RCR: 13 Years of Spotlighting Rochester’s Finest Cocktail Experiences
I’m willing to wager that Rochester has one of the best craft cocktail scenes in the state outside of New York City, arguably even in the world (someone has to say it). Let me elaborate on what I mean by this. When I say best cocktail scene outside of NYC, I am not referring to the quantity of cocktail lounges or bars, but rather the quality of the concoctions being made at the local venues. Let me begin by offering my thoughts on what a great cocktail consists of. I’m not saying I am an expert in the craft, but I’ve partaken in an extensive selection of tastings in my sweet time here on Earth.
A Rumble + Stir bartender prepares a few “Tomato Collins” cocktails during the Young Lioness of the West performance by Cat + the Coyote at the Rochester Public Market.
From my perspective what makes a great cocktail a great cocktail is shaped by the following: The quality of the spirit and liqueurs, the uniqueness and attributes of house-made syrups, the type of glassware used, the freshness of the ingredients for juices, ice and the golden ratio, the method used for mixing a fantastic drink, how fats, garnishes, fragrances, CO₂, and fire enrich the flavors, and the originality of the conceptualization of the libation. Lastly, the true spirit of a great cocktail is shaped by a bartender who is knowledgeable and passionate about the craft of mixology.
With that in mind, I maintain that across the city of Rochester, there are scores of knowledgeable and passionate bartenders mixing some of the finest cocktails in the world.
A performance of Young Lioness of the West: An Immersive Cocktail Experience performed by Cat + the Coyote at the Rochester Public Market during RCR 13.
One of RCR’s calendar events, Notes La Nuit, is a weekly late-night jazz and cocktail event held on Fridays at Cure, a French-inspired bar and restaurant.
The outstanding cocktail scene in Rochester has been growing for some years now. By my estimate, when it comes to cocktail lounges that are mixing some of the best cocktails in the city, there are around 65 bars that are making exquisite and unique drinks. This figure does not factor in the metro area, which boasts dozens more fascinating lounges that are making fun and delectable libations, especially in the Finger Lakes.
This growth in quality craftsmanship is likely due to the vast communal networking and collaboration between cocktail lounges and mixologists in the city, an emphasis on craft and innovation among bartenders and bar managers, long-standing cocktail venues supporting the education and development of emerging mixology experts, and notably a 7-day cocktail festival that has been celebrating and spotlighting the finest cocktail experiences the city has to offer for 13 years; it’s called the Rochester Cocktail Revival (RCR).
RCR is a weeklong craft cocktail festival that fuses arts, culture, and music with Rochester, New York’s vibrant craft cocktail scene. The festival was founded in 2013 by Chuck Cerankosky and a group of six bar owners with the foresight that Rochester would be an exemplary place for a cocktail resurgence in its growing craft bar scene.
90s Grove Kickback, a 90s-themed party hosted at the Grove in downtown Rochester during the Rochester Cocktail Revival.
What began as a 3-day event promoting local venues and cocktail culture has transformed into a 7-day festival that partners with more than thirty of the best cocktail lounges in the city, hosts 88 events including 40 soirees, a spirit tasting event, interactive educational seminars, curated dance performances, live music and groovy DJs, 15+ paired dinners, and an eccentric battle royale between rising mixologists seeking to secure the championship title.
There is no doubt that as a mid-sized metro, Rochester’s rise as a craft cocktail-rich playground has been greatly shaped by the RCR’s presence, leadership, and community-driven efforts to unite novice and expert mixologists. It is the collaborative efforts that raise the bar for all and inspire new generations of bartenders to aspire towards greatness in the art of craft cocktails.
Giovanni San Fillipo celebrates winning the 2026 Bar Room Battle Royale hosted by RCR at Radio Social.
