We were so tickled to get this award,” Chris Prillaman said.

The distillery's old location was in Rocky Mount, but Prillaman decided to move and expand the business to Henry, which still lies within Franklin County's borders.

"We got access to a spring; wells and we also had room to be able to add on a tasting room to our facilities," he said.

A tasting room is something they didn't have before the move. "The tasting room... it's gonna be a big plus for us," Prillaman added.

"I definitely think this new location is more fitting due to the water, as far as production, I think it's more fitting as far as space goes," Chris' daughter Anna Prillaman said. She helps out with the business as well by updating social media and their website . "I think the atmosphere is more fitting," she added. "We are nestled in the hills and not necessarily in the town; it gives more of a feel of what we are."

Prillaman said he is confident the move will be a positive change for their business and it will bring in revenue to the county.

He said he is even looking to hire a few part-time staff members to run their distillery store and tasting room as well as to help produce their spirits.

Prillaman said making alcohol is in his family’s blood. "My great grandfather, he was kind of a king pin in the moonshine conspiracy trial of 1935 [in Franklin County]... he was a convicted bootlegger," he explained.

Prillaman said he handmade each copper and steel still Twin Creeks Distillery uses to make their spirits. He also made the other equipment which connects to the stills.

All the ingredients he uses are locally owned and grown.

Prillaman said he is also considering to expand their distribution this fall to North Carolina and Tennessee.

Twin Creeks Distillery will have a soft opening on August 19th beginning at noon.

Read more at source: Wset.com