Burnt Church Distillery, a locally-run distillery based in Bluffton, is launching new operations in Beaufort County, South Carolina. The company’s $7.7 million investment is projected to create approximately 27 new manufacturing jobs.

According to the South Carolina Department of Commerce, Burnt Church Distillery will be a 20,000-square-foot distillery which includes a 7,000-square-foot space for tastings, events, merchandise and displays of historical research at 120 Bluffton Road in Bluffton. The site will also include a 5,000-square-foot rack house for the storage of aging whiskey barrels. The company’s new production facility is projected to come online in early 2020.

“Burnt Church Distillery and its founders, Sean and Billy Watterson, are incredibly proud to call Bluffton, S.C. home. Burnt Church Distillery, inspired by the mystery of Burnt Church Road, will showcase the rich culture of Bluffton and the Lowcountry. The vibe of Bluffton is contagious. It’s our hope that we can capture this “state of mind” through our architectural interpretation, displays of historical research and colorful stories associated with our brands of whiskey, vodka, gin and moonshine. We are the ‘Spirit of the Lowcountry,” said Burnt Church Distillery Owner Billy Watterson.

“South Carolina has consistently shown that it is the right place for companies to do business, and this is especially evident in our burgeoning craft brewing and distilling sector. We welcome Burnt Church Distillery’s new operations in Beaufort County, and we look forward to seeing them thrive for years to come,” Secretary of Commerce Bobby Hitt said.

“We are thrilled to see that Burnt Church Distillery is investing in our community. Burnt Church Distillery’s commitment to sourcing South Carolina products and its efforts to include social responsibility at the top of their organization’s priorities make them a good fit for Bluffton. Additionally, I’d like to thank our partners at the Beaufort County Economic Development Corporation and the Don Ryan Center for Innovation for their part in this project, as well as the assistance they provide to companies and investors interested in our area,” Bluffton Mayor Lisa Sulka said.