Event Watch: Charleston Wine & Food Festival

It's no secret that we've been following Charleston's burgeoning wine, beer and cocktail scene. Last year, we featured Charleston, SC as one of our destinations to visit in the inaugural Imbibe 75 issue, and this year, we're excited to be participating in Charleston's biggest food and drink event, the BB&T Charleston Wine & Food Festival.

Now in its fifth year, this event has proven itself to be one of the premier culinary events in the country attracting talent such as Dale DeGroff, aka King Cocktail and Southern food expert John T. Edge.

We're pleased to be sponsoring two cocktail-centric events:

Jailhouse Shake Up Friday, March 7, 2014 from 7:00 - 9:00 pm

The Old City Jail, one of Charleston’s most unique spaces, was built in 1802 and served as the Charleston County Jail until 1939. The beautiful and spooky space is also rumored to be haunted, but we predict guests will be too busy eating, drinking and dancing to notice! Explore the Jail and its surrounding grounds while sampling cocktails from Charleston’s top mixologists made with Hendrick's Gin, Tullamore Dew, Sailor Jerry Rum and Reyka Vodka, along with small bites from star caterers and restaurants including Republic Reign and Cru Catering. 

Chefs include:

• Chris Carreira of Mediterra Catering & The Wickliffe House
• Cory Burke of Roti Rolls
• John Zucker of Cru Café & Catering
• MariElena Raya of The Gin Joint
• Republic Reign Garden & Lounge

Featured bartenders include:

• Brent Sweatman of The Rarebit
• Craig Nelson of Proof
• Evan Powell of Republic Reign
• Joe Raya of Bittermilk

Iron Mixologist Competition
Saturday, March 8, 2014 from 1:30 - 2:45 pm
King Cocktail himself, Dale DeGroff, and the always effervescent Charlotte Voisey of William Grant & Sons USA join to host the third annual BB&T Charleston Wine + Food Festival Iron Mixologist Competition. With a back bar stocked full of the best William Grant & Sons has to offer, four of Charleston’s finest bartenders will battle through three rounds of cocktail combat in a series of challenges demanding creativity, speed, quick thinking and composure behind the bar. A top-shelf judging panel (including Imbibe's founder/publisher Karen Foley) along with an imaginative kitchen pantry will keep each contender on their toes as they compete for the ultimate title of Iron Mixologist Charleston. 

Hallie Arnold’s Swan Song: Reyka Vodka, guava juice, apple ginger shrub, fennel frond juice, and caraway Szechuan tincture.

Who are the four bartenders going head-to-head? Hallie Arnold, Gerry Kieran, Megan Deschaine and Sarah Martin are the final four. To find out more about the Iron Mixologist selection process, click here.

See you in Charleston!