Charleston-based Bittermilk announces $8.2M investment in Ravenel facility

After more than 10 years in the cocktailer mixer industry, Bittermilk is investing $8.2 million in new Charleston County operations.

Joe and MariElena Raya began the company from the small space of their original business; The Gin Joint. Today, the pair operates four lines: Bittermilk, Barcoop Bevy, Drinkmanship and Tippleman’s.

“We’re proud to continue growing Bittermilk in Charleston County, where our business began and where we’ve built strong roots over the past two decades,” Joe and MariElena Raya, Bittermilk owners and co-founders, said in a news release. “Being born and raised in Charleston, and growing up in the food and beverage industry here, has given us a deep appreciation for this community. It’s an honor to keep building our future here while continuing to make high-quality, American-made products.”

The expansion to a new facility located at 5340 Savannah Highway in Ravenel will create 12 new jobs while remaining family owned and operated, the release said. Currently, the team manufactures their all-natural products in a North Charleston facility.

“Bittermilk is a South Carolina success story, and their expansion is great news for the state. Forward-looking small agribusinesses are essential to the future of the industry, and we celebrate their growth,” Hugh Weathers, commissioner of agriculture, said in the release.

The new facility will be 12,000 square feet and is expected to be online this summer.

“Bittermilk’s expansion underscores how Charleston County is both an ideal location to establish operations and plan next-step opportunities that support long-term growth,” Joe Boykin, Charleston County Council chairman, said in the release. “This investment in Ravenel brings significant potential for future facility development, while creating high quality workforce opportunities and new amenities for the community.”