Visiting the Firefly Distillery outside of Charleston, South Carolina is not on the usual tourist path. Firefly has been making muscadine and sweet tea vodka since 2008. The sweet tea vodka combines one of the favorite beverages of the South, made from tea from the nearby Charleston Tea Plantation, and adds a grown-up kick.
Best for bachelor and bachelorette parties as well as adult family reunions, this is somewhere you might spend a whole afternoon. It’s around 45 minutes from downtown Charleston down dirt roads, but opens up onto a family farm turned vineyard and distillery. All ages are welcome, but tastings are only allowed for those 21 and older.
For only $6, you can get 6 samples of their products, including vodkas, bourbons, the new moonshines and liqueurs in a commemorative shot glass. Munch on popcorn while the ladies behind the bar tell you about the new products and ones you can only get at the distillery, like the Southern Lemonade.
Once you’ve had your fill of Firefly drinks, walk across the way to the Irvin House Vineyards tasting room for samples of their wines for $4. There are also critters running around the property, including bunnies, chickens, and ducks.
If You Go
Firefly Distillery is located at 6775 Bears Bluff Road, Wadmalaw Island, South Carolina. From downtown Charleston, take the James Island Expressway and turn right on Folly Road. Take an immediate left on Central Park Road. Turn right onto Riverland Drive and left onto Maybank Highway, which will take you over Johns Island to Wadmalaw Island. Take a right on Liberia Road, followed by a left onto Bears Bluff Road. The distillery will be on the left.
Tastings are from Tuesday to Saturday from 11 am to 5 pm, but closed in January. For more information call Firefly at (843) 557-1405.
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:)