Spirit Free Cocktail Competition

Brown Forman Beverages and Ben’s Friends have partnered together to host a Spirit Free Cocktail Competition!

Check out attached one sheet for more details and information on how to ENTER!

Entries due by 1/2/2019!

Find more information:

https://www.facebook.com/events/345842319550266/

https://bensfriendshope.squarespace.com/charleston

 

Merry, Bright, and Boozy

2018 has been a big year for Cocktail Bandits.

We curated unique experiences like Trappy Hour, lectured at SC State and the College of Charleston, and traveled the world expanding our palette. We also released our debut publication, Holy Spirits! Charleston Culture Through Cocktails, giving us a new way to educate and connect with our fans.

Holy Spirits! Is featured in local bookstores all over Charleston. Check out the full list here.

Buxton Books hosted our holiday book signing.

Buxton Books prides itself on stimulating “creativity and conversation” and it did so that night with engaging trivia and stimulating discussion. Holy Spirits! occupies the shelves alongside gripping historical accounts, powerful autobiographies, and Oprah-approved reads as a powerful statement of progress and innovation within the Charleston Food and Beverage scene.

During the signing, Cocktail Bandits served their crowd-pleasing Peninsula Tea. A simple cocktail made with Firefly Sweet Tea Vodka.

No holiday party would be complete without gift-giving.

Motherland Essentials brought us a self-care kit complete with a soy wax candle, natural soap bar, green tea, body butter, and bath soak. Check out her products because self care is not optional.

Cocktail Bandits wishes you a Merry, Boozy, and Bright holiday season. We can’t wait to see what 2019 has in store.

 

 

ORGANICS by Red Bull

‘Gives You Wings’ – everyone is familiar with that Red Bull tagline.

The energy drink is world renowned for their potent beverage that provides consumers with an instant boast. The drink, easily identifiable in the slender can, is available anywhere beverages are sold.

As millennials move toward a more active and health conscious lifestyle, the range of drink options increases.

Red Bull spent a considerable amount of time designing a line of craft sodas to meet satisfy one’s thirst at any occasion. Cola, Bitter Lemon, Ginger and Tonic Water are now available in select markets.

While these low calorie soda are delicious on their own, they make excellent additions to cocktails.

We designed over a dozen cocktails for Red Bull to show off the versatility and ease of Organics by Red Bull.

We kept the recipes simple and familiar, so even the novice mixologist could construct an impressive yet accessible cocktail.

Here are a few that we featured at the Organics launch event in Raleigh, North Carolina. Each drink featured a different Organics flavor and paired beautifully with North Carolina BBQ prepared by local pitmaster Sam Jones! Organics by Red Bull is only available in two markets, so if you see it, try it!

Culture Clash 2017

Music creates a mood. It moves you. People identify and align with their musical interest with cult like enthusiasm. Nowhere is that more true than ‘Culture Clash’.

Created from Jamaican dancehall, culture clash created a space for artistic expression and national pride.

Red Bull and Adidas united for a musical competition of art late this summer. Four dj crews would battle in ATL for the crown and bragging rights.

More than three thousand attendees gathered at 787 Windsor place to experience entertaining legends.

Representing ATL, Mike Will Madeit including his artist: Rae Strummurd and a host of other US artists – from Jamaica: Team Unruly missing Popcaan, all the way from the UK: Disturbing London lead by Tinie Tempah and the only crew featuring a female – WondaGurl from Toronto.

Each crew had four rounds to prove themselves. Every round had a different theme. Crews were given between 8-15 minutes to jam out. The overall music genre was Reggae reflecting the roots of ‘Culture Clash’. Mike Will featured prominent Atlanta musicians like Crime Mob, OJ ‘The JuiceMan’ and Crime Mob.

The Unruly team bought traditional island realness playing hits songs by Popcaan that throw the crowd into a frenzy.

