Skirt! is legal!!
We had an amazing time at The Restoration on King for Skirt! Magazine’s 21st birthday! That’s right, Skirt has been bringing women amazing and empowering stories about women for many awesome years and they showed their love and appreciation last night with unlimited champagne, delicious desserts from Bad Bitches Charleston, and amazing music by DJ Natty Heavy on the rooftop of the Restoration. It’s always so inspiring to see such fabulous women celebrating together. Happy Birthday Skirt!!! Here’s to many many more years of celebrating us women!
Whiskey After Dark
The newly renovated Gadsden House on East Bay Street opened its doors for Whiskey lovers and others who just like a good time! With over 100 whiskies to sample, we were more than eage to get started. We tasted a variety of brown water ranging from Kentucky Rye Whiskey to ultra aged single malt Macallan.
While the majority of the bourbons were being enjoyed straight up or on the rocks, we appreciate sampling the whiskey in a cocktail. It’s difficult to taste drink sample after sample of any liquor straight – even for a Cocktail Bandits.
Serving samples as a cocktail also gives your audience an idea of how the spirit can be enjoyed at home, after he or she has purchased a bottle.
Lewis Barbeque was the only food option at that evening. While guest stood in line all night for their plate of beef brisket, coleslaw, rice and other sides, we mostly partook in the liquid libations. Great evening and fun event overall!
Ballpark Festival of Beers 2015
What’s becoming on of our favorite events of the year, the Ballpark Festival of Beers at The Joe Reilly Stadium is a beer lover’s dream. With over 100 beers on tap, this years festival sold; which explained the longer wait for the craft brews.
In between sips, we danced to a great live band playing top 40 hits and watched as several beer enthusiast hop on only to fall off the mechanic bull.
There was a good mixture of local, regional and imported beer, enough variety to challenge the most avid of beer collectors. Our favorite beer of the day – the Shocktop Pretzel Wheat. The brand known for their awarding winning wheat beer served their seasonal blend in a chocolate coated pretzel cone! What a treat!
Scarlet Wedding Tour
Whisked around town by the amazing drivers at Absolutely Charleston visiting some of the most romantic venues in the holy city is an excellent way to spend a Sunday afternoon. We toured Cannon Green, Striped Pig Distillery, Wingate Plantation and the Cedar Room at the Cigar Factory. Each location was staged and ready to served as the backdrop the committing of everlasting love. Complete with Bride, Groom and wedding cake, designers and florist attempted to give ideas to couples planning their Charleston wedding but also to showcase the range of each sponsors creativity.
Memorable moments: spotting the cutest hedgehog outside of Sonic himself, yummy cocktails using Blanc en Bleu champagne and a bacon bar featuring white chocolate bacon pops and smoked pancetta.
Visit Southern Bride for more information on the next Scarlet Wedding Tour – a fun experience even if you aren’t planning to jump the broom.
Altos Tequila Training
We had the pleasure of having Jesus Hernandez, the master distiller for Altos Tequila come out to 492 Restaurant here in downtown Charleston, for a taste and talk seminar on the agave plant, which is used for tequila. Jesus was very knowledgable on the agave plant, he has been distilling this spirit for over 19 years.
He talked about the different categories and classes of tequila. He also extended an invitation to Mexico if wanted a more detailed lesson. Tequila is such a complex liquor and its extremely important to us to learn as much as possible.
The Peninsula Tea
The Peninsula Tea
1 oz of Firefly Sweet Tea Vodka
½ oz of Bittermilk Ginger Honey Syrup
½ oz Lemon Juice
1 oz of Blenheim Hot Ginger Ale
Palmetto Rose garnish
Lemon wedge garnish
Mint spig garnish
In tall Collins glass, add mint, lemon juice and Bittermilk Ginger Honey Syrup; muddle. Add ice. Gently pour in Firefly Sweet Tea Vodka, then Blenheim’s Hot Ginger Ale. Garnish with hand-crafted Palmetto Rose, lemon wedge and mint spig. Served during our seminar during Atlanta Food & Wine Festival – South Carolina: Out of the Way, Out of this World. Thanks South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism, The Lee Brothers and all the volunteers who helped us prepare for our festival debut! Cheers
Charleston Beer Garden
Craft beer lovers from all over the Lowcountry descended on The Grove at Patriots Point in Mt. Pleasant. Over 30 breweries from the east coast offered their best beers to be sampled by thirsty attendees. Representatives from huge brands like Oskar Blues to small micro-breweries like Boulevard Brewing were on-hand to answer questions and hand out swag. Several food trucks were conveniently located around the perimeter providing much needed refreshments between beer tastings. Local bands kept our hips shaking while we sought shade from the beaming sun. Great afternoon of frothy craft beers, greasy food and live music!
Sweet Palmetto Cocktail
Southern Accents Coconut Cake Liqueur
Firefly Lemonade Vodka
Tippleman’s Falernum
Lime Juice
Lime slices (garnish)
Club Soda
Add Southern Accents Coconut Cake Liqueur, Lemonade Vodka, Tippleman’s Falernum, Lime juice and ice to mixing tins. Shake passionately. Layer lime on the bottom of chilled glass. Pack in crushed ice; add contents from mixing tins. Gently add club soda. Garnish with lime wheel. Imbibe responsibly.
McDonald’s Gospel Showcase – Mommy/Daughter Beauty Suite
The beauty experts at African Pride prepared a lush beauty suite for local fashion and beauty bloggers to hear all about their amazing product during the McDonald’s Choir Showcase on Mother’s Day. Brand Ambassador, Camilla Crews and Ebbie Drayton, creator of the Charleston Natural Hair Expo, were on hand to answer questions about the natural hair process.
Out front, several hundred people filled the North Charleston Performing Arts Center to hear some the best Choirs in the city. Tasha Cobb & Jonathan McReynolds headlined the showcase bringing their unique and modern take on Gospel.
For more events in Charleston, visit www.cocktailbandits.com
BACE League VOTES event!
The Charleston Music Hall was packed with music enthusiast and active residents for the BACE League Voter Registration and Brave Baby Album release party. BACE League includes all businesses, artists, cultural activists and entertainers in the Charleston area who wish to have a voice in the political changes taking place in our fair.
The launch event was a huge success with major community sponsors and almost 1000 attendees. BACE co-founders Makenzie Eddy & Elliot Smith have more events and community engagement planned to ensure that our voice on “new” Charleston is heard by those who represent us.
For more information about the BACE League, visit www.bacechs.org
