Distillery tours
Distillery Tours in South Carolina
Plan a distillery tour in South Carolina: 10 distilleries to visit, with tastings and experiences you can book directly. Expect Craft Spirits, Gin, Bourbon and more. Highlights include Charleston Distilling Co., New South Spirits, High Wire Distilling Company.
10distilleries
Hollow Creek Distillery
Hand-crafted small-batch Southern spirits in Leesville
About distillery tours in South Carolina
South Carolina's distilling story leans on two threads: a colonial port history steeped in the rum trade, and a thoroughly modern craft revival that only really took off once state laws made small-batch distilling commercially viable again. The result is one of the South's most characterful spirits scenes, full of Lowcountry charm and split between two natural hubs. Charleston is the obvious anchor, with a cluster of distilleries that includes High Wire Distilling Co., Charleston Distilling Co., New South Spirits and Striped Pig Distillery, the latter often cited as the state's first since Prohibition. Inland, the Upstate around Greenville offers a quieter but equally rewarding scene, led by Six & Twenty Distillery in the creative Village of West Greenville. Add coastal stops such as Burnt Church Distillery near Bluffton and Twelve 33 Distillery, and a South Carolina trail can stretch from the Lowcountry to the foothills. Expect a wide spread of spirits, from colonial-inspired rums and bourbon to gin, vodka and Southern-style whiskeys, and a hospitality that is warm even by the region's generous standards.
Following the South Carolina trail
Think of South Carolina as a coast-to-foothills route with two strong centres of gravity. Charleston, on the coast, is where most visitors begin, its compact, historic streets surrounded by a tight cluster of distilleries including High Wire Distilling Co., Charleston Distilling Co., New South Spirits and the pioneering Striped Pig Distillery. The city's port history gives its rums and whiskeys a real sense of lineage. Head inland and the Upstate opens up around Greenville, where Six & Twenty Distillery anchors a smaller, more relaxed scene in the Village of West Greenville, with Hollow Creek and Straw Hat distilleries adding depth. Between the two, coastal and midlands stops such as Burnt Church Distillery near Bluffton and Twelve 33 Distillery let you string together a longer trail. You can treat Charleston as a self-contained long weekend, or pair it with a Greenville leg for a fuller cross-state tour.
Distilleries worth prioritising
In Charleston, High Wire Distilling Co. is a must for its grain-focused approach to gin, rum and whiskey, while Striped Pig Distillery carries the historical weight of being among the first to distil in the state after Prohibition, with a well-regarded rum to its name. Charleston Distilling Co. and New South Spirits round out the city cluster with bourbon and a broad spirits range respectively. In the Upstate, Six & Twenty Distillery in Greenville is the standout, founded in 2011 and known for award-winning whiskey, gin, vodka and rum made with locally sourced grain milled and fermented on site. For something further off the usual route, Burnt Church Distillery near Bluffton makes an atmospheric Lowcountry stop, and Twelve 33 Distillery offers another worthwhile detour. Choosing a couple in each hub gives a balanced picture of the state.
Where to stay & eat nearby
Charleston is one of America's great food cities and an easy place to build a trip around, with the historic district putting restaurants, bars and several distilleries within a short ride of one another. Greenville has grown into a genuinely appealing base in its own right, walkable and welcoming, with the West Greenville arts village right by Six & Twenty. If you are linking the two, the drive across the state is straightforward and scenic, and many distilleries here run tasting rooms or cocktail spaces that make for an easy stop between meals. Note that South Carolina has specific rules around on-site sampling, so check tour and tasting details before you set out.
Frequently asked
- Where should I start a South Carolina distillery trip?
- Charleston is the natural starting point, with a tight cluster of distilleries including High Wire, Charleston Distilling Co., New South Spirits and Striped Pig, plus a world-class food scene. From there you can add a Greenville leg in the Upstate.
- Which distillery was South Carolina's first after Prohibition?
- Striped Pig Distillery in Charleston is widely credited as the state's first distillery since Prohibition, and it has earned recognition for its rum among other spirits.
- Is there a distillery scene outside Charleston?
- Yes. The Upstate around Greenville has a growing scene led by Six & Twenty Distillery in the Village of West Greenville, with Hollow Creek and Straw Hat distilleries adding to the mix further inland.
- What styles of spirit will I find?
- A broad range. South Carolina's colonial port history shows up in its rums, while distilleries also produce bourbon, Southern-style whiskeys, gin and vodka. High Wire and Six & Twenty in particular work across several categories.
- Can I do the whole state in one trip?
- You can, but it helps to plan around the distances. Treat Charleston as a self-contained long weekend, or add a Greenville leg for a fuller coast-to-foothills tour, with coastal stops such as Burnt Church near Bluffton along the way.
- Are tastings available at these distilleries?
- Most run tasting rooms or cocktail spaces, though South Carolina has specific rules around on-site sampling, so it is worth checking each distillery's tour and tasting details before you visit.