Audience members put lighters, cellphones, handkerchief, water bottles, etc. into the air. Air horns sounded as party goers danced to every beat, sweating and vocally expressing approval or distaste.

Some teams choose to use non musical methods to win over the crowd.

Mike Wills crew tossed t-shirts, hats, stickers and noise makers into the audience. In the final round, the Atlanta based crew threw about 10k into the crowd. A major faux pas – as the audience immediately booed diverting their support to the Unruly crew. Ultimately, the Jamaican based crew reigned supreme.

In a cocktail… Culture Clash was diverse and grungy. Its simple but full of passion just like this fruity Gin cocktail created by the beverage artists at Sweet & Chilis.

Tales of the Cocktail 2017

The phrase, ‘It’s a marathon not a sprint’ takes on new meaning at this five day beverage celebration.

Industry professionals descend on New Orleans to educate themselves in all that is trendy and new in the beverage market. Tales of the Cocktail started in 2002 and has since dominated the industry as a premiere beverage festival.

The French Quarter provides the perfect setting for alcohol induced activities. Pedestrians are permitted to walk all public streets, cocktail in hand.

We took full advantage of this, never feeling the need to ‘finish’ our current drink before leaving the bar or restaurant.

Our first taste of the Tales experience, was the Bacardi Party. The international brand brought more than just rum to the party. Grey Goose Vodka, Bombay Sapphire Gin and Cazadores Tequila served cocktails and provided interactive entertainment. The ladies of St. Germain place flowers in our hair and mini bottles in our pockets.

Guests were encouraged to add their mark on an active mural in the center on the party. Inside, the venue was transformed into in a jungle where trees moved and rum was sipped from coconuts. Silent Addy from Miami played a blend of reggae dancehall and New Orleans bounce music that kept the dance floor rocking.

Over the weekend, we visited smaller more curated events. Absolut Elyx brought the tropic to Tales. The space was covered in bright palm leaves that matched the clothing worn by the servers. Every corner of the ballroom featured specialty vodka cocktails expertly prepared and presented.

The main bar required a reservation for which we waited 45 minutes before being seated. We were given twenty minutes to enjoy one cocktail based on a menu made of emojis. The world renowned mixologist crafted beautifully complex cocktails full of whimsy and imagination.

Suze, a gentian liqueur hosted a reception around the corner that was packed with French influence. We enjoyed mini croque monsieurs and baby quiches feeling transported to the French countryside.

Tastings

The Monteleone acted as headquarters for Tales activity. We visited the tasting rooms to sample the variety of new spirits.

Pasote Tequila and Bazel Mezcal served in mini cocktails in the lobby that embraced the smoky spirit without any bitter aftertaste.

 

Disaronno, the Italian liqueur brought their global ambassadors together for a very unique tasting session. Each bartender served a cocktail that reflected their respective cocktail market. Super dope!

Festival Favorites

1. Seeing/Meeting Industry Friends: We were able to meet beverage professional who we respect and admire in person.
2. Local cuisine: We are local everyday, tasting NOLA. We dined at Borgne, Bombay Club, Ruby Slipper and Nosh. Each serving a different part of NO culture. 
3. So much swag: We love our brand apparel and the sponsors of Tales spared no expense with their product marketing. Suze gave attendees Parisian walking shoes while Absolut Elyx provided portable fans to beat the heat. So necessary.

 

 

Patron II

Being in Mexico is a magical experience.

As soon as you arrive, you know you are someplace special. The people are incredibly generous, despite popular reports. Being an African American woman, you tend to stand out in a crowd abroad, but in Mexico I felt welcome and respected.

This hospitality continued once I reached The Casona.

Patron Tequila invited 20 bar professionals from all over the country to participate in an immersion educational experience.

We were treated to 5 star accommodations on the grounds of the distillery. We dined on veggies grown on the property farm and sipped Tequila fresh from the still.

Our group included a mixture of barkeeps, restaurateurs and beverage experts. Patron opened the doors to their bottling room, showed us one of the seemingly endless agave fields; where the plant is grown and the barrel aging room.

