Rare bottles up for bid starting Friday, August 8
ROCHESTER, N.Y. —July 17, 2025—Hoochenanny Whiskey & Music Festival, the ultimate whiskey and music experience, is turning up the spirit of generosity with its inaugural Hoochenanny Whiskey Auction, launching Friday, August 8 The online auction will feature rare, collectible and one-of-a-kind bottles of whiskey, along with a guitar autographed by Foreigner frontman and rock legend, Lou Gramm.
Proceeds will benefit three nonprofit partners, Endless Highway, the Lou Gramm Foundation and Make-A-Wish Western New York.
“This auction is about more than just prized bottles,” said Sean McCarthy, co-owner of Hoochenanny. “It’s about using our shared love of whiskey and music to do something meaningful. These charities represent hope, healing and opportunity, and we’re honored to support them through this one-of-a-kind experience.”This year’s festival has aligned with the three organizations to bring awareness and resources to the communities they serve.
“I’m truly grateful to have the Lou Gramm Foundation involved this year as a partner of Hoochenanny Whiskey & Music Festival, an incredible event for Rochester. This city has always held a special place in my heart, and its music roots run deep. It’s an honor to be included, to share my foundation’s mission of supporting aspiring artists, and to join the other organizations involved in bringing this event to life. I couldn’t be happier to work with Tommy Brunett and his team, they support Rochester music like nobody else. Celebrating the power of rock and giving back to the next generation of musicians means the world to me,” said Lou Gramm.
“We’re thrilled to be selected as a charity partner of the Hoochenanny Whiskey & Music Festival and to collaborate with its organizers in designing an accessible festival site. The Hoochenanny team has shown incredible initiative by prioritizing accessibility throughout the planning process,” said Rob Tortorella, Founder of Endless Highway. “This partnership not only amplifies our mission of expanding access to sports, recreation, and the arts for people who use mobility devices, it puts inclusion center stage.”
“Make-A-Wish is honored to be part of the exciting new Hoochenanny Whiskey & Music Festival,” said Donna Auria, Regional Development Director for Make-A-Wish. “We’re incredibly grateful for the opportunity to raise both awareness and funds to support our mission of creating life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. Partnerships like this bring joy and hope to children right here in Rochester during one of our busiest wish-granting seasons of the year.”
The auction will be hosted online, with a curated selection of bottles viewable in person at Hoochenanny throughout the weekend. Many of the bottles have been generously donated by local restaurateurs and business owners, and additional contributions are welcome through July 30. Anyone with a special bottle they would like to donate is encouraged to contact the festival by emailing info@hoochenanny.com or filling out the online donation form at: hoochenanny.com/whiskey-auction-donation-form.
The full preview will be available through August 7, with bidding open August 8 to 10. Winning bidders may claim their bottles on-site after the auction closes on Sunday, August 10.
Sample bottles up for bid include:
- Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve 15 Year
- Old Rip Van Winkle 10 Year
- Blanton’s Single Barrel Bourbon
- George T. Stagg Bourbon
- Hirsch Selection 28 Year
- Full auction list and details will be posted at hoochenanny.com, which will link to the online auction site hosted by Givebutter.
About Endless Highway
Endless Highway is a Rochester-based nonprofit expanding access to sports, recreation, and the arts for people with disabilities. Through adaptive equipment sponsorships, inclusive programming, community partnerships, and crisis funding, the organization breaks down barriers to ensure children and adults who use mobility devices can pursue their recreational and creative goals.
About the Lou Gramm Foundation
Founded by rock legend Lou Gramm, the Lou Gramm Foundation is dedicated to supporting aspiring musicