A Toast to Tradition

Inspired by South Carolina’s 200-year-old milling tradition, Coker teamed up with local chef Sean Brock to create a craft take on the stuff using locally ground grains. (Malt liquor became popular when World War II barley rations led beer makers to experiment with rice and corn.)

Coker and Brock’s light and earthy libation, dubbed Amber Waves, incorporates Anson Mills’ ‘Carolina Gold’ rice and ‘Jimmy Red’ corn from Geechie Boy Mill, both storied Low Country brands. “There’s so much nuance with these grains,” says Coker. “The hulls on the ‘Carolina Gold’ are aromatic, while the ‘Jimmy Red’ corn has a sweet nuttiness to it.” For now, only a few spots – Revelry Brewing and Brock’s restaurants Husk and McCrady’s – sell the 22-ounce bottles. But we’re hoping that, after successfully elevating this bottom-shelf booze to small-batch status, the entrepreneurs can raise the bar on distribution as well.