Bordered by Bohicket Creek and just southwest of Charleston, the rural Wadmalaw Island has some of the best must-see locations that are perfect for a day trip. It’s climate and rich soil create ideal growing conditions, allowing the island to support family and commercial farms including a tea plantation, a vineyard and one of the nation’s oldest oak trees.

Charleston Tea Plantation
6617 Maybank Hwy
Trade in your morning coffee for a cup of tea. The Charleston Tea Plantation is the only working tea farm in America and is the home of American Classic Tea. Its grounds include 127 acres of Camellia Sinensis tea plants, a working Tea Factory and a charming Plantation Gift Shoppe. You can also learn about the production of the tea while exploring the scenic grounds by taking a Trolley Tour.

Irvin-House Vineyards
6775 Bears Bluff Road
Irvin-House Vineyards is the perfect place to unwind after a long day and take in the beauty of the Lowcountry while lounging under the oaks and sipping muscadine wine. Charleston’s only domestic vineyard and winery, also features walking trails, a petting zoo, a garden and a large pond. Firefly Distillery, whose products include Firefly Vodka, Sea Island Rum and Sweet Tea Bourbon, also calls the vineyards home. It is the largest micro-distillery in South Carolina and even has a tasting room where people may taste Firefly products and purchase bottles right on the property.

Angel Oak
3688 Angel Oak Road
On your way back to Charleston Place Hotel, be sure to stop and see the Angel Oak on Johns Island. With a height of 65 feet and an area of foliage that reaches 17,000 square feet, it is easy to believe that the Angel Oak Tree is known for being one of the oldest living oaks in the country. The tree itself is named after the property’s original owners Martha and Justis Angel. Thanks to the help of the local community, the Angel Oak has with stood Hurricane Hugo and many other natural disasters. In 1991, The City of Charleston acquired Angel Oak Park and now maintains these historic grounds for visitors to come and experience it free of charge.

Just in time for cold and flu season, two barrel aged cocktails are set to make their debut here at Charleston Place. Guaranteed to warm you to the core, these classic cocktails are currently being featured at the Thoroughbred Club, located in the lobby of Charleston Place Hotel.

Barrel aged cocktails have been growing in popularity since 2009, when a London bartender was credited with putting aside a few casks of brown water to set a sell. Here at Charleston Place, our very own master mixologist, Malachi Topping, is experimenting with oaky aging to add his own flare on these classic cocktails. Using two, two- liter casks behind the bar, Topping mixed Famous Grouse with Tennessee Honey and Irish Whiskey with Carpano Antica Vermouth, then let them age for three months. His first two creations include a throat-warming Scotch and Honey, plus a smooth Old Fashioned.

To make your own version of the Old Fashioned, follow Topping’s recipe below or just stop in to try the barrel aged liquors for yourself.

Old Fashioned:
2.5oz Bourbon Whiskey
0.5oz Fresh Lemon Juice
1 dash of Fee Brothers Orange Bitters
0.25oz Laphroaig 10yr Isley Scotch
Orange Twist for Garnish

Rinse a chilled coupe with Laphroaig 10yr Islay Scotch and discard the excess. Squeeze the orange twist into the glass to release its oils. Run the twist around the rim, twist and place on the side of the glass. Combine the Whiskey, Fresh Lemon Juice and Bitters in an ice filled mixing glass. Stir 30 times.* Strain into glass, serve and enjoy.

*This is not an arbitrary number. The number of stirs changes the amount of water added to the cocktail which impacts the flavor and mouth feel. A drink that is stirred properly will have a rich, silky texture and be less watered down.

Join us at Charleston Place Hotel this winter for the year’s absolute lowest rate. For a very limited time, we’re extending a private offer to Hidden Charleston readers with our absolute lowest rate for 2013.

What better way to indulge in Charleston’s mild winters and gracious hospitality?

The Very Best Offer Includes:

• Luxury accommodations
• Complimentary wireless internet access
• Daily newspaper

Rates: from $199 per room, per night

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