It’s been a scorching summer, and you’re going to need liquid nourishment to bring you some relief from the heat and humidity. What better way to relax from a hot day at the beach than sipping on your favorite liquor libation with friends or family.
We’ve compiled a list of the top five cocktail concoctions on Folly Beach and where you can find them, so when the clock strikes happy hour you can wet your whistle.
Frozen Irish Coffee: St. James Gate
St. James Gate has produced a winner with its frozen Irish coffee. You’d expect an Irish pub to offer a great pint of Guinness and a decent whiskey selection, and St. James Gate checks the boxes there. But it’s always nice when a bar surprises you with a tantalizing twist on an old favorite. Traditional Irish coffees are served piping hot, but hey, this is South Carolina and it’s steamy up in here. Sweet and topped with a generous dollop of whipped cream, frozen Irish coffee is like a dessert in a glass that gets you tipsy. This cocktail specialty will have you and your closest companions clinking glasses and gleefully chanting ‘slainte!’ While you’re there, sample some hearty Irish comfort food like shepherd’s pie or bangers and mash to absorb all that alcohol.
Painkiller: Surf Bar
What’s not to love about a dog-friendly dive bar with live local music, foosball table on the patio and a chill ‘60s surfer vibe?
The painkiller may not be a panacea for all your woes, but it’s a killer cocktail to pair with the Surf Bar’s delicious Philly cheese steak and onion rings. Made with rum, orange juice, cream of coconut, pineapple juice and a nutmeg garnish, painkillers are a fun island drink that’s the quintessential warm weather cocktail.
And while you’re there imbibing one, you always can scribble something on a dollar bill and staple it to the Surf Bar’s wall to commemorate the experience.
Margaritas: Taco Boy
It’s hard to narrow it down to one specific margarita since everyone has their favorite, and Taco Boy serves a wide selection of these tequila-based staples. If you’re feeling fruity you can order yours in pineapple, mango, guava, strawberry or sangria varieties, or there is always the classic Casa version for those who prefer the standard margarita.
Whether you order them frozen or on the rocks, margaritas are a refreshing way to cool off after spending a few hours in the blazing sun. And honestly, does anything go better with Mexican food than a margarita?
Bloody Marys: Rita’s Seaside Grill
Whether it’s for Sunday Funday or an evening gathering, the Bloody Marys at Rita’s Seaside Grill are the way to go. Options abound, including the Black and Blue, vodka blended with Zing Zang Bloody Mary mix, olive juice, steak sauce, Cholula hot sauce and bleu cheese-stuffed olives, and finished off with Old Bay seasoning dusted along the rim. Weekend brunch features a make your own Bloody Mary bar where you can assemble your own unique creation from a passel of different ingredients. And guests of Rita’s can enjoy theirs on a covered patio just a block from the beach.
Fish Bowl: Snapper Jack’s
Bigger isn’t always better, but when a giant mixed drink with quantity also happens to have quality taste it’s an added bonus. As you might imagine, any cocktail whose name we typically associate with a vessel that houses goldfish is going to have some serious volume to it. Snapper Jack’s Fish Bowl is probably best shared, so what better place to split an adult beverage than a rooftop bar with fresh seafood and live music.
