"High Wire, Charleston's first distillery since prohibition, has been drawing people in with its distinctive spirits and cypress-paneled tasting room, and a tour is a fantastic way to take in everything it has to offer. Each tour is limited to 16 people, and they fill frequently. You’ll get a close look at a succession of custom mills and gleaming tanks, including a giant copper pot still with a Jules Verne-style window. You’ll learn the science behind milling, mashing, heating, agitating, fermenting, and distilling—the almost magical process that turns liquid to vapor and then into liquid again. For the grand finale, you get to sample the artisanal hooch in the tasting room, either as flights or in cocktails designed for you to replicate easily back home. For a full tour of the distillery floor, reservations are highly recommended. Pro tip: walk-ins can opt for an abbreviated tour from the comfort of their bar stool." - Allston McCrady