Patron intends to dispel the rumors of cutting corners in production, show the true integrity of the brand and increase the groups knowledge of Tequila production.

Patron values its people as much as it values their product. Employees benefits includes healthcare, life insurance, transportation and frequent fresh food distribution.

The recently constructed Casona allows visitors to experience spa like treatment hours away from the city. Each guest room was spacious and equipped with top of the line technology, walk-in showers and plush bedding. My room featured a dining area, jacuzzi tub and large back patio.

The most rewarding aspect of the journey was the community service work.

Patron partnered with a local food bank to provide frequent food donations to deserving families in the area. Our group helped prepare the donations boxes for those who could not venture to the donation center location and handed bags of food bout to a patient group of mother in the early afternoon. Each woman was grateful and full of provide. Appreciative of the assistance while maintaining all her dignity. As a mother myself, I respect their desire to provide for their loved ones. I felt privileged to participate in the process.

Top 3 Faves of the Trip

1. Hopping behind the bar at The Casona
2. Late night Mezcal tasting at 100 rabbits 
3. New friends 

Holiday Cheers! Dinner Menu

No need to dread entertaining friends and family this holiday.

Keep it simple and fun. Use that extra time to bond with your loved ones. Instead of making a large elaborate meal; design a creative and memorable menu complete with dishes and cocktails that will excite taste buds and stimulate conversation.

We teamed up with Elise from @cookinwithbooze to design a creative and easy 3-course Holiday meal Infused with a little something extra -booze. Perfect for those who enjoy a certain kick in each dish and sip!

For Starters

This Amaro based cocktail was meant to set the tone for the evening. Intended as a mellow cocktail, ‘Bi-Coastal’ – uses Bacardi 8 to add spice aroma and rich color to the mixture. A bit of citrus is added for acidity and the apple juice to round out the flavors. I strongly believe apple juice is under used in cocktails.

 

Its mildly sweet light taste make it a perfect compliment to aged spirits like this Bacardi 8. Apple juice like apples come in a variety flavors based on the type of apple. Sample an assortment of apples to determine your favorite variety.

Bi-Coastal

1 oz of Montenegro

1 oz of Bacardi 8

2 oz of Apple Juice

¼ oz of Lemon Juice

Garnish – Amaro soaked Apple slice/Lavender leaf

Add ingredients to mixing tin. Fill tin with ice; shake passionately. Strain mixture into coupe glass. Place garnish. Take #GentleLadySips

Main Dish

Gin is such a great palette cleanser. The herbal notes seem to wash out all previous taste while you breath in fresh floral ‘smells’. Fortified by Ginger Liqueur and pineapple juice; this cocktails purpose is to let the main course shine.

Season’s Best

1 oz of Gin

¾ oz of Domaine di Canton

2 oz of Pineapple Juice

1 oz of Honey Syrup

½ oz of Lime Juice

Garnish – Lime Peel

Add ingredients to mixing tin. Fill tin with ice; shake passionately. Strain mixture into rocks glass full of ice. Place garnish. Take #GentleLadySips

Elise created a cheeky way to remix a classic holiday dish.

Dessert

Lastly, the dessert cocktail was curated to be substantial. A drink that would feel like the conclusion of some transformative; a celebration of some great triumph – as getting together with family sometimes is.

Our Courvoisier based Digestif, lovingly called, ‘Cherry Bomb’ combines the very old school with new aged sensibilities.

Cherry Bomb

1 oz of Courvoisier

1 oz of Bacardi 10

1 ½ oz of Orange Juice

½ Cheerwine Syrup

2-3 dashes of Chocolate Bitters

Garnish – Bourbon Cherry/ Lime Peel

Add ingredients to mixing tin. Fill tin with ice; shake passionately. Strain mixture into chilled coupe glass. Place garnish. Take #GentleLadySips

Make sure to visit www.cookinwithbooze.com for all the details on each dish. Elise explains who she infused a little booze in each course.

