Try a "Scrap Iron Cocktail" at the Old Daufuskie Crab Company at Freeport Marina on Daufuskie Island, SC 29915

The Story of Scrap Iron

In the early 1900's more than 2000 black African Americans lived on Daufuskie Island. They made their living from the oyster beds that surrounded Daufuskie. Oysters were harvested, canned, and shipped all over the world. Progress came to Savannah, Georgia and factories were built along the Savannah River. The Savannah River was polluted and the pollution flowed into the oyster beds around Daufuskie. The Federal government condemned the harvesting of oysters on the Island and 2000 people were out of work in one day. The exodus began and the population dropped to around 100 people when I came to Daufuskie in the '70's. The people that stayed had to make a living another way and they all knew how to make a great corn liquor and the ladies made wines. The men would load the corn liquor in small oyster boats and row or sail it to Savannah. Sometimes it would take a day to get there. In early days they would get 5 dollars for 50 gallons, but it gave them money to pay taxes on their land.

When moving their cargo to Savannah they would frequently be stopped by the revenue officers and ask what they were carrying. They learned to cover the vat of corn liquor with pieces of scrap iron and would tell the revenue officers that they were taking the scrap iron to Savannah to sell to feed the family. They told this story so much that scrap iron became the name for liquor on this beautiful island. In-honor of this we offer a drink at The Old Daufuskie Crab Company, called Scrap Iron in honor of these ingenious bootleggers. Give it a try. I hope you enjoy it!

- Wick Skurry