Boxwood Distillery sits on Hoffmeyer Road in Florence, South Carolina, where founders Gavin and Sarah McKenzie turned their shared passion for craft spirits into a proper distillery operation in 2018. The couple had been home distillers for years before deciding to go commercial, with Gavin bringing his background in chemical engineering and Sarah contributing her business management expertise. They converted a former warehouse space into their production facility, installing custom copper stills and creating a tasting room that feels more like a neighborhood bar than a tourist trap. The McKenzies focus on small-batch bourbon and vodka production, using locally sourced grains when possible and taking a hands-on approach to every step of the process. Gavin handles the production side while Sarah manages the visitor experience and business operations. They’ve built their reputation on consistency rather than flashy marketing, letting their spirits speak for themselves. The operation remains deliberately small-scale, with the couple handling most of the work themselves alongside a part-time assistant. Visitors get an authentic look at craft distilling without the polish of larger operations. The tasting room opens directly onto the production floor, so you can watch the actual distilling process while sampling their products. It’s the kind of place where the founders will personally walk you through their methods if they’re around, and you’ll leave understanding more about distilling than when you arrived. The atmosphere is relaxed and educational rather than purely commercial.