At Charleston Wine + Food, we are committed to creating inclusive experiences and value the intersections of identities. In line with our value of People First, we acknowledge and look for opportunities to support the wholeness of people. We teamed up with sponsor, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, to celebrate Pride Month and the contributions of the LGBTQIA+ community in our culinary + hospitality community with the month-long campaign, Cocktails to be Proud Of.
Cocktails to be Proud Of showcases specialty cocktails at five local Charleston restaurants that will be available throughout the month of June. Each cocktail was created with the celebration of Pride in mind. For every purchase of a Pride cocktail, Charleston Wine + Food will donate $1 to the Alliance for Full Acceptance, up to $2,500. The Alliance for Full Acceptance is a local organization dedicated to achieving, nurturing, and defending equality + full acceptance for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) people. You’re sure to feel proud after ordering these cocktails, and they taste so good you may not be able to have just one.
Keep reading below for a full list of where to safely imbibe + enjoy these cocktails locally at participating restaurants. We’re sharing their signature recipes so you can recreate these cocktails at home, too! Sip + share a pic of your celebratory cocktail, tagging @chswineandfood and @titosvodka.
Butcher & Bee
Bee Proud cocktail provided by: Ally Lagakis, Front of House and Bar Manager
Here at Butcher & Bee we are proud to welcome anyone + everyone to join us for food + drinks. This cocktail incorporates honey from our friends, the bees, and is guaranteed to be the perfect patio pairing that everyone will enjoy!
Ingredients:
Yield: 1 cocktail
- 1.5 oz Tito’s Handmade Vodka
- .5 oz Crème de Violette
- 1 oz fresh squeezed lemon juice
- .25 oz house-made honey simple syrup
- .5 oz house-made lavender simple syrup
Instructions:
1. Fill a shaker with ice and add all ingredients
2. Shake and pour into a rocks glass with spent ice
3. Garnish with a rainbow glitter skewer with fresh lavender + lemon
Tip: Make the simple syrups separately instead of combining both the honey and lavender. Enjoy the simple syrups not only in this cocktail but in fresh squeezed lemonade or in your coffee!
Edmund’s Oast
ROY G BIV cocktail provided by: Jayce McConnell, Bar Manager
This frozen cocktail will feature a variety of colors + flavors throughout the month as we celebrate the diversity + inclusiveness that Pride month stands for. First up in the ROY G BIV lineup: a bright red blend of strawberry, lemon, and raspberry.
Ingredients:
Yield: scale to your liking!
- 4 parts Tito’s Handmade Vodka
- 2 parts simple syrup
- 2 parts strawberry-lemon shrub or strawberry purée
- 1 part lemon juice
- .75 part raspberry liqueur
- Ice
Instructions:
1. Combine all ingredients into your blender and blend until desired consistency is achieved
Indaco
The Pioggia Viola cocktail provided by: Sean O’Brien, Bar Manager
Inspired by Pride, The Pioggia Viola is a colorful cocktail that’s quick and simple to make, so everyone can enjoy!
Ingredients:
Yield: 1 cocktail
- 1.5 oz Tito’s Handmade Vodka
- .75 oz your favorite botanical aperitivo
- .5 oz lemon juice
- .25 oz simple syrup
- .25 oz pomegranate liquour
Instructions:
1. Combine all ingredients in a shaker over ice
2. Shake and strain into a Collins glass
3. Add ice and top with 1.5 oz Lambrusco
The Royal American
Naked Disco cocktail provided by: Andrew King, Bartender
The “Naked Disco” is a light and fun celebration of freedom + personal expression.
Ingredients:
Yield: 1 cocktail
- 1.5 oz Tito’s Handmade Vodka
- .75 oz your favorite bittersweet apéritif liqueur
- .75 oz pineapple juice
- Splash of sparkling wine
Instructions:
1. Combine all ingredients except the sparkling wine into your cocktail shaker over ice
2. Give it a good shake and then strain over ice, topping with the sparkling wine
3. Enjoy and remember to always have fun!
Uptown Social
Tootie Passion Fruitie cocktail provided by: Jamieson Cronin, Bar Manager
This sweet + tart cocktail celebrates Pride with it’s bright ingredients + colorful rainbow straw! Here at Uptown Social, we take pride in celebrations of all types, and feel compelled to continue to support the LGBTQ+ community in as many ways as we can.
Ingredients:
Yield: 12 oz
- 1.75 oz Tito’s Handmade Vodka
- .5 oz purée passion fruit
- .5 oz simple syrup
- Fresh lemonade
- Splash of cranberry
Instructions:
1. Fill a shaker with ice and add all ingredients
2. Shake, shake, shake! Pour into a Mason Jar with ice and a sugar rim
3. Garnish with mixed berries and a rainbow sugar straw