Top Ten Charleston Cocktails
What is a Charleston Cocktail?
When we asked bartenders, as well as Charleston cocktail lovers to define a “Charleston Cocktail” – we got very similar responses from almost everyone. They stated that the most popular cocktails in Charleston are “porch pounders”.
Porch Pounders are crisp, refreshing beverages made with a few simple ingredients. Perfect for a hot summer day on the porch or at the beach.
Here are our top 10 Charleston Porch Poundin’ cocktails.
1. Peninsula Tea- (Cocktail Bandits Original)
- Firefly Sweet Tea Vodka
- Tippleman’s Ginger Honey Syrup
- Topped with Blenhim Ginger
- lemon
This is one of the first cocktails we curated for a public event. This cocktail is made with all local SC products and is extremely light and refreshing. Anything made with Charleston tea is perfect anyway. Learn more about Peninsula Tea in our book, Holy Spirits! Charleston Culture Through Cocktails
2. Green Gimlet- (Feathertop)
- Gin
- Genepy
- Cucumber
- Lime
- Matcha Tea
- Thyme
This beautiful, green gin cocktail is so smooth. The crisp, cool flavor of the cucumber is perfect for any warm occasion. Bartender Ryan Jones, of Feathertop says that it has been a hit since they have opened and we have to agree!
3. Charleston Daiquiri- (Rarebit)
- Dark rum
- Banana liquor
- Local honey
- Lemon
Rarebit’s bartender, Ramon Caraballo, came up with this super simple, yet bright and beautiful cocktail. The rum and banana liquor pair perfectly together and are the perfect suggestion for any hot, humid day in Charleston.
4. Double Standard- (Cocktail Club)
- Gin
- Jalapeno
- Lemon
- Honey Simple Syrup
This gin cocktail, made by Ryan Welliver of Cocktail Club, is a great balance of sweet and spice, its the beverage to order on a nice Charleston summer eve.
5. Shoulder Monkey- (Darling Oyster Bar)
- Monkey Shoulder Scotch Whiskey
- grilled pineapple & sage syrup
- Orgeat
- Lemon
- Grilled Pineapple
Its rare to find a scotch cocktail in Charleston and even more difficult to find one that is palatable in this heat. This beautiful scotch and sage cocktail from The Darling is extremely easy on the eyes and taste buds.
6. Instant Vacation – (Canes Rhum Bar)
- Mt. Gay Rum
- Ginger
- Felernum
- Orange Juice
- Lemon Juice
This drink should be called an “Instant Staycation” because that is how it feels when you take one sip of this fabulous cocktail. Rum was the first liquor that was drank in Charleston and this cocktail explains why people love it!
7. Arnold Palmero – (492) – vodka
- Vodka
- Ramozzotti
- Yerba Mate’
- Strawberry
- Lemon
The Arnold Palmero is a play on the classic sweet Tea and lemonade drink called the Arnold Palmer but this cocktail has a bit of a kick. Bartender, Megan Deschaine, says the Yerba Mate’ gives you a burst of enegy and the strawberry purée creates the beautiful color.
8. Bubbly Bliss – (Cocktail Bandits original)
- Striped Pig Gin
- Strawberry puree
- Lemon juice
- Agave
- One Hope Bubbly Wine
Created for a fun photoshoot with @charlestonweekender, this champagne drink is a simple, fun and fruity DIY cocktail that can be made for a girls day at the pool. Find more Cocktail Bandits recipes in our book!
9. The Barn Raiser- (S.N.O.B)
- Honey-Infused Bourbon
- Orange bitters
- Blenheim’s Ginger Ale
- Orange bitters
This cocktail embodies everything about Charleston in the summer. This cocktail is simple, effective, and full of bourbon! Oh and we love anything with Blenheim’s Spicy Ginger Ale.
10. Foraged French- (The Westendorff)
- Sorrel Infused Hat Trick Gin
- St. Germain
- Cava
- Mint
- Lime
- Basil
The Westendorff was extremely creative with this cocktail. The Sorrel infused Gin combined with the St. Germain liqueur gave this cocktail delicious floral notes. It felt like sipping spring/summer.
We had a great time visiting and listing our top Charleston cocktails for the summer! Now, go try one of these “Porch Pounders” for yourself and enjoy this amazing city! CHEERS!
This article was originally published in the Post and Courier
