Tradition

At Striped Pig Distillery we do things the “Southern Way” – it’s about innovating and pushing boundaries, while honoring traditional methods; making fine spirits; and above all else, sharing with great friends.

 

Launched in Historic Charleston, South Carolina, our brand represents critical thinking with a sense of humor. The tongue-in-cheek story of our eponymous pig celebrates the tradition of American spirit and the witty nature of those determined to share a tipple or two (in spite of whatever tax or reform is thrown their way)!

 

The story behind our particular Pig dates back to 1838, when the Fifteen Gallon Act was enacted in an effort to curb the excess drinking practiced by Americans at the time. The Act stated that liquor purveyors could only sell alcohol in quantities of 15 gallons or more, essentially making the product too expensive for the average man. In retaliation a quick-witted fellow devised a plan to make money, whilst staying within the confines of the law – he no longer sold spirits, he gave it away for free. He cleverly striped a normal pig with paint and charged admission to see this “most un-natural curiosity.” Even more strange, the cost of the ticket was equal to the amount of a tipple of rum. The Striped Pig later became a representation of less regulation and tax in political cartoons all over America. 

 

It is in this manner and with that spirit we welcome you to Charleston’s first distillery since prohibition! We strive to make our award-winning products both delicious and affordable, and realize it’s not what’s on the outside of the bottle, but the inside that counts. 

 

Striped Pig Distillery is here to reward your taste buds with sophisticated, handcrafted rums, truly fantastic ‘moonshine’ and whiskeys, silky smooth vodkas and dangerously tasty gins.

 

We invite you to quench your curiosity, enter our domain, come see the Pig and discover “What’s In Your Spirit?!”

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A Great Curiosity

come see this most un-natural curiosity

1838

A Great Curiosity

The original “Striped Pig” is referred to in an Old Sturbridge Village booklet, Rum and Reform, in Old New England. In this selection from A History of the Striped Pig, 1838, we learn of the pig.

Keep Reading ⟶
Grumph!

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Paraphrased from a primary source, we present
The Story of the Striped Pig

During our Nation’s history of Temperance and Prohibition, local and state militia units often gathered on the parade grounds to practice their drills. Local citizens gathered and enjoyed watching these displays. Just as we see today, these social events also attracted vendors of various types. One such event will long be remembered as especially remarkable…


On that day there appeared a flag, raised high amongst other tents and booths that checkered the military parade ground. It was the flag of a rum seller, bearing not a hogshead to advertise his rum, but instead a hog “disguised” with paint; for it was illegal at the time to advertise and sell liquor under 15 gallons.


This curious emblem was accompanied by a false advertisement that in the tent below any person disposed to pay a few pennies could find a great natural curiosity. Within the tent stood the worthy couple already described, the ‘striped pig’ and his rum selling associate, surrounded by all those elements and implements of intoxication, and all prepared for the use and enjoyment of customers.


At first only a few individuals were tempted to enter the tent. But one or two did straggle in, and many more gathered about the tent to stare at the sign and discuss its merits and wonder at its meaning. It was not long before the earliest visitors came out of the tent, looking considerably less silly than when they went in, winking their eyes and smacking their lips.


Inquiries were made, whispers were exchanged and before long it was known all over the parade ground that the curiosity that carried visitors to see the ‘pig’, was abundantly rewarded by donations of ‘grog,’ in whatever form was most desired.


Imagine the whispers! A strange monster to be seen for only six cents, and a glass of free rum! Hundreds went and looked and drank, and went and looked and drank again, until it was said that they actually saw two striped pigs. All this was considered a great joke by those who knew the truth, for many counties were undergoing a social revival, and no more licenses for the sale of spirits were being granted.


Of course, this pig’s partner had no difficulty in obtaining a license to exhibit his striped monster on that day, and his gift of a glass of grog was regarded both as an admirable evasion of an ‘oppressive law,’ and an equally admirable expedient to bring the ‘pig’ into notice. 

Read The Original Story ⟶
This tongue-in-cheek story obviously drove home the point of the temperance reformers like Carrie Nation and Frances Willard; the pig symbolized all drinking men of that time in our country's history.
Exercise Your Right to Drink ⟶

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Our Products

"There was a woman loved a swine;
"Grumph!" said he.
"Piggy," says she, "will you be mine?"
"Grumph!" said he."

The enlightened spirit of inquiry

Remy gave us a great presentation and story about the distillery. The tasting was phenomenal. Can't wait to come back!

What a hoot! This is not your big distillery tour. The rum was awesome.

We had such a fun time here. Great people and great products! Be prepared to laugh as you taste and tour!