Slow Food USA: Cocktail Culture with the Cocktail Bandits
We partnered with slowfoodusa.org to share our story behind our signature cocktail, Peninsula Tea.
“The Cocktail Bandits have pioneered a movement based on entertaining and educating consumers on the craft cocktail industry. The duo has traveled internationally to gain libation knowledge of different cultures and interact with makers of the beverages we drink daily. Join them for a trip down memory lane as they retell how they got started on Instagram and the origin behind their signature cocktail, ‘The Peninsula Tea’.”
TBAPOD #16 Taneka Reaves
Part two of a two parter! Taneka Reaves of Charleston’s Cocktail Bandits tells us about the move from a town of 3000 people to the big city. She also talks about her poli-sci history and how if you see a gap in your hospitality community, fill it.
Taneka is a great ambassador for her city and that really shows in this episode. She discusses a Bajan connection, what it’s like to work at Coyote Ugly style bar and parental pressures to pick a career.
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TBAPOD #15 Johnny Caldwell
Johnny Caldwell is one half of Charleston’s Cocktail Bandits. Her road to becoming a hospitality maven is a unique one involving step routines and a law degree.
Johnny and Josh talk about how your family’s influence can teach you that there is no one way to get where you’re going. Sometimes your Great Grandmother owns a speakeasy, for instance. Johnny also goes into some details about how Charleston is a truly unique place. And she has a suggestion for what to mix with Tequila.
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Off to the Races! Steeplechase Charleston 2019
More than a horse race, Steeplechase Charleston brought art, fashion and food lovers alike out to the races. There were activities for everyone from ax throwing to shopping with local vendors. Secret judges discreetly eyed the crowds, searching for whoever was dressed in their best steeplechase attire. And then of course there were the races themselves, which are always riveting to watch in real time.
We spent most of the afternoon hanging out in the VIP tents located on the right side of the Stono Ferry Plantation race track. Hamby Catering outfitted the entire area with an assortment of finger foods, of both the sweet and savory variety.
The VIP area also included an open bar with premium spirits and our featured cocktail, ‘Prize Pony’. The VIP’s Cocktail was light and refreshing and used Bartles & Jaymes wine cooler for flavor and some bubbles. See recipe below:
Prized Pony
1.5 oz of Sweet Tea
1 oz of Vodka
Bartles & Jaymes Ginger & Lemon Wine Cooler
Garnish: mint and lemon wheel
Add Sweet Tea and Vodka to a cup full of ice. Top mixture with Bartles & Jaymes Ginger & Lemon Wine Cooler. Place garnish. Take #GentleLadySips
Later, Taneka and I hosted a meet and sit at the far left corner of the VIP area. We offered guests complimentary samples of the Bartles & Jaymes wine coolers flavor (Cucumber & Lime, Grapefruit & Green Tea, Ginger & Lemon, Watermelon & Mint). Hamby Catering provided incredible bites to be served alongside the wine coolers during the tasting. The entire experience felt like elevated tailgating.
As if the scheduled activities weren’t entertaining enough, the highlight of Steeplechase was the aftermath. In good Charleston fashion, it rained the day before the event and created a mudder’s dream field. What could have easily been a disaster turned into a satisfying display of community and teamwork. People came together like no other, getting their boots dirty (literally) to push people’s cars onto dry land. Those with pickup trucks and SUV’s volunteered their horse power to drag the not-so-lucky vehicles out of the mud. If anything came out of those moments, it was that Charlestonians aren’t afraid to get a little dirty to help out their fellow man.
Mark your calendar for Steeplechase Charleston 2020.
https://steeplechaseofcharleston.com/ www.bartlesandjaymes.com https://hambycatering.com/ https://www.postandcourier.com/
Don’t Knox it! 2020
While work trips can seem a lot like, well, work, our visit to Knoxville included a little culture and cuisine. We stayed at The Tennessean Hotel which was in walking distance of the popular Gay Street entertainment district. There was some intermittent rain that stopped some of our strolls through the city, so we took advantage of The Tennessean’s complimentary valet service.
We did manage to make it to Knoxville’s only speakeasy complete with its own secret entrance. Decorated in vintage motifs and using old books to house their cocktail menu, Peter Kern Library lives up to the mystique. The cocktails were delish and the bartenders incredibly knowledgeable and friendly.
The day of our departure we arose early to take in some local attractions. Taneka visited The Sunsphere, while I visited the Knoxville Museum of Art. Located on Worlds Fair Drive, Knox Art was featuring a special exhibit on the art of Beauford Delaney.
This prolific artist was a native to Knoxville but had a heavy influence on the international art scene. KMA has the largest collection of Delaney’s work and used this particular show to examine the 38 year-long friendship between Beaufort Delaney and writer James Baldwin.
This Ying Yang relationship influenced the artistic expression and community awareness present in Baldwin’s writings and Delaney’s paintings. The two cared for each other deeply; this love can be felt through their craft.
Make sure to follow @knoxart to see the museum’s continued efforts to showcase and spread awareness of Delaney’s art. Every art lover should add Knox Art to their list of Southern art museums to visit.
www.chivotaqueria.com www.tennesseanhotel.com www.knoxart.org www.oliverroyale.com www.tombras.com
American Craft Spirit Competition 2019
For the third year in a row, we have been honored to serve on the American Craft Spirits Association judging panel. Every fall we gather with other beverage professionals to taste and rank craft spirits. Each year the location changes but the mission stays the same, impart honest and constructive feedback on the quality and use of the spirit.
2019 brought us to Bloomington Indiana, home of the Hoosiers and Cardinal Spirits. Co-owned by Jeff Wuslich and Erica Sagon, Cardinal Spirits offers a variety of products including Rum, Vodka and Terra Botanical Gin, along with an assortment of ready-to-drink cocktails in a can.
My personal favorite, The Bramble Mule. We would meet in their tasting room for three days to evaluate the craft spirits. Luckily, the distillery is equipped with a full bar serving delicious cocktails crafted with their booze, of course.
This year, I was again assigned to the specialty spirits category and Taneka was a member of the Gin judging panel. My flights ranged from 3 – 6 samples of Amaro, Shochu and Aquavits. Daily, our group would taste in silence before we shared our thoughts and scores on each sample.
While we disagreed on some aspects, we ultimately wanted to encourage makers of quality spirits and inspire those whose product needs a little more work.
As for the 2020 judging, there’s no telling where we will be or what we will taste. But our flights will be booked and our palettes will be ready!
https://americancraftspirits.org/ https://www.cardinalspirits.com/ https://www.visitbloomington.com/ Jackie Summers: @theliquortarian Kara Newman: @newman_kara Andi Ferman: @boozer_n_shaker Maggie Campbell: @halfpintmaggie @CraftSpiritsUS https://privateerrum.com/
Restaurant Week, DMV style
The craft cocktail community is small. Long before we met Andra Johnson we knew of her innovations in the beverage community. So we jumped at the opportunity to participate in DMV Black Restaurant Week 2019.
The week-long celebration encourages patrons and spirits brands to support restaurants owned by black and brown people. A list of participating establishments was distributed in major brands like Campari and Founding Spirits, which supported their efforts.
We were invited to host the signature cocktail competition honoring African-American beverage pioneers. We were all over that. Competitors one by one created their inspired cocktails in front of a live audience and a panel of esteemed judges. The winner of the $500 cash prize was Jacquie Sharpe. Her cocktail was as delicious as her performance was entertaining.
The week-long initiative to support business was concluded by a day of education. A full day of panels was held at Georgetown University. The conversations were led by professionals in academia, finance, restaurant development and marketing. Discussions included inter-generational wealth, the power of ownership and Black people in the beer industry.
I was most captivated by the keynote speaker, Warren Thompson of Thompson Hospitality Group. He shared his journey of owning over 100 restaurants and how he infiltrated the airport dining market, an industry I gave little thought to despite being a frequent flyer.
A perfect intersection of culture education and good food, DMV Black Restaurant Week should be added to every foodie’s calendar.
@dmvbrw #DMVbrw #TastetheCulture https://www.thompsonhospitality.com/ @whiteplatesblackfaces www.camparigroup.com https://www.foundingspirits.com/ @arcipelagobardc @crownsandhops @hanksoysterbar @bensnextdoor @pearldivedc
Pour & Pair: Sherry
In the Lowcountry, there’s always time for barbecue. Smoked meats and grilled veggies are a large part of Southern cuisine. Since Jerez, the home of Sherry, is located in the southern region of Spain, we were feeling the southern connection.
Upon our initial sip of Palo Cortado, we notice subtle nutty and buttery notes, followed by a bright but dry finish. Perfect sips for a light afternoon lunch. We prepared our version of Southern BBQ chicken. We oven baked chicken wings in a homemade hot honey mustard sauce. The sweet and spicy sauce was complimented by a refreshing spring salad lightly dressed with a lemon vinaigrette. To accompany our light lunch, we sipped on chilled Palo Cortado Peninsula Dry Sherry.
Recipe Below:
Hot Honey Mustard Chicken Wings
6 chicken wings
Teaspoon of salt, pepper, curry, paprika, garlic powder
Tablespoon of Olive Oil
1 cup of Hot Honey Mustard sauce
Preheat over to 375. Season chicken with salt, pepper, curry, paprika, garlic powder. Add olive to baking dish, then place chicken. Baked for 35 minutes. Take chicken out of the oven. Flip the chicken over then pour hot honey mustard sauce over the chicken. Place baking dish back into the oven for 15 minutes. Let chicken rest for 3 minutes before serving.
Salad
2 cups of Mixed greens
1 cup of diced Roma tomatoes
1 cup of thinly sliced cucumber
1/2 of Chopped onion
Teaspoon of salt
Teaspoon of pepper
2 tbsp of Olive Oil
In a large bowl mix lettuce, tomatoes, onions and cucumber. Add salt, pepper and olive oil. Gently stir mixture. Chill until served.
#SherryWeek
https://www.sherry.wine/
Sips Italiana
Last September, we had the opportunity to spend 7 days in the Italian countryside. Escorted by the Italian Trade Commission, we visited a combination of 10 different distilleries in the Northern and Southern regions of Italy. We met the owners and distillers of mostly family owned companies while sipping from their expansive spirits portfolio.
Additionally, we visited several popular Italian bars to research how the locals enjoyed these classic spirits. What stood out the most was the Aperitivo Cocktail hour. Typically, when one orders a drink at an Italian bar, some snack or complementary bite is served as well (and not just bowls of pretzels and nuts).
This is brillant. This culture of drinking and eating kept us at each bar longer than expected. The assortments of cheese, sliced meat or fresh veggies encouraged us to socialize more and order more drinks because the snacks were free.
Some establishments like the world-famous, Martini Bar in Turin, Italy require guests to stand at the bar to enjoy the free nibbles; this encouraged us to dance and move more about the space.
Upon returning home, we were reminded how solitary American bar culture can be. We looked for an opportunity to share the concept of Aperitivo hour in Charleston. Our annual Spoleto Festival provided that opportunity. Charleston has celebrated its connection to its Italian sister city Spoleto since 1977. For 17 days, the Holy City hosts international musicians and artists for plays, art shows and performances primarily focused on our art and historical connection to Spoleto. This festival served as the perfect setting for our event series celebrating our food and beverage connection to Italy.
Bitter & Bubbly
That’s how I would describe an Aperol Spritz. I would also use words like: refreshing, light and social. This low ABV cocktail has been enjoyed in Italy for ages but is still largely under appreciated in America. While the bold crimson hue is attractive, the bright bitter flavor can shock the palate.
Our Spritz Pop Up was the 1st introduction of the cocktail to the majority of our audience. Surrounded by Italian inspired art, The Meyer Vogl Gallery served as an excellent setting for our cocktail hour.
The Aperol Spritz cocktail is fairly simple: mix 1 part Aperol, 1 part Champagne (or some other sweet bubbles) plus 1 part club soda over ice with orange peel garnish. That’s it!
Aperol is a bitter liqueur made from orange peels. Its classified as an aperitif because it is usually enjoyed; before a meal; the bitter flavor stimulates the appetite. Which is why there are always snacks nearby when the cocktail is served.
Lemon Lover
The name speaks for itself. There is a sense of familiarity with this cocktail. This bright yellow beverage has been seen in movies like “Under the Tuscan Sun” giving Limoncello a romantic feel. We wanted to give the citrusy cocktail an artsy vibe.
We asked attendees to wear some shade of yellow and meet us at The Martin Gallery. The Broad Street showroom houses large metal sculptures as well as intricate paintings. The classic cocktails were comprised of Limoncello di Capri, Tiziano Prosecco and club soda – garnished with a lemon slice. Salute.
Our friends at Carolima’s Lowcountry Kitchen provided us with pimento cheese crostinis topped with okra slices.
Chef Sameka Jenkins, known for her buttery Charleston Chewies, created a lemon infused “blondie” type treat for guests. So good!
Celebrate Italy
Italian spirits range from herbal bitter liqueurs to fragrant aromatized wines. Our event series finale allowed us to share more from the Italian Spirits spectrum.
We featured some of the lesser known Italian Liqueurs like Molanari, an anise flavor liqueur and Fragoli, a wild strawberry liqueur. We mixed these foreign spirits with familiar ingredients to encourage guests to try something new.
The most popular cocktail of the evening was called, “Brown Bunny”. This cocktail was a combination of Nocello (a walnut flavored liqueur), Arabica Coffee flavored soda and lime juice.
Guests Sipped Italiana while enjoying a violin performance from local artist, Tyree McDowell. 
Big thanks to Redux Art Center, our gracious host, for being an open and inviting venue which allowed our attendees to socialize and appreciate the creations from local artists.
Stay on the lookout for more cultural cocktail events from us soon!
http://spoletousa.org http://meyervogl.com/ http://www.martingallerycharleston.com/ http://reduxstudios.org/ http://www.carolimas.com www.aperol.com www.ice.it www.totalbeveragesolution.com http://www.molinari.it Photos by Julia Sanders
Day Drinking: at Millers All Day
Ever found yourself wandering South King Street around 8AM in need of a spirited beverage? Your best and only option would be Millers All Day. The restaurant operates from 7AM to 3PM offering seasonal breakfast options all day.
Choose from fluffy buttermilk biscuits or something more adventurous like pink unicorn grits. Out person favorite, the patty melt, always a win.
The picturesque venue reminds me of a retro diner slash 1950’s soda shop tinted in a calming yet inspiring blue shade. The bar and lounge area are as comfortable as they are stylish. While at the bar, order one of the premium cocktails. The bar menu offers a range of cocktails to excite the taste buds no matter the time of day.
The Mezcal cocktail affectionately named ‘Holy City Desperado’ would make any hater of the smoky spirit, a believer. Try it out to change the way you think about day drinking.
Another memorable cocktail, the Strawberry Basil Collins. This bright Gin based cocktail is very refreshing on warm Charleston afternoons, Stop in early.
Cheers –
