10 awesome things to know about High Wire Distilling Co. in Charleston, South Carolina

By Mark A. Leon

High Wire Distilling Co, located at 311 Huger Street, Charleston, South Carolina, may be one of the fulfilling places to spend time in Charleston, South Carolina. From its intoxicating smells, to the urban and rustic decor, to the barrel room, to the distillery, High Wire takes you to a place where you can experience some of the finest spirits in the country from the kindest staff on the peninsula. High Wire is an exploration into the drink palate. We wanted to share some pretty awesome facts about our own High Wire Distilling and if you have not stopped in for a drink or bite, make this part of your next Charleston agenda.

10 Cool Facts about High Wire

1. They revived the nearly extinct Jimmy Red corn variety to make their award-winning 100% corn bourbon. This heirloom corn was a favorite of bootleggers for moonshine.

2. They use locally-grown grains and botanicals, segregating the corn from different farms to capture the terroir or regional flavor nuances in their spirits.

3. Their limited release spirits like the Lowcountry Agricole Rum made from South Carolina sugarcane and Watermelon Brandy are highly sought-after.

4. The founders applied their background in artisanal baking to distilling, using unique grains and experimenting with different mash bills and barrel finishes.

5. They make creative gins using local botanicals like Charleston Black Tea and the only caffeinated plant native to North America, the yaupon holly.

6. High Wire was the first distillery to operate in downtown Charleston since Prohibition.

7. They spent $1.5 million to move into a new 24,000-square-foot facility in 2020, allowing expanded production and visitor experiences.

8. Their Jimmy Red Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon, using 2018 grain, is one of the only bottled-in-bond bourbons produced in over a century.

9. The owners successfully lobbied for a 2021 law allowing distilleries to serve food, open on Sundays, and extend hours, changing the distilling landscape in South Carolina.

10. They partnered with Clemson University to bring back Jimmy Red corn from near-extinction, now grown on 470 acres across the state.