Palmetto Distillery
Overview
Palmetto Distillery in South Carolina combines a family‑inherited moonshine recipe with a small-batch, barrel‑aged whiskey and a wide range of flavored shines. The distillery is known for using a custom copper pot still for their unaged products and for Palmetto Whiskey, developed as a tribute to the state's historic State Dispensary. The downtown Anderson location also serves as a visitor site with tours and tastings.
History
The history begins in 2011, when brothers Trey and Bryan Boggs founded Palmetto Moonshine with the aim of renewing the standard for 'shine by building on a family recipe passed down from their forefather Dock Boggs. Since then the range has grown from the original White Lightning — an unaged corn whiskey produced on a custom copper pot still — to an extensive series of flavored variants and a separate whiskey line. Palmetto Whiskey was developed as a tribute to South Carolina's historic State Dispensary: a small-batch whiskey with 21% rye, aged in new French oak, which the distillery markets as one of the state's most celebrated craft whiskeys. Over time the distillery has combined tradition and new techniques to offer both classical and modern Southern style.
Raw materials and production
Production at Palmetto is twofold: moonshines are produced as unaged, small-batch corn spirits on a specially built copper pot still, while Palmetto Whiskey is distilled in small batches and aged in new French oak. Several of the flavored moonshines use fresh, local fruits — for example local peaches and berries — and the distillery's descriptions emphasize the use of natural ingredients in the infusions. The distillation of moonshine centers on custom copper equipment and traditional recipes, while master distillers employ modern procedures and controls for consistency in each batch. The ingredient list mentions corn as the base for many varieties and 21% rye in the whiskey blend's grain composition.
Aging and barrel types
Palmetto Whiskey is aged in new French oak, which is the only specifically mentioned barrel type and a significant part of the whiskey's structure. Moonshines are marketed primarily as unaged products; several variants are therefore bottled without aging. There is a focus on matching flavor infusions and natural ingredients rather than barrel experiments in the flavored lines.
Whiskeys
The portfolio covers two main lines: a barrel‑aged Palmetto Whiskey and a wide range of moonshines. The whiskey is presented as small-batch and barrel-aged in new French oak, while moonshines range from classic White Lightning and high‑proof Bootlegger Proof to fruit- and dessert-inspired variants such as Peach, Blackberry, Apple Pie, Salted Caramel and Pina Colada. The products are consistently marketed as made with natural ingredients, and several fruit-based variants highlight the use of locally grown ingredients.
| Whiskey | Type / series | Alcohol | Age | Barrel and style | Flavor profile | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Palmetto Whiskey | Whiskey | 44.65 % | New French oak | Palmetto Whiskey is small-batch, handled at 89.3 proof and described with notes of caramel and vanilla; the whiskey is partially rye-based (21% rye) and aged in new French oak. Nose: notes of caramel and vanilla (described); Taste: 21% rye-based with small-batch character (described); Finish: Smooth, persistent, lightly smoky finish (described) | Current; Core range | |
| Bootlegger Proof | Moonshine; Palmetto Moonshine | 65 % | Premium Bootlegger Proof moonshine at 130 Proof; marketed as the highest proof moonshine in South Carolina and designed for classic 'shine use or as a mixing spirit. | Current; Core range | ||
| White Lightning | Moonshine (unaged corn whiskey); Palmetto Moonshine | Unaged | White Lightning is the distillery's signature unaged corn whiskey, made from a legendary family recipe and produced on a custom copper pot still. Described as South Carolina’s first legal moonshine. Nose: Crisp, clean neutral spirit (described); Taste: Carolina corn and cane sugar blend, unaged character (described); Finish: Short and clean (described) | Current; Core range | ||
| Lemon Drop | Flavored moonshine; Palmetto Moonshine | Lemon Drop is a citrus-flavored moonshine made with fresh-squeezed lemon juice and the original recipe as base, designed to be easy to sip or mix. Flavor: Fresh lemon flavor blended with the original moonshine recipe (described) | Current; Core range | |||
| Watermelon | Flavored moonshine; Palmetto Moonshine | Watermelon moonshine captures ripe watermelon sweetness and can be enjoyed neat or as a mixer in summery cocktails. Flavor: Ripe, juicy watermelon with a hint of shine (described) | Current; Core range | |||
