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Knox Pride Fest 2023! 🏳️‍🌈 🎉 🏳️‍⚧️

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PrideFest Cocktails

By Ray Griffin


The Lavendar Menace

Glass of The Lavendar Menace sitting on red checkered picnic table cloth with lemon twist on the rim.

In 1969, then-leader of the National Organization for Women Betty Friedan coined the term “lavender menace” to describe what she saw as an inherent threat posed by the inclusion of lesbians in the mainstream feminist movement.

Queer women had been at the forefront of NOW's political organizing since its inception, and their exclusion at this point was an act of blatant and unabashed homophobia. Friedan's phrasing had unintended consequences as the term became a rallying cry and symbol of pride for lesbian movements in the decades since, even as NOW has reversed their stance on lesbian membership and broadly included queer and trans women in their organization.

It is this legacy of perseverance and dedication that is honored in the naming of this drink, a sweet and herbal cocktail that owes its signature color to the natural pH indicators in its key ingredient.

Ingredients:

  • Empress Gin- 2oz
  • Lavender Syrup- ½oz
  • Lemon Juice to taste
  • Sparkling water to taste
  • Optional lemon peel
  1. Combine the gin and syrup in a standard cocktail shaker with a small piece of ice. Shake until the ice is completely melted.
  2. Pour over ice in a rocks glass and cover with sparkling water.
  3. Add a squeeze of lemon juice to change the drink's color from rich purple to subtle lavender.
  4. Optional- garnish with a twist of lemon

Watermelon Moon

Tall glass of Watermelon Moon, a light red drink poured over ice, with a garnish of watermelon pierced with rosemary sitting across the top.

Moonshine is a drink with a rich cultural history in Southern Appalachia, though its distinctive flavor profile can be seen as an acquired taste and pose unique challenges for pairing. The sweetness of fresh watermelon juice, in season in East Tennessee from late June to early October (Pride month and LGBT+ History Month, respectively) offers a refreshing balance to moonshine's unique corn flavor.

As an added bonus, the juice's high electrolyte content mitigates some of the bodily effects of high-proof hooch. Enjoy this summer favorite, but be warned it's not for the faint of heart.

Ingredients

  • 92 proof moonshine- 2 oz
  • Rosemary syrup- 1 oz
  • Fresh Watermelon Juice- to taste
  • Optional- watermelon cube or ball
  • Optional- Rosemary Sprig
  1. Combine moonshine, syrup, and 2 oz of the watermelon juice in a standard cocktail shaker with a small piece of ice. Shake until the ice is completely melted.
  2. Pour over ice in a highball glass and top with additional juice.
  3. Optional- garnish with a piece of watermelon skewered on a sprig of rosemary.

The Sunsphere

Tall glass of The Sunsphere cocktail poured over ice sitting on wood table.

A non-alcoholic interpretation of a Tequila Sunrise, this drink pays homage to the artistic structure that has dominated the Knoxville skyline since the 1982 World's Fair and continues to look over PrideFest annually.

Sweet tea provides a unique southern twist, and the addition of gold luster dust means this drink, too, will be ready to blind you with golden flashes as you drive down Henley Street.

Ingredients

  • Grenadine- 1 oz
  • Orange juice- ½ cup
  • Sweet Tea- ½ cup
  1. Pour grenadine into an empty highball glass and cover with ice.
  2. In a separate glass, mix orange juice and tea.
  3. Optional- mix in edible gold luster dust at this stage.
  4. Gently pour the mixture over a spoon into the glass of ice so as not to disturb the grenadine layer.

Lucy's Prohibition Punch

Punch bowl of Lucy's Prohibition Punch with ice, lemon slices and cherries.

An influential California hostess and club owner, Lucy Hicks Anderson also earned her place in our history when court orders outed her status as a trans woman. Her defiance of the court's attempt to define her on anything but her own terms and her resilience in the face of government persecution deserve to be recognized.

Based on popular cocktail ingredients during prohibition at the height of Mrs. Anderson's career, this classic punch calls to mind those she may have served at her own functions. Sour, sweet, and bubbly, this punch is sure to please a crowd with vintage tastes.

Ingredients

  • White Rum- 500ml
  • Champagne or other sparkling white wine- 750ml
  • Passion Fruit juice- 250ml
  • 2 oranges, sliced
  • 1 6 oz jar of maraschino cherries with juice
  1. In a punchbowl, combine cherries, cherry juice, and orange slices.
  2. Mix in rum and passion fruit juice.
  3. Immediately prior to serving, add ice and sparkling wine.
  4. Serve into punch glasses with a ladle.
Ray Griffin

About Ray Griffin

Ray Griffin is a graduate student in cultural anthropology at the University of Tennessee. Their passions include cooking, plants, photography, and history. They've been proud to call Knoxville home for the past 6 years and have enjoyed every opportunity to embrace its thriving community.

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