With global influence in the hospitality industry , Johnny Caldwell and Taneka Reaves comprise the dynamic duo known as the Cocktail Bandits. From college friends to business partners, the Cocktail Bandits are beverage Ambassadors who have created a lane to share their passion and talents related to food and beverage, travel and lifestyle. They promote female empowerment through advocacy for the food and beverage community from a feminine, urban perspective. The Cocktail Bandits educate and entertain their growing audience by sharing original cocktail recipes, promoting the craftsmanship of other bar professionals and sharing their experiences at foodie events in the Holy City and beyond. They manage the self-titled Cocktail Bandits blog and have published a book, Holy Spirits! Charleston Culture Through Cocktails. This is the first cocktail book written by African American women in this country.
Listed among Imbibe Magazine’ s ‘75 People to Watch in 2018' and named two of Charleston's '50 Most Influential in 2019’ , Johnny and Taneka are known for their expertise and impact. They have hosted many sold-out events , including large- scale ones like Charleston Wine + Food and the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival. The Cocktail Bandits have also served as expert judges for events such as the American Craft Spirit Competition, Charleston Fashion Week’ s Top Cocktail Competition and many more. The Mayor of Charleston, SC proclaimed the Cocktail Bandits as the official beverage Ambassadors of the city.