Roosters Rise -N- Shine Distillery sits in Moneta, Virginia, along the shores of Smith Mountain Lake in Bedford County. Founded by husband-and-wife team Chris and Angie Hairston, this craft distillery opened its doors in 2018 after years of planning and navigating Virginia’s regulatory landscape. Chris brings a background in engineering while Angie handles the business side, and together they’ve built what they call a true farm-to-bottle operation. The distillery occupies a 4,000-square-foot facility where they produce bourbon, moonshine, and flavored spirits using locally sourced grains when possible. The Hairstons didn’t just want to make spirits—they wanted to create a destination that celebrates Virginia’s agricultural heritage while offering visitors an authentic look at small-batch distilling. Their approach focuses on traditional methods combined with modern precision, using a custom copper still system that allows them to control every aspect of production. The tasting room overlooks the production floor, so you can watch the process while sampling their spirits. What started as Chris’s hobby of home distilling evolved into a full-scale operation when the couple realized they could bring something special to Virginia’s growing craft spirits scene. The name ‘Rise -N- Shine’ reflects both their early morning work ethic and their belief that great spirits should elevate any occasion.
