I’m from the South. I say ya’ll and fixin’ on a regular basis and I have a Southern drawl that gets commented on when I go to New York or San Francisco on business. Being from the South, I enjoy the same simple pleasures that all Southerners do. Florida Gator Football, Nascar Racing, fishing and pretty much any other activity that gives me a reason to either relax or drink or do both. One thing that we Southerners enjoy above all other things is enjoying a big, cold glass/mason jar of sweet iced tea while watching the sun go down on a hot July evening.
Make no mistake, sweet tea is as much a staple south of the Mason-Dixon line as milk, bread, eggs and beer. It’s not an uncommon site to see a toddler walking around with a bottle or sippy cup full of the stuff. Seriously.
I am no exception when it comes to having a vice for sweet tea. And as you know by the fact that I write for a drinking site that I also have an affinity for alcohol. On several occasions I’ve mentioned to people that I wish there was a way to get drunk while drinking sweet tea. To be honest, I’ve actually mixed sweet tea with everything from Natural Light (I was drunk already) to Jim Beam. Nothing ever got me drunk without killing the taste of the sweet tea. I just gave up and figured it was never meant to be.
That was until a few weeks ago when I had heard rumors of a vodka made in South Carolina that when mixed properly tasted like sweet tea. Could it be? Had my prayers been answered? Was God finally coming through with our consolation prize for not winning the Civil War?
You should never underestimate the ingenuity of a bunch of rednecks with a moonshine still and a mission. Ok so maybe the folks over at Firefly Distillery aren’t a bunch of rednecks with a still. They’re actually geniuses in my book. Since the beginning of sweet tea and vodka no one has ever thought, “Hey! Let’s infuse vodka with tea leaves and see what it tastes like.” The Firefly Distillery actually infuses the vodka with tea leaves grown on a plantation less than 5 miles from the distillery. Is there a Nobel Prize for alcohol?
Once I had actually confirmed that Firefly Vodka actually existed, I visited their site to discover that the nearest place to buy it was in Jacksonville which is 75 miles away. Yes I could have driven, but with the price of gas a bottle would have ended up costing and extra $35 on top of the $20 the 750ml actually costs. So I figured I could wait until I either was going to Jacksonville for some reason, or Firefly started selling their hooch locally.
Fast-forward to this past Friday. I walk into the ABC Jax Liqours across from the mall looking for something to relax me after the week-long multi-city business trip I had been on. This store is perfect when you have no idea what you’re in the mood for. It’s huge and has everything you could imagine. I wandered past the bourbon, gin and meandered over to the vodka. Everything was nice and neat with all the bottles pulled to the front. That’s when I noticed a gap in the bottles. I walked over, looked into the dark, two-bottle wide void and there it was. A lone bottle of Firefly Vodka. I can’t swear to it, but I’m pretty sure I heard an angelic choir.
I quickly snatched up the bottle and began looking for something to mix it with. What the hell do you mix with sweet tea flavored vodka? Then I had an epiphany. I looked on the back of the bottle and there were the single most greatest mixing instructions I had ever read.
1 half Firefly Vodka
1 half spring water
Pour over ice and garnish with a lemon twist
The fact that the makers of this spirit suggest that I mix it half and half – which is the way I mix everything – catapulted them to the top of my “People who are bad asses,” list. I hurried home and like a kid with a science kit followed the directions.
Ladies and gentlemen. Sweet tea that gets you drunk and actually tastes like sweet tea. I tasted it and a single tear rolled down my cheek like that Indian in that commercial from the 60′s. This is definitely a drink that will have a permanent place in my repertoire of sit on the back porch and chill drinks. I didn’t drink a lot of it. This isn’t the type of stuff you buy and try to kill the bottle. I drank a few to get a good buzz going and left it at that.
So if you’re a true Southerner, or someone who thinks they are, or just someone who enjoys watching the sun go down with a drink. I highly recommend keeping a bottle of Firefly on hand. It’s the best $20 you’ll ever spend on alcohol.
P.S. According to their website, the Firefly Distillery just shipped out 1.75L handles that should hit the shelves this week.
Editor’s note: A special thanks to @jsig for pointing us in FireFly’s direction!
September 29th, 2008 at 10:30 pm
Sounds great! Can’t wait to try it out.
September 29th, 2008 at 10:56 pm
That stuff is amazing… I hope it takes off and they start selling it everywhere… I’m definitely going to pick some up next time I’m in Jax
October 1st, 2008 at 1:14 pm
Gonna buy some as soon as I get off work!
October 1st, 2008 at 4:36 pm
This is just a down-right entertaining post. :-)
October 7th, 2008 at 7:17 pm
Congrats on your discovery of Firefly Vodka. Living in SC I have had the luck of being able to enjoy this nectar for several months. We have been mixing our Firefly with lemonaid, give this mixture a try and let me know what you think.
Cheers from Greenville, SC.
October 8th, 2008 at 9:49 am
Bob,
I actually think I’ll do another post about all the different things you can mix with Firefly. Thanks for the suggestion. Let me know if you have any more.
November 21st, 2008 at 7:02 pm
They just started selling it in Blacksburg, VA! FUCK YEA!
November 28th, 2008 at 4:43 pm
My Brother tried it and said to add a splash of pineapple juice and MAN!!! I can’t wait to try it. I have a habit of saying I’m drunk from drinking sweet tea – now maybe I will be! HA
December 2nd, 2008 at 9:50 pm
Firefly Lovers try this….fill an 8oz chilled glass with ice add 7oz’s of vodka and add 1oz of Mandarin flavored Arziona tea, shaken not stirred!
February 17th, 2009 at 11:22 pm
I was introduced to your Firefly Vodka 2 days ago in Myrtle Beach………..Man I am going back to New Hampshire to find someone to bring it into our Liquor Stores!!…….I LOVE arnold Palmer’s and this with lemonade and a splash of sprite is Yummy!! I want this to be my drink of choice for summer after my golf games or Anytime!! LOVE IT!!!
February 27th, 2009 at 10:36 pm
I just have to say, Burnetts has released their own version, and it is almost as tasty, and 5.00 cheaper , and also readily available all over the Myrtle Beach/ Conway, SC area!:-) try mixing with half sweet tea vodka, 1/4 ice cold water, and 1/4 peach netar.. and that my dear friends is the nectar of the gods :-)
another quick recipe? 4oz Firefly vodka, plain, with 8 oz peach nectar, and a splash of sprite and a splash of cosmo mix and then you have a Peach Shed :-)
May 1st, 2009 at 9:24 pm
Having it right now and you are so right. Best and most refreshing vodka drink i ever had. This will definitely be a great summer drink after a hard days work.
May 1st, 2009 at 9:57 pm
If you are really from the South, you would be able to spell y’all!!
May 5th, 2009 at 11:32 am
Half Sweet tea vodka half lemonade is Delicious also! (=
May 9th, 2009 at 12:38 pm
At our bar in Fort Worth, we make shooters with the vodka, a splash of sour and a splash of 7. Also note that it’s 100 proof, even though it sure doesn’t taste like it
May 13th, 2009 at 7:49 pm
Chill Sweet Tea Vodka
serve with a small ice cream scoop
of Lemon Italian ice or something similar
May 15th, 2009 at 9:56 pm
Excellent review. I stumbled upon Firefly in a local liquor store and had to try out. After hitting the bottle a swig at a time I finally decided to make the drink on the bottle. Tastes like sweet tea, kicks like a mule. Dangerous stuff. I’m liking it.
May 17th, 2009 at 4:10 pm
Its FABULOUS! Put it with 1/4 raspberry lemonade over ice, serviced with lemon.
May 18th, 2009 at 11:48 am
This is great I am turning my friends on to this. I am truly trying to get some ideas on mixture.
May 23rd, 2009 at 8:45 am
Can’t stop talking about this i already sent text messages out to all my friends and told them to just go get it for the holiday weekend. This is an awesome summer cocktail. Can’t wait to try there other flavors, but by far this one will be a constant in my liqour cabinet you never know when you may just need to slowdown and unwind.
June 9th, 2009 at 5:15 pm
The word is drawl. Southern Drawl. Moron.
June 11th, 2009 at 1:36 pm
I mixed it with lemonade and it was the best alcoholic drink i think i have ever had! Firefly has touched this Southerners heart!
June 17th, 2009 at 9:07 pm
I too live in Greenville, SC and have recently gotten fixed on Firefly. Add half lemonade and half firefly and sit back and relax.. There isnt much better than the wholesome feeling this drink gives to you and yours.
Cheers!
June 24th, 2009 at 9:51 pm
someone tells me firefly distributes different “batches” for local as opposed to wider distribution and that there is a way to differentiate the two with labeling–anyone have any info on this?
June 24th, 2009 at 11:11 pm
Not sure. But I’ll check for you.
July 6th, 2009 at 6:14 am
Yeeehaw, thats some good drinkin’, Just did 4th of July with Firefly, Fireworks, and good friends,,,,
only thing better will be Gator football and firefly…
headin’ to the swamp right now to git started…
July 7th, 2009 at 4:34 pm
I had my first Firefly and lemonade last night at No Frills Grill in Arlington, TX. I’m sold, baby! My poor liver is in for it now. Yep yep!
August 13th, 2009 at 4:39 pm
bought my first bottle today after listening to a drunk friend ramble on and on about how amazing it is. cant wait to get off work and try it!!!! :)
April 7th, 2010 at 9:53 pm
great stuff!!
April 15th, 2010 at 8:47 pm
I have had firefly chilling in freezer for 3 weeks not knowing what to do with it. I stumbled on it in liquor store and bought it. Now I’m so excited to drink it tomorrow after work. Gonna get me some lemonaid and chill.
April 30th, 2010 at 4:40 pm
saw it for the first time today and freaked out and had to buy it. ive tasted jeremaih weed sweet tea wichi is pretty good too, i prefer the half and half (like an arnold palmer) better. cannot wait to enjoy this in the heat!
June 4th, 2010 at 7:49 pm
enjoyed the post. very funny! i’m already a Firefly Sweet Tea Vodka lover :) the Peach flavor is really good too!! still enjoying the experimentation (mixing).
June 14th, 2010 at 11:38 pm
Okay so after reading this post I HAD to try some of this stuff, however the first time I read this I was still under 21. But having turned 21 on June 4th I can now state that this stuff is amazing. My birthday party was last weekend, it was hot and we were outside and this made for the perfect drink. I mixed mine with Country Time Pink Lemonade, and boy was it great.
June 15th, 2010 at 9:03 am
Happy birthday. Glad you enjoyed it:)
June 18th, 2010 at 8:48 pm
thanks Jimmy. =]
June 19th, 2010 at 2:04 pm
Tried it in San Antonio……very refreshing drink. We used 1 1/2 jiggers of Sweet Tea Vodka over ice cubes. Add Crystal Lite Lemonade and Seltzer. More Crystal Lite if you want a sweeter drink…..more Selter for not too sweet (we used lemon lime flavor) then a couple of squeezes of fresh lime juice. Drop lime slice in glass and enjoy! Made this in a 24 oz. Tervis Tumbler.
July 4th, 2010 at 4:28 pm
FOUND or Stumbled upon FIREFLY today @ my Local Jewel Osco , Snatched it up && am ENJOYING right in the moment ! DEliCiOUS !!!Mixed with Lemonade. YUM !!!!!!! Packs a Punch oooh La La
July 16th, 2010 at 2:31 pm
I saw it in the liquor store and was tempted – just had it at a bar @ Harbor Town in Hilton Head – they had some amazing concotions! The one I sample had Tea Vodka, Jack, Tequila, lemon juice and splash of coke. The other one I debated over was Tea Vodka, Captain Morgan, Lemon, Pineapple and Oranges Juices. Another one that looked good was Tea Vodka, razmataz, lemon juice, blueberries, mint and club soda.
I got a bottle today & some captain to play bartender this weekend and try to get the recipes right.
August 17th, 2010 at 7:56 pm
I tried a new recipe with Firefly this past weekend. And OMG it was amazing. Mixed 1/3 Firefly with 1/3 Crystal light Iced Tea and 1/3 Crystal Light Lemonade. You have to try it. I have started making a pitcher at home and keep it in the fridge and have a glass a night to relax.
September 28th, 2010 at 11:25 am
Put it in a Long Island Ice Tea!!
October 20th, 2010 at 4:26 pm
FIrefly is good, but Deep Eddy is better. Made in Austin, TX, Deep Eddy has a much more authentic flavor and finish than Firefly. It’s only available in Texas right now, but I hear they are moving fast.
November 4th, 2010 at 12:56 pm
Two thumbs up…. And a Full Circle!! I was ‘introduced’ to FireFly Sweet Tea while taking shots!
And I was blown away by the taste and delectable aroma!! To say the least, I was done with shots… Happily asked that future pourings be done in an 8oz glass!!! What’s funny is that I don’t remember the other competitor’s name, that’s if one can call it a contest!!! FireFly Sweet Tea… Welcome to Ms. Kym’s Bar of Fine Wines & Spirits!!!
February 15th, 2011 at 3:33 pm
Brandon definitely knows what he’s talking about, Deep Eddy is without a doubt the best sweet tea vodka product I’ve ever had. Jeremiah Weed, Seagrams, Firefly, etc don’t even compare to Deep Eddy. They’re all using low grade vodkas, non all natural tea, sugar syrup etc while Deep Eddy uses a premium 10x distilled vodka, all natural tea, and pure cane sugar. Needless to say Deep Eddy blows the competition out of the water and if you don’t believe me go try some for yourself.
http://www.facebook.com/deepeddyvodka ~Check them out and see what true sweet tea vodka is really all about!
March 3rd, 2011 at 8:49 pm
My wife and her girlfriend mix it with Lemonade .. Its very yummy.
July 6th, 2011 at 4:57 pm
Have you had a chance to try the Sweet Tea Bourbon as well? If so, how is it in comparison to this?
After trying the vodka in a bar (mixed half and half, as suggested), I decided I’d get a bottle for myself. I didn’t think they’d have both a vodka and a bourbon so I convinced myself the one I tried must have been the bourbon (versus the vodka I had actually tried). Well, I was wrong, but I wasn’t sure yet if I should return the bottle for the vodka or just go all in on the bourbon.
Great post, by the way, it makes me want the vodka even more.
September 16th, 2011 at 12:13 pm
Firefly got me on my long obsession with Sweet Tea Vodka. My favorite thing is to try new recipes. Do you a favorite?
October 3rd, 2011 at 2:34 pm
This stuff is pretty awesome. I spotted it at a liquor store up here in NY. Being the sucker that I am for flavored vodkas and having spent some time down south I had to get a bottle.
A 70 proof premixed Vodka this has to be good I thought to myself… Who knew I was supposed to add water. LOL
December 27th, 2011 at 4:54 pm
Love the firefly, try using tonic water for a little fizz and add a mint leaf!
January 3rd, 2012 at 4:40 pm
Here you go
January 13th, 2012 at 12:14 am
Im from Oregon ( ya, that left coast rat hole you all hear about)and I am impressed to say the least. This was my first flavored vodka and I mixed it with tonic water to sparkle it up just a bit. Its like tea flavored champagne.
March 3rd, 2012 at 11:27 pm
No clue who wrote this, I just was trying to figure out what to mix with my bottle of Sweet Tea Vodka, but this article is fantastic. The writing, I mean. Bravo.
Kisses!
~Bri
April 19th, 2012 at 1:58 pm
When are people going to stop being such assholes when it comes to grammer
May 8th, 2012 at 6:16 pm
Serious query. Have you tried moonshine (the legal stuff) with sweet tea? Yeah, I’m from the South, too! God bless you!