 

www.bacardi.com
www.courvoisier.com
www.docporters.com
www.goldbugcollection.com
www.amaromonte.com
www.cheerwine.com
www.cookinwithbooze.com

Holiday Cheers Cocktail Class

Making a great cocktail starts with great ingredients.

We began the evening by sipping on pomegranate martinis and sampling finger foods provided by Hotel Indigo as we learned how to choose high quality liquors. We sampled three different expressions of Goza Tequila: Blanco, Anejo, and extra Anejo

We began by tasting the Blanco. Blanco Tequila is used most often for mixing and is considered the simplest form of Tequila. The Anejo and Extra Anejo expressions of Tequila are aged much longer and as a result have deeper and more complex flavors. Both the Anejo and Extra Anejo are created to be enjoyed on their own and are great for sipping with ice.

You can learn more about Tequilas in our book, Holy Spirits!.

 

Next, we started mixing

In the spirit of the Holidays, we learned to mix up Spiced Apple Margaritas using Goza tequila. Get the recipe below and try it for yourself!

Spiced Apple Margaritas

1.5 or 2 oz Goza Reposado Tequila

1.5 or 2 oz Apple juice or Cider

1/4 oz of lime juice

Bar spoon of agave syrup

Topped with Tonic

Garnish

Cinnamon/salt/sugar

Lime wedges

Star Anise

 

To make this cocktail, add Goza Tequila, cider, lime juice and agave to mixing tin. Fill tin with ice, shake passionately. Strain mixture into rocks glass full of ice. Slowly add tonic soda until glass is full. Sprinkle a pinch of cinnamon over cocktail. Lovingly add lime and star anise garnish. Take #GentleLadySips

With the right tools, it’s easy to create great cocktails at home

 

Sometimes it can be difficult to know where to start. In class, we learned about the essential elements of building your own bar and even got some freebies to take home. Every home bar needs a mixing tin, jigger, strainer and bar spoon. Learn about these and more in our book, Holy Spirits!, an essential part of every home bar.

Books and Booze Book Signing

Learn how to mix up drinks like the pros with this two hour, hands-on introduction to cocktail basics. Attendees will learn how to measure, shake, stir and pour proper drinks. Each attendee will have the opportunity to make and enjoy one cocktail, all while learning a brief history of the drinks being made.

Certified experts and recipe book authors, Taneka & Johnny, Cocktail Bandits will teach you to shake your own original craft cocktail using recipes from their newly released book, ‘Holy Spirits!’ Guaranteed to surprise and delight every palate!

Snacks provided by Hotel Indigo. Sponsored by GOZA Tequila.

Lowcountry, High Cuisine Recap

Lowcountry high cuisine was part of the Southern Style Now Festival.

The Festival celebrates Southern style and draws design enthusiasts and industry professionals alike. The recently renovated Charleston home was full of delicate finishes and awash in natural light. The beautiful, Victorian-era home was the perfect backdrop to a stylish and inviting event.

The Cocktail Bandits served their signature cocktail, Peninsula Tea.

Peninsula tea is made with Firefly Vodka. Firefly was an early supporter of the Cocktail Bandits and are located on Wadmalaw island, just 30 miles south of Charleston. The Cocktail Bandits love to incorporate local brands and ingredients into their cocktails.

The cocktails were a delightful complement to a spread of seafood, barbecue, and desserts.

Lowcountry, High cuisine featured talented chefs Melissa Ann Barton of Mod Squad Martha, Danetra Richardson of Swank Deserts, and Jovan Sage of The Farmer and The Larder. Each dish was familiar and deeply comforting.

Lowcountry High Cuisine was hosted by Michiel Perry of Black Southern Belle, a digital lifestyle brand that captures the essence of the Southern Black Woman. Check out their tips for casual southern entertaining here.