Established in 2017, the Guild is organized and operated exclusively to promote the common business and regulatory interests of its members and to improve the business conditions for the South Carolina craft distilling industry.

The Guild’s association management is handled by Sweatman Strategies, which represents the Guild at the State House and led the effort behind the Guild’s 2021 legislative win. Lisa McGill Sweatman serves as the Guild’s Executive Director and Trenholm Hardison as the Guild’s Director of Management.

Legislation the Guild Has Passed

2017 — Act No. 62 (H.3137), effective May 19, 2017. Raised the daily tasting limit from two ounces to three ounces per consumer, authorized non-alcoholic mixers during tastings, and allowed micro-distilleries to sell up to three 750-milliliter bottles to a consumer in one business day.

2021 — Act No. 60 (S.619), effective May 17, 2021. Attached as an amendment to the Gallo Bill and passed with bipartisan support. It created Section 61-6-1155, allowing micro-distilleries to sell their own spirits by the drink for on-premises consumption in a food establishment physically separated from production. It also raised the daily tasting limit from three ounces to four and one-half ounces, and the retail limit from three to the equivalent of six 750-milliliter bottles per consumer per day. Conditions include a permanent physical partition, separate books and accounts, alcohol server training, and liability insurance.

What We Are Working On Next

Sunday bottle sales. South Carolina law limits micro-distillery tasting room sales to Monday through Saturday, so a distillery welcoming visitors on a Sunday cannot sell them a bottle to take home. The Guild is working to change that and allow licensed micro-distilleries to sell bottles on Sundays.

Extended tasting room hours. Filed last session as S.355, this bill would extend micro-distillery tasting and retail hours to 9:00 a.m. through 10:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and increase the daily limits. It passed the Senate 32–10 on May 5, 2026 and was awaiting action in the House Committee on Judiciary when the session ended. Because the General Assembly has adjourned, the bill must be reintroduced in the new session, and the Guild intends to file it again.

This summary is provided for the general information of Guild members and is not legal advice. Contact the Guild for the current status of legislation.