The full-time Charleston Ambassadors, Johnny Caldwell and Taneka Reaves, met as Freshmen at the College of Charleston. Now, as the Cocktail Bandits, they promote female empowerment through advocacy for the food and beverage community from a feminine, urban perspective.

The curly ladies who talk cocktails daily, educate and entertain their growing blog audience by sharing original cocktail recipes, promoting the craftsmanship of other bar professionals, and sharing their experiences at foodie events all around the Holy City and beyond.

Johnny and Taneka have hosted sold-out events at Charleston Food & Wine Festival, Atlanta Food & Wine Festival and Euphoria Greenville Food, Wine & Music Festival.

The duo have also been featured on Sirius XM Radio online, NBC BLK online, Metro UK online, Style Me Pretty Online, Cuisine Noir Magazine, National PBS ‘Moveable Feast with Fine Cooking TV’, and ESSENCE Magazine.

The Cocktail Bandits have also brought you their extensive knowledge of Charleston, SC’s rich cocktail culture in the form of the FIRST cocktail recipe book to be written and published by African American women. Cheers!