| Salted Caramel | Flavored moonshine; Palmetto Moonshine | Salted Caramel is a dessert-inspired moonshine, blending sweet caramel with a subtle saltiness for a sweet-salty flavor profile. Flavor: Rich caramel notes with a touch of salt (described) | Current; Core range | |||
| Pina Colada | Flavored moonshine; Palmetto Moonshine | Pina Colada moonshine combines the creaminess of coconut with pineapple sweetness for a tropical, mix-friendly variant. Flavor: Coconut and pineapple in a creamy, tropical profile (described) | Current; Core range | |||
| Root Beer | Flavored moonshine; Palmetto Moonshine | Root Beer moonshine is developed to mimic classic root beer ingredients with sarsaparilla, licorice and vanilla for a nostalgic soda‑vibe. Nose: Notes of sarsaparilla root, licorice root and vanilla (described) | Current; Core range | |||
| Cotton Candy | Flavored moonshine; Palmetto Moonshine | 35 % | Cotton Candy is a sweet, nostalgic variant, designed for relaxation and cocktails; product listed as 70 proof on the product page. Nose: Sweet, fresh spun-sugar sweetness (described) | Current; Core range | ||
| Espresso | Flavored moonshine; Palmetto Moonshine | Espresso moonshine is infused with natural espresso aroma for a decadent, roasty profile that combines bitterness and sweetness. Nose: Roasted espresso beans, roasty notes (described); Taste: Bitter-sweet balance with a rich, velvety finish (described) | Current; Core range | |||
| Cucumber Mint | Flavored moonshine; Palmetto Moonshine | Cucumber Mint is a refreshing variant intended for mixing in light, fresh cocktails with cucumber and mint character. Flavor: Cool, fresh cucumber and mint, suitable for mojitos and light cocktails (described) | Current; Core range | |||
| Pineapple Jalapeno | Flavored moonshine; Palmetto Moonshine | Pineapple Jalapeño combines sweetness and heat for a tropical-spicy profile, suitable for margaritas and spicy cocktails. Flavor: Sweet pineapple followed by a kick of jalapeño (described) | Current; Core range | |||
| Blackberry | Flavored moonshine; Palmetto Moonshine | Blackberry moonshine uses fresh, local berries for a round and fruity version that can be enjoyed chilled or as a cocktail ingredient. Flavor: Sweet-tart of ripe blackberries, made with fresh, local berries (described) | Current; Core range | |||
| Peach | Flavored moonshine; Palmetto Moonshine | Peach moonshine is made with locally grown peaches from South Carolina and highlights the regional fruit flavor in a sweet, juicy profile. Flavor: Sweet, juicy peach character based on locally grown peaches (described) | Current; Core range | |||
| Apple Pie | Flavored moonshine; Palmetto Moonshine | Apple Pie blend combines the signature moonshine with fresh-pressed local cider and a cinnamon stick to mimic the apple pie experience in a bottle. Flavor: Blended with fresh, local cider and cinnamon (described); Finish: Pie crust notes mentioned in product text | Current; Core range |
Whiskeys' style and flavor profile
It’s clear that the portfolio covers three main flavor directions: fruity notes (Peach, Blackberry, Watermelon), sweetness/dessert character (Salted Caramel, Cotton Candy, Apple Pie with cinnamon) and classic whiskey elements (caramel and vanilla in Palmetto Whiskey plus a lightly smoky finish). There are also niche profiles like Root Beer with sarsaparilla and licorice, as well as spicy tones in variants such as Pineapple Jalapeño.
Visit the distillery
The distillery offers tours and tastings at their historic downtown location in Anderson. The visit showcases both their moonshine line and Palmetto Whiskey, and guests can sample several varieties. The pages mention tours & tastings as part of the visitor experience, but precise information on bookings, opening hours, and duration is provided separately on the distillery's official channels.
Philosophy and craft
Palmetto Distillery works from a combination of tradition and renewal: a family recipe forms the foundation, but master distillers blend old-fashioned practices with modern techniques. There is an emphasis on small-batch production, the use of natural ingredients in flavored variants, and a strong connection to South Carolina heritage.
Latest news
Palmetto Distillery Ranks in the Top 10 Distilleries in SC – 2024-03-13
TripAdvisor ranks Palmetto Distillery among the best distilleries in Upstate South Carolina in 2024, a recognition of the distillery's profile and visitor experiences.
3 Ways to Enjoy Apple Pie Moonshine – 2022-11-07
A post from the distillery's blog presents recipes and serving suggestions with Apple Pie moonshine and highlights the use of fresh-pressed local cider and cinnamon in the product's composition.