Rochester Cocktail Revival

Spend a Saturday afternoon sipping wh***ey cocktails at Cure in the Public Market as Rochester Cocktail Revival welcomes back award-winning author and New York Times and Wall Street Journal spirits writer Robert Simonson for a conversation about his latest book, “Bourbon and Rye Cocktails,” which hits stands October 13.

Using a timeline format with entries spanning the late eighteenth-century to today, Simonson spotlights the key moments (Prohibition, the rise of modern craft distilleries), pioneering personalities (Elijah Craig, Abe Overholt), and legendary brands (Buffalo Trace, Old Forester, Maker’s Mark) in the history of American wh***ey and includes more than 70 bourbon- and rye-based cocktail recipes.

Simonson will be joined in conversation by RCR founder and restaurateur Chuck Cerankosky, who created two of the cocktail recipes featured in the book. Limited tickets for the event include the intimate conversation, a meet-and-greet with Simonson and a Lincoln cocktail, one of Cerankosky’s recipes from the book. A public happy hour and book signing will follow. 21+ only.

🎟️ link in bio 🔗

There’s still time to perfect your swing 🏌🏽Hang with your favorite RCR bartenders + spirit brands for a good cause [education!!] at Fore the Craft on Monday, October 5 — link in bio to sign up 🔗

There’s still time to perfect your swing 🏌🏽Hang with your favorite RCR bartenders + spirit brands for a good cause [education!!] at Fore the Craft on Monday, October 5 — link in bio to sign up 🔗

The third annual ®️©️®️ cocktail competition @ Barry’s Irish Fest took place last weekend — local bartenders were paired with Irish spirits (including tequila!?) to win a crowd vote 🇮🇪

For the third consecutive year, Patrick Stetzel of Ziggy’s took home first place 🏆 + he is now referring to his winning streak as a dynasty (not an Irish-approved term). S/o to the Kerrygold brown butter wash made by August, that was extremely Irish-approved. 🧈

Sláinte to all who served + sipped!

Swing and a don’t-miss-it! 🏌️ Tee off with your favorite heavy-hitting bar industry folks during the THIRD annual ®️©️®️ golf tournament, 10a-6p on Monday, Oct. 5 at Ravenwood Golf Club.

Fore the Craft brings together bar professionals, spirit brands and cocktail enthusiasts to play a day of golf for a good cause. Again this year, proceeds from the event will help subsidize sending a group of ®️©️®️ bartenders to Tales of the Cocktail or other industry trade events in summer 2027.

Sign up to play and/or sponsor via the link in our bio. 🔗

📸: VV - Floors

It’s almost time for the third-ever Barry’s Bartender Battle featuring local bar talent + Irish spirits, sponsored by ®️©️®️!

🇮🇪 Barry’s Irish Festival
📍 Webster Fireman’s Field
🗓️ August 21 + 22 [battle is 4-7p on 8/22]

Eight bartenders will compete for the trophy while showcasing their skills through the creation of Irish-inspired, batched cocktails —> sample each one and vote for your fave to help crown the next Barry’s Bartender Battle champ!

Tickets over at Barry’s Old School Irish, sláinte ☘️

Each year, we make official ®️©️®️ tees to give away to industry folks at our partner bars.

The 2026 edition was designed by Justin Dusett — incorporating ’s hand-painted logo — and then sponsored and produced by New Era Cap Foundation.

Cheers to this crew for an inspired collaboration!

📸: Mike Martinez + VV - Floors

As we wrap another year of ®️©️®️, we’d be remiss not to thank some of the (zero proof) folks who offered their time, talents, resources and creativity to help make it the highest-energy week yet.

In particular:

The staff + volunteers of CSC at Gilda's Club
New Era Cap Foundation / New Era Cap
Writers & Books
Cocktail Kingdom
The Ticketing Co.
Rochester Public Market
Debi @ Day Trips Around Rochester
Rochester Lilac Festival
Karma Water
George Eastman Museum
The Route
Downtown Rochester, NY
Imbibe
The Strathallan Hotel and Spa
RUMBLE + STIR
Linden Digital Marketing
The Little Theatre
City Blue Imaging
CineStill Film
Visit Rochester
The Cocktail LAB
V Spehar
Jonathan Graziano
Haley Donahue
Thera Clark
George Conboy + his car collective
Jon Spacher + Serena Harrington
Connections with Evan Dawson
Don Hardy + KTF Films

Thank you, thank you 💥

Great review and photos, NYS Music — cheers!

Rochester Cocktail Revival Stacks Anthology with The Demos and Cut Me Up, Genny Anthology hosted an unusual show on Thursday, June 4, one of the most desired concert venues for bands in Rochester. Rochester Cocktail Revival did not disappoint with their choice of artists, The Demos and Rochester’s favorite Tribute band two years running, Cut Me Up, Genny who took the stage, c...