Third Rail Distillery sits on Clayton Street in Lawrenceville, Georgia, about 45 minutes northeast of Atlanta. Founded by husband-and-wife team Jason and Jennifer Hemphill in 2018, this craft distillery emerged from Jason’s background in brewing and their shared passion for creating quality spirits. The operation runs out of a converted industrial space that they’ve transformed into a functional distillery and tasting room. They focus primarily on bourbon and rye whiskey, though they also produce vodka and gin to keep cash flow steady while their whiskeys age. The Hemphills didn’t start with deep pockets or decades of distilling experience. Jason came from the beer world, working at local breweries before deciding to make the jump to spirits. They spent nearly two years navigating Georgia’s regulations and building out their facility before opening to the public. Jennifer handles much of the business side while Jason runs production on their custom-built 500-gallon copper still. Their approach centers on small-batch production with attention to detail rather than trying to flood the market. Visitors find a straightforward operation where you can see the entire process from grain to glass. The tasting room feels more like hanging out in someone’s well-appointed garage than a polished visitor center, which works in their favor. You’re likely to meet Jason or Jennifer during your visit, and they’re happy to talk about their journey from beer to bourbon. The space showcases their equipment without trying to hide the industrial nature of distilling, and the atmosphere stays relaxed and unpretentious.