Cocktail of the Week: The Wise Spaniard from Cannon Green (And a Happy Hour to Die For)

By Featured Food Blogger:  Cookin’ With Booze

I drive by Cannon Green all the time and always thought it was just a fancy restaurant, but I’m happy to report that they have a killer happy hour! On Tuesdays, they have $5 margs and $2 tacos that change each week, so you get a different experience every time. The rest of the week, they have $3 beer, $5 house wine & well liquor, and $8 specialty cocktails.

the happiest hour

In addition to discounted drinks, everyone who attends happy hour gets to play Plinko for a chance to win: a $5 mimosa carafe, free dessert, a $5 burger, or a complimentary cocktail. I got to try several of their happy hour drinks and bites with my fellow #TastemakersCHS and by the end of the night we all had a nice buzz and satisfied appetites!

We started the night by sampling some signature cocktails. I tried the spicy marg (obvi I can’t resist) and the “Wise Spaniard.” The Wise Spaniard is my cocktail of the week because of its complex flavor. It was composed of gin, sage syrup, grapefruit juice, and Cava (a Spanish sparkling wine). The sage complemented the floral notes of the gin and the grapefruit juice and bubbly wine brightened it up. It was garnished with a fresh sprig of sage, which I accidentally almost choked on and said out loud “wow I almost choked on a sage leaf,” which might’ve been the most bougie thing I’ve ever said in my life.

queso, this is all mine, right?

To complement the cocktails, we sampled some of their apps that were great for sharing. We started with queso and guac, and it was tough for me to share the queso with others, but I tried my best not to give any death glares. We were also treated to their fresh ceviche, which was a refreshing switch from the rich queso.

The main dish of the night was the tacos ($2 during happy hour on Taco Tuesday). The tacos were filled with shredded chicken, fresh mango, crunchy radishes, and drizzled with sour cream. They could’ve packed more of a punch in the spice department for me, but overall they were satisfying.

The local shrimp and Brussels sprouts were the other stars of the show. I feel like every restaurant in Charleston has some variation on Brussels sprouts, and for that I am eternally grateful. Cannon Green’s version spices it up with gochujang (red chile paste), sesame seeds, and a garlic aioli. I couldn’t really taste the gochujang, but the garlic aioli added a nice creamy contrast to the crispy sprouts.

The shrimp was seasoned so well on the shrimp toast that a few of us took to eating the heads. It might’ve been the cocktails that made us do this, but I honestly have no regrets. I’ve heard on Food Network for many years that shrimp heads are the most flavorful part and I can’t say I disagree. It was a crunchy delicacy.

i’ll be back!

Photo by @hangry.mess

We finished off the night by playing Plinko and I went home with a voucher for a $5 mimosa carafe! I’m glad the Tastemakers introduced me to this new happy hour spot and it’s certainly #BoozeApproved.