Visiting the Firefly Distillery outside of Charleston, South Carolina a fun way to spend the day. The company has been making muscadine and sweet tea vodka since 2008, long before the rise in sweet tea liquor brands.
The sweet tea vodka combines one of the favorite beverages of the South, made from tea from the Charleston Tea Plantation, and adds a grown-up kick. Originally located on remote Wadmalaw Island, the Firefly Distillery is now in a larger building in North Charleston. It was founded by Jim Irvin and Scott Newitt on the grounds of a winery.
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Touring the Firefly Distillery
Best for bachelor and bachelorette parties as well as adult family reunions, the Firefly Distillery is somewhere you might spend a whole afternoon. All ages are welcome, but tastings are only allowed for those 21 and older.
Firefly has a number of products that inspire the culture of the South, of catching fireflies in mason jars. Many of the spirits are created onsite, but some are crafted at a second location in Kentucky. The tasting room is not far from Noisette Creek.
The distillery has bottles of their products for sale but also offers tastings and self-guided tours of the facility. Here you can sample the company’s full line of products including the original and “skinny” versions of the sweet tea vodka, flavored and classic vodkas, flavored moonshine, ready to drink cocktails, and flavored rums and whiskeys.
For only $10, you can get 6 samples of their products in a commemorative shot glass. Visitors can also purchase additional cocktails made using the Firefly range of spirits. The distillery also hosts events like live music and comedy shows and is both pet and family-friendly.
Getting to the Firefly Distillery
Firefly Distillery is located at 4201 Spruill Avenue, North Charleston, South Carolina 29405 in the Park Circle neighborhood. The distillery is open from Monday to Saturday from 12 to 6 pm, but confirm the hours before you go.
From downtown Charleston, hop on I-26 and drive 15 minutes to the Cosgrove Avenue exit. You can also reach the distillery by rideshare or public transportation. Catch CARTA bus #10 from Mary and Meeting streets in the Trident Medical Center/HealthSouth direction.
They come every 20 minutes and the ride takes 45 minutes, getting off at Rivers and Helms avenues. It’s another 10-minute walk from there. Tickets are $2.
Where to Eat Near the Firefly Distillery
The Firefly Distillery is close to a number of restaurants in Park Circle. The Codfather Fish & Chips has authentic British-style dishes while Sesame Burgers and Beer has South Carolina craft beers and house-made burgers with your choice of toppings.
Mixson Market in the trendy Mixson development is part store and part deli with all-day breakfast and dishes like egg sandwiches on ciabatta, avocado toast, and mozzarella basil salad. The distillery also has food trucks and is close to some of Charleston’s best breweries.
Where to Stay Near the Firefly Distillery
There are no hotels in the Park Circle area of North Charleston but the properties around the Charleston Airport are only a short drive away. Aloft Charleston Airport and Convention Center has shuttle services to the airport and Coliseum along with an indoor pool and a kids’ program.
The North Charleston Marriott is a large property with an airport shuttle, outdoor pool, business center, fitness center, and restaurant. There are also plenty of cute houses for rent in the Park Circle area.
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I consume far too much of this stuff to admit (Arnold Palmers are my drink) but how did I not realize this was near Charleston on my recent trip through the area? Oh well, just an excuse to return. And the recipe is dead on, but I use unsweetened tea…just too sweet otherwise:)