Straw Hat Distillery sits on North Douglas Street in Florence, South Carolina, bringing craft spirits production to the Pee Dee region. Founded by husband-and-wife team Mike and Angie Faulkner, who left corporate careers to chase their distilling dream, the operation started in 2016 after years of planning and navigating South Carolina’s evolving distillery laws. Mike handles the production side while Angie manages the business operations, creating a true family enterprise in an area that hadn’t seen legal distilling in decades. The distillery operates out of a converted commercial space that they’ve transformed into a working production facility with a tasting room where visitors can sample their growing lineup of spirits. They focus on small-batch production using traditional methods combined with modern equipment, producing vodka, rum, and whiskey that reflects their commitment to quality over quantity. The Faulkners built their operation from the ground up, learning the craft through research, experimentation, and sheer determination to bring authentic distilling back to the Palmetto State.
