Lowcountry Cuisine Summer/Fall 2019

www.LowcountryCuisineMag.com | www.MountPleasantRestaurant.com | www.CharlestonRecipes.com lowcountry cuisine W hile Charleston is one of the most desired destinations, the heat that consumes summer days in our city certainly requires adaptation and preparation. Of course, there are the conventional means of staying hydrated, applying and reapplying sunblock and making sure you’re never too far away from the nearest air conditioning unit. But Charleston is a city uniquely designed for relaxation and enjoyment, including how we handle our most significant con: the heat. What better example of a Charleston-style approach to cooling off than Hardscoop and Booze Pops — two creative, tasty concoctions born in the Lowcountry. Jason Kirby, president of Hardscoop Distillery, and Woodrow “Woody” Norris, creator of Booze Pops, had similar yet distinct strategies for combating the oppressive heat. Both men recognized two things that command mass appeal: cool beverages and icy treats, and each created a delightful frozen union. Kirby merges alcohol with ice cream to form a 16-proof alcohol treat. Norris combines wine and liquor with frozen pops, creating an instant crowd-pleaser with his alcoholic Popsicles. Both brands now feature a variety of must-try flavors to stay cool and refreshed. Hardscoop offers plenty of buzz-worthy flavors year- round like chocolate, vanilla and coffee, and they also craft limited-edition seasonal options. One of the most popular flavors — peach sorbet — has accumulated so much support that Hardscoop is expanding their sorbet line, recently introducing strawberry sorbet. Meanwhile, Norris and his team at Booze Pops have created a mosaic of mouth-watering selections. Divided into categories of 15% Buzz Pops, 8% Martini Pops and 5% Wine Pops, Booze Pops offers all manner of options from a Moscow Mule Pop to a Strawberry Daiquiri Pop and a dozen in between. Any number of these delicious options can be accessed by visiting one of the trademarked Booze Pop food trucks, which are even available for catering events. Both companies provide excellent options for enjoying and staying cool in the summer, but their service to the community is not limited to the confections concocted. Norris is a U.S. Army veteran, and, in addition to military-related causes, the company supports a lengthy list of charities around the greater Charleston area, ranging from Carolina Children’s Charity to RiverDogs Charity Golf Tournament. Kirby and his team at Hardscoop gladly support local produce farms. “We love supporting our local farms by using only South Carolina strawberries and peaches in our sorbet line,” he commented. Intense summer heat is an inevitability. Luckily, you can pick up a pint of Hardscoop at a wide range of liquor stores, specialty stores, groceries, restaurants and bars across the Carolinas or even visit their distillery’s tasting room. Visit hardscoop.com/locations and use their store locator map to find the nearest retailer. Likewise, indulge in a “cocktail on a stick” from a Booze Pops food truck for the ultimate refreshing and tasty experience. BY MITCHELL WATFORD Buzz- Worthy Frozen Treats for Adults Photo courtesy of Booze Pops. K Photo courtesy of Kim Graham Photo and Charleston Weekender.