Search High Wire Distilling Co., White Oak Pastures Iberico Pancetta, Hollifield Bamboo Fly Rods, Boyd’s of Texas Eau de Parfum, Skylar Morgan Furniture + Design Sofa and Ole Mason Jar Sport Coat and you’ll find they have two things in common: All are products of Southern craftsmanship and all are winners of Garden & Gun’s 2018 Made in the South Awards.
Each year, Garden & Gun honors Southern artisans who raise the bar on design and style with their Made in the South Awards. And each year, subsequently honors those finalists with a weekend celebrating all things Made in the South.
For its ninth year, the Awards recognize standouts in six categories. The winners and runners-up comprise the tastemakers of the south in food, drink, style, home, crafts, and outdoors. The highly anticipated editorial feature celebrates the unparalleled design, craftsmanship, and ingenuity that are alive and well in the region today. Garden & Gun’s Made in the South Weekend is a three-day experience in Charleston to showcase these innovative artisans and their craft.
The weekend kicks off on Friday, Nov. 9th at the Charleston Music Hall with concert performances by Amanda Shires and Aaron Lee Tasjan. The magazine’s editor in chief David DiBenedetto and president and CEO Rebecca Darwin will be present for a VIP meet-and-greet cocktail party with Amanda Shires at the home of Rebecca Darwin prior to the show.
On Saturday, Nov. 10th, award winners and finalists gather at G&G’s headquarters in the Cigar Factory for an all-day Made in the South Marketplace and Conversations with the Editors. Taste, sip, shop, and learn from the best of the South. Additionally, patrons can enjoy the various Cigar Factory Pop-Ups around the building.
The Marketplace showcases the award winners, giving guests the opportunity to get up close and personal with the new class of 2018 Made in the South artisans and their award-winning products. Garden & Gun’s offices will be home to southern fare featured in the magazine. Attendees can bounce around as they sample cocktails and southern fare from pimento cheese to Bloody Marys. This event is a good place to get a jumpstart on holiday shopping with signature items from Fieldshop by Garden & Gun, before settling in to listen as editors talk about the latest trends in Southern-made products.
Two sessions, each hosting three categories, take place throughout the day. The schedule is as follows:
Session 1: 9am to 12pm
Food, 9:30am
Phillip Rhodes, executive managing editor, Garden & Gun
Asha Gomez, chef and cookbook author, My Two Souths
Vivian Howard, head chef and owner, Chef & The Farmer
Crafts, 10:15am
Elizabeth Hutchison, contributing editor, Garden & Gun
Susan Hable Smith + Katharine Hable Sweeney,
founders, Hable Construction
Style | 11:00am
Haskell Harris, style director, Garden & Gun
Stacy Smallwood, owner, Hampden
Laura Vinroot Poole, owner, Capitol
Session 2, 1pm to 4pm
Drink, 1:30pm
Amanda Heckert, deputy editor, Garden & Gun
Miles Macquarrie, co-owner and beverage director,
Kimball House
Brooks Reitz, owner, Leon’s Fine Poultry & Oyster Shop, Little Jack‘s Tavern, Melfi’s, Jack Rudy Cocktail Co.
Outdoors, 2:15pm
David DiBenedetto, senior vice president & editor in chief, Garden & Gun
Radcliff Menge, founder, Tom Beckbe
Home, 3:00pm
Haskell Harris, style director, Garden & Gun
Bobby McAlpine, founder, McALPINE
Jon Carloftis, designer, Jon Carloftis Fine Gardens
A special, (unfortunately) sold out Awards Dinner with acclaimed Southern chef Asha Gomez will take place that evening at Aiken-Rhett House. The festive dinner will encapsulate Made in the South as it honors the winners with a globally inspired meal, live music and cocktails by mixologist Miles Macquarrie.
The weekend culminates in a Sunday pop-up brunch and sip & shop at Henrietta‘s in the Dewberry Hotel from 10am to 2pm. In conjunction, any and all are welcome to explore an expanded assortment of products from some of the South’s best artisans and artists at the sip & shop. A special discount offered for Henrietta’s brunch attendees. Atlanta-based restaurant, Garden & Gun Club, and its executive chef, Ann Kim, will host the brunch pop-up with a Garden & Gun Club–inspired menu full cocktails and dishes that characterize what it means to be Made in the South.