Lost State Distilling sits right on State Street in downtown Bristol, Tennessee, founded by husband-and-wife team Chris and Stephanie Deaton in 2019. The name plays on Bristol’s unique position straddling the Tennessee-Virginia state line – you’re literally in the ‘lost state’ between two borders. Chris brings a background in engineering while Stephanie handles the business side, and together they’ve created something that feels authentically Bristol in a renovated downtown building that captures the city’s dual-state character. They started with a clear mission: make quality bourbon and rye using traditional methods but with their own twist. Chris spent years perfecting recipes before they ever opened doors, working with a 500-gallon copper still that produces small batches with serious attention to detail. The operation focuses on bourbon and rye whiskey, though they also produce vodka and seasonal spirits. What began as a dream during late-night conversations became reality when they found the perfect downtown location and decided Bristol needed its own distillery. Visitors walk into a space that feels like a working distillery first, tourist attraction second. You can see the entire operation from the tasting room, smell the mash cooking, and usually catch Chris or Stephanie explaining some aspect of the process to curious guests. The atmosphere strikes that sweet spot between professional craft operation and neighborhood gathering place, where locals drop by as often as tourists passing through on their way to other Tennessee destinations.