Nelson's Neighborhood

  It’s with bittersweet emotions that Jim and Ann Irvin announce that their property and Charleston’s only winery, Irvin~House Vineyards, has been sold to the Freiwald family. Tastings and gatherings at the winery and Firefly Distillery will continue as normal. The Irvin family wish to thank everyone from around the world who made a special trip to their “little piece of heaven” and became a part of the vineyard family. They wish the Freiwald family well as they carry on the legacy of being Charleston’s only estate winery.  Purchased in 2001 by newlyweds, Jim and Ann Irvin, the original land that would become Irvin~House Vineyards was a boarding area for a local carriage company. Together, they had a dream to create a vineyard growing muscadine grapes. Muscadines are the only grapes that will grow in the humid climate of the Lowcountry. So combined with the muscle of Ann’s son, Jay MacMurphy, who is currently the Firefly Master Distiller, the intricacy of Jim’s ch...

Annually on Tax Day, April 15th, Americans are either celebrating their tax return or drowning their tax day sorrows with a cocktail. This year on April 15, 2014, Firefly Distillery is celebrating for a sweeter reason as Firefly Sweet Tea Vodka turns six years old. This milestone is one that its creators, Jim Irvin and Scott Newitt, are proud of, and invite the public for rare “behind the scenes” VIP distillery tours to fans once an hour from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Firefly Distillery on Wadmalaw Island. These free tours will be given by Firefly co-creator Jim Irvin and production manager Jay Macmurphy. Created in a small still in 2008, Firefly became the world’s first hand-crafted sweet tea vodka. Firefly is distilled four times, infused with tea grown at the Charleston Tea Plantation, and blended with real Louisiana sugar cane. Firefly is a favorite around the nation and continues to “fly” off store shelves locally, nationally, and internationally. Nationally, Firefly D...

Firefly Distillery co-founders Jim Irvin and Scott Newitt announce the launch of Firefly Moonshine! Distilled out of South Carolina pride, Firefly Moonshine is a raw southern spirit from the creators of the original Firefly Sweet Tea Vodka. Firefly Moonshine is produced in six flavors: White Lightning, Apple Pie, Caramel, Cherry, Strawberry, and Peach. They are between 41.1 and 100.7 proof; 20.55% and 50.35% alcohol by volume.  Each has a unique flavor that delivers on low country character yet packs a punch. Jim Irvin and Scott Newitt have been experimenting with lots of regional flavors ever since they built their first homemade still. When Jim and Scott started building the Firefly Distillery, they made a crude still in Jim's workshop. As Jim tells it, "We started with a 55 gallon stainless steel tank and some old pipes. Then we worked on many original recipes until we perfected the very first sweet tea vodka, Firefly. Since that time, we've cooked up many fine spirit...

Firefly Distillery is proud to introduce two new flavors to the Southern Accents Liqueurs line, Chocolate Pecan Pie and Coconut Cake. Southern Accents are made from family dessert recipes that have been passed down for generations. Made with southern pride, Southern Accents are best enjoyed straight or with a variety of mixers; and are available at local stores and the Firefly Distillery on 6775 Bears Bluff Road on Wadmalaw Island.  Firefly Distillery is the first to craft liqueurs in the spirit of these down-home favorites and are pleased to add the Coconut Cake and Chocolate Pecan Pie to the already delicious line including Southern Accents Banana Pudding Liqueur, Southern Accents Peach Cobbler Liqueur, and Southern Accents Pecan Pie Liqueur. Each liqueur will bring back memories of your grandmother’s favorite dessert recipes.  Try these delicious cocktails with your Southern Accents Chocolate Pecan Pie or Coconut Cake Liqueur:  Cocoa Float ½ Southern A...