Charleston is a region strongly devoted to both craft beer and cocktails. And, it is an area devoted to ‘spirits’ – although not of the liquid environment. Should you choose to visit Charleston, I would strongly encourage you to take a Ghost Tour. There are many of them, and you will find excellent recommendations on-line.

Prohibition and The Gin Joint (don’t look for vodka here) have award winning mixologists. And, virtually every place with a liquor license has a list of specialty cocktails. Many of these cocktails rely on South Carolina spirits as a base alcohol.

Let’s talk about some of those South Carolina spirits. And, let’s start with Six and Twenty.

Stephen Bates, the wine director at Tavern Wine and Spirits on East Bay Street in Charleston, strongly recommended the Six and Twenty Carolina Rouge during a visit to this small, but fascinating shop. The original Tavern was established in 1686 (yep, 1686 – it is considered the oldest liquor store in the country), and is the location you head to if you are looking for South Carolina spirits.

Six and Twenty is located near the original Native American village of Keowee. The old village is now under Lake Keowee, a manmade 18,000-acre lake. It came to be known as Six and Twenty, according to legend, when a Choctaw maiden, Issaqueena, escaped from her Cherokee captures, and saved her British boyfriend from attack. She named landmarks by distance, Six Mile, Ninty Six, etc. And, not surprisingly, this distillery is located 26 miles from what was thought to be the original location of the village of Keowee.
Founded by Robert Redmond, a great-great-nephew of Major Lewis Redmond, a noted moonshiner, Six and Twenty was first bottled in 2013 from a custom still designed by Artisan Still Designs.

I have tried three of their products. The 5-Grain Bourbon is produced entirely from South Carolina grains (upstate corn and Soft Red Winter Wheat, Midlands Barley and Rye, and rice from the low country). It is a whiskey that is aged for two years in new American Oak, and offers light smoke on the nose and a touch of sweetness on the palate. There are prominent notes of vanilla and cinnamon. The Old Money is a product of Soft Winter Wheat and Barley, and is also aged for two years. Look for vanilla and maple on the nose, and velvet on the palate. Finally, Carolina Rouge. Very few bottles of this whiskey are released each year. Aged for two years in Guigal Cote Rotie French Barrels, and is distilled from Soft Winter Wheat and Barley. Another nose of vanilla, but with the addition of some hints of cherry. This is a very smooth and sweet whiskey with tones of plum added to the vanilla and cherry. Enjoy the excellent and lingering finish.

More South Carolina produced options in future posts.