Tarnished Truth Distilling Co. sits on Atlantic Avenue in Virginia Beach, founded by husband-and-wife team David and Malinda Schmitt in 2015. David brings a background in engineering while Malinda handles the business side, and together they’ve built Virginia Beach’s first legal distillery since Prohibition. The 4,000-square-foot facility houses a custom copper still and fermentation tanks, where they craft bourbon, rye whiskey, vodka, and gin using traditional methods with modern precision. They opened their doors in 2017 after navigating the complex licensing process and building out their production space from scratch. The distillery focuses on small-batch production, with David overseeing the distillation process while maintaining his commitment to quality over quantity. Their tasting room features a rustic-industrial vibe with exposed brick and metal accents, creating a welcoming space where visitors can sample spirits and learn about the craft. The Schmitts named their operation Tarnished Truth as a nod to the honest, unvarnished reality of craft distilling—it’s hard work without shortcuts, and they’re transparent about both their successes and learning curves.
