There’s Always Room for Ice Cream

Celebrate the Season with a Local Frozen Treat

By Denise K. James

Summer in the Lowcountry has certain festivities and foods that we all look forward to year after year, and ice cream is undoubtedly one of them. Yes, it’s the perfect nostalgic treat to savor with the kids while strolling on a warm evening — but it’s also come a long way as a dessert for grown-ups, too. Whether you’re looking for avant-garde flavors to wow your dinner guests or a stiff scoop to finish the workday, these local treats have what you scream for.

Proof  (Columbia)

As the first boozy ice cream on the market, Proof has been well-loved by dessert lovers over the age of 21 since its 2015 inception. This creamy, delicious ice cream is infused with real spirits — often local versions of bourbon, rum, vodka, moonshine, and whiskey — and classic and seasonal flavors include Bourbon Caramel, Bourbon Chocolate Cherry, Mocha Chocolate Moonshine, Cheesecake Moonshine, Coconut Rum and more. Founder Jenn Randall-Collins, a former USC basketball player and Kentucky native, works with current partner Dirk Brown in Columbia, South Carolina to craft a product based on a family recipe from her home state.

Find Proof at select retailers such as Lowes Foods, Total Wine & More, Harris Teeter and other boutique hotels and retailers — or shop online. For those who prefer to have their dessert and eat it too, the High Proof Membership sends four yummy flavors, curated three times a year, directly to your doorstep via https://proofalcoholicecream.com/. Just don’t eat and drive.

Gilbert’s Ice Cream (Pawleys)

Forget that corporate stuff in the grocery freezer — we’re advising you to visit Gilbert’s in Pawleys Island for delicious, homemade ice cream instead.  With all the classic flavors — plus surprises like white chocolate peanut butter custard, banana bread, black raspberry, and vegan mint chip — you’ll have trouble picking a flavor. Want more choices? You can choose whether to complement your choice with a float, waffle cone, sundae or shake! Family owned and operated since 2017, Gilbert’s is the perfect spot to take the whole family for a post-beach treat or place an order for a custom ice cream cake with homemade toppings. Flavors and specials change often, so follow along on social media (if your waistline can handle it) or visit http://gilbertsicecream.com/.

Coastal Crust Creamery (Mount Pleasant)

Fans of Coastal Crust Pizza Bar in Charleston already know they can entrust the restaurant to provide delicious, wood-fired pie. Now, families at the Mount Pleasant location can walk over to the Airstream after dinner and enjoy delicious ice cream nestled inside a homemade waffle cone or waffle bowl. Favorites such as rocky road, cookie dough, and butter pecan are perfectly suited for a two-scoop conclusion to a summer evening. Another not-to-miss item is the ice cream sandwich, featuring your favorite menu flavors “hugged between large two chocolate chip cookies,” according to the menu, which is available at https://www.coastalcrust.com/coastal-crust-creamery.  

Cirsea Ice Cream (Charleston)

Started as a labor of love from the back of Charleston’s Red Orchids China Bistro in 2008, Cirsea is a seasonal craft ice cream that combines unique flavors for a truly decadent dessert. Coined after the Southern term “surcee,” meaning a small surprise gift, Cirsea successfully surprises patrons with an array of intriguing flavors such as strawberry goat cheese, vanilla black pepper, lychee, toasted black sesame and more. Locals can find Cirsea Ice Cream at a variety of upscale establishments in the Lowcountry, from exceptional bars and restaurants to hotels and specialty shops. Visitors who want to bring a “Cirsea” home after vacation can order online at https://www.cirsea.com/.

Life Raft Treats (Charleston)

Six-time James Beard award winner Cynthia Wong wanted to create a treat that was reminiscent of simpler times, and that’s when Life Raft Treats, the state’s only artisan ice cream truck, came onto the dessert scene. Life Raft uses all-natural ingredients, from milk to eggs to flavorings, so adults can feel good about indulging in quirky favorites such as the “Not Fried Chicken Bar” — waffle ice cream and chocolate-covered cookie “bone” with caramelized white chocolate and crushed cornflakes. Eccentric and exceptional flavor offerings include everything from Ginger + Bittersweet Truffle to Marmalade Sandwich, Mulberry Cheesecake or Fig + Creme. Get your treats from the truck, parked in downtown Charleston every Saturday, or have them shipped to you from https://www.liferafttreats.com/.

Booze Pop (Charleston)

What started as a project five years ago by Army veteran Woody Norris has flourished into one of South Carolina’s most popular adult treat trucks. Booze Pops, which Norris called “local and family-run,” curates the best spirit-infused treats from all over the world and brings them to raving fans with the help of 12 trucks in the Charleston area, two in Myrtle Beach and, coming soon, another in Columbia. At this point, all trucks are run by veterans who are overjoyed at the public’s responses to fun treats, good tunes and cool bottles of water on a hot day. That’s right — free water is always on hand at any Booze Pop truck, whether you’re a thirsty patron or just a passer-by. It’s Norris’ way of keeping his patrons happy and hydrated. Visit boozepop.com for menus or event booking information.

Republic Ice Cream (Myrtle Beach)

Take home something cool, sweet, and local in the form of a Republic Ice Cream 16-ounce pint. As a family operation for three generations based in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and with eat-in spots in Charleston and in Florida, Republic is known for painstaking care with every ingredient, from roasting the pecans themselves on site for their rich, creamy butter pecan to searching high and low for farm-fresh ingredients or plump cherries. All your favorite flavors are available from Republic — from Thunderstorm Chocolate and Old-Fashioned Strawberry to Cool Peppermint Chocolate Chip or Homestyle Cookies and Cream — and all are guaranteed to make your mouth water.

Pineapple Hut (Folly Beach)

One taste of the Dole Whip dessert at Disney World is all it takes to make raving fans who dream of that sweet, tangy delight for months to come. Folly Beach locals and visitors know they don’t have to travel all the way to Florida—or Hawaii where the Dole Plantation actually is—to experience this treat again thanks to the Pineapple Hut just off of West Erie Ave. Even better? The Pineapple Hut’s version is 100% vegan, fat free, gluten free, and cholesterol free, making this a semi guilt-free treat after a long day in the sun on Folly. You can find the renovated food truck March through October—November if weather permits—"doling out” their pineapple soft serve in cups or the bottom half of real pineapples, if you’re looking for that insta-worthy shot before digging in.