Brent and Danielle Sweatman
Sweatman's Garden | Charleston, SC
NOVEMBER 2024
Danielle Sweatman spent her childhood in the Chicago suburbs, but, thanks to her mother’s encouragement, she eventually left the Midwest and set out to see more of the country. She packed up her things and moved to the West Ashley neighborhood in Charleston, South Carolina, where she picked up a job as a host and server at The Obstinate Daughter. Danielle felt at home in the hospitality industry, and soon found herself bartending at the popular Southern restaurant. One night, while grabbing drinks at a local bar, she met Brent Sweatman.
Born and raised in South Carolina, Brent has been in hospitality since his first job at a local Ruby Tuesday when he was 15 years old. Working primarily in front-of-house roles, Brent spent time behind the bar and served at restaurants all around South Carolina. In 2012, after getting let go from a job, he found himself with extra time on his hands. So, inspired by articles in Imbibe, he started to experiment with making his own ginger beer and tonics at home. When he went back to bartending, he continued to make and use his beverages, even going on to bottle and sell them to other local businesses. In 2015, Brent joined the opening team of The Rarebit in Charleston. Working at the high-volume restaurant, Brent started incorporating force-carbonated cocktails onto the menu and kegging his own tonics to keep up with demand.
In 2023, Brent and Danielle combined their years of beverage and hospitality experience to open a place of their own: Sweatman’s Garden. At the eclectic, welcoming bar, Brent and Danielle have designed an approachable, adaptable menu of beverages that center around Brent’s sodas. With cannabis, alcoholic, and non-alcoholic options, guests can custom-tailor their drinking experience. The Sweatmans have shaped their bar into a space for the community, offering exciting programming to their guests—from tarot card readings to drag queen bingo to burlesque night—while also bringing in local artisans and musicians to liven up the space. With plans to expand their programming further, Brent and Danielle are also looking to can their tonics and share their beverages on a larger scale.
2024 StarChefs Charleston-Savannah Rising Stars Award Winners
