Rotten Little Bastard Distillery sits in downtown Beaufort, South Carolina, in a converted space on Boundary Street that perfectly captures the rebellious spirit behind the name. Founded by husband-and-wife team Chris and Jennifer Heurich, this small-batch operation opened in 2018 after the couple decided to trade their corporate careers for something with more character. Chris, a former engineer, dove headfirst into distillation science while Jennifer handles the business side and creative branding that gives RLB its distinctive edge. The name itself comes from an old family joke—Chris’s grandfather used to call him a “rotten little bastard” when he’d get into mischief as a kid. The distillery focuses primarily on whiskey and bourbon, but they’re not afraid to experiment with other spirits when inspiration strikes. What started as a dream in their garage has grown into a legitimate craft operation, though they’ve kept things deliberately small-scale to maintain quality control. The Heurichs didn’t just want to make another bourbon—they wanted to create something that reflected their personality and the coastal lowcountry character of Beaufort. Their approach combines traditional distilling methods with a willingness to break rules when it makes sense. Visitors find themselves in an intimate setting where you’re likely to meet Chris or Jennifer personally during your visit. The tasting room has an industrial-meets-homey vibe, with exposed elements from the building renovation mixed with comfortable seating areas. You can see the production equipment right there, and on good days you’ll catch them actually working the stills. It’s the kind of place where conversations happen naturally, and you’ll probably learn something unexpected about either distilling or Beaufort history before you leave.