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!
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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!!!! :)