
Spirit Credentials
Firefly Sweet Tea Vodka
Palate Architecture
The Essence
"America's first sweet tea vodka, infused with tea from Charleston Tea Plantation and Louisiana sugarcane, capturing the essence of Southern hospitality."
Crafted with
Uncompromising Passion
Firefly Sweet Tea Vodka was born in 2008 when Jim Irvin and Scott Newitt, two South Carolina entrepreneurs, set out to create the world's first sweet tea flavored vodka. Launched on April 15, 2008—Tax Day—the spirit quickly became a phenomenon in the South. Irvin, leveraging his winemaking expertise, carefully blended Muscadine and sweet tea flavor profiles, while Newitt's marketing acumen helped propel the brand to national recognition. The vodka is distilled four times on Wadmalaw Island and infused with tea grown at Charleston Tea Plantation, just five miles from the distillery, combined with real Louisiana sugarcane. The product earned 89 points from the Beverage Testing Institute in Chicago, outscoring industry standards like Absolut and Ketel One. What began as a bold idea in the middle of nowhere has evolved into a destination distillery known for genuine Southern hospitality, innovative spirits, and a vibrant concert series featuring major artists.
Four-times distilled in small batches on Wadmalaw Island using traditional column stills. Infused with real tea from Charleston Tea Plantation and Louisiana sugarcane. No artificial flavoring—all-natural ingredients. Water sourced locally from South Carolina lowcountry.

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