Iconic Charleston Distillery marks 20 years in business with anniversary celebration

Firefly Distillery will host a free commemorative community event on April 19

Firefly Distillery, South Carolina’s most visited distillery and the birthplace of Sweet Tea Vodka, will mark 20 years in business as a Charleston destination on Saturday, April 19, 2025. To commemorate this milestone, the distillery will host a special anniversary event celebrating its sweet tea roots, where attendees can enjoy live music, lively cocktail competitions, and a variety of drink specials from noon to 4 p.m. This milestone not only honors the past, but also sets the stage for a bright future with the recent expansion into whiskey through Tom & Huck Distillers.

“I don’t think Jim or I ever knew what would come from the idea of Sweet Tea Vodka, but twenty years later, it’s incredible to look back and see how far we’ve come, and what we’ve built,” says Scott Newitt, co-founder of Firefly Distillery. “What began as a single product has now grown into this Southern staple, a destination locals and visitors can experience, and a family that continues to expand. As we celebrate 20 years, we’re excited to reflect on our journey and celebrate with the community that has supported us over the years.”

In 2005, Firefly Distillery was born out of a friendship between Scott Newitt and Jim Irvin. They had the bold idea of bringing the South’s favorite drink, sweet tea, to life in a bottle. In 2008, the duo introduced the world’s first Sweet Tea Vodka, igniting a movement in the spirits industry. Since then, Firefly has produced 39 new products, outgrown its original distillery on Wadmalaw and expanded to one, four times the size in North Charleston, welcomed more than 80,000 attendees to 31 LIVE at Firefly concerts, and bottled over 10 million spirits.

Beyond the distillery experience, Newitt and Irvin have advocated for industry reforms that have transformed how micro-distilleries operate and engage with consumers in South Carolina. With the launch of Tom & Huck Distillers last year, Firefly has established a foothold in the world of brown spirits, with its collection of hand-selected bourbons and flavored whiskeys, further expanding into the next phase and evolving with its consumers’ maturing preferences.

To honor this 20 year milestone, Firefly Distillery is inviting the community to a commemorative celebration featuring:

• Live Music: Featuring Derek Cribb
• Food Trucks: Kees Kitchen & Delights Dessert & Coffee
• Barrel Ring Toss: Fun challenges for all
• Sweat Tea Cocktail-Making Competition: A creative take on Firefly’s signature Sweet Tea Vodka, where local bartenders will showcase their skills and attendees will vote for their favorite creation
• Commemorative Discounts: 20% off tastings and one-day only $20 bottles of Sweet Tea Vodka

Firefly Distillery, located at 4201 Spruill Avenue, is open Tuesday through Saturday from noon to 6 p.m., with extended hours until 8 p.m. on Fridays. Guests and visitors can enjoy tastings and cocktails, and live music and food trucks on Saturdays.

To learn more information about Firefly and the 20th anniversary event, visit fireflydistillery.com.

ABOUT FIREFLY DISTILLERY

Firefly Distillery is the birthplace of the world’s first sweet tea vodka and produces thirty craft spirits at the 25,000 square foot distillery in North Charleston, SC. The most-visited distillery in the Charleston area, Firefly Distillery provides a unique experience for locals and visitors alike. Firefly is not only a working distillery, but a major concert venue for national touring acts. Visitors can experience the distillation process firsthand, taste craft spirits and signature cocktails, and enjoy live music, food trucks, countless events and a gift shop. All Firefly Spirits are available for purchase, including exclusive specialty spirits and other locally made products. For more information, visit www.fireflydistillery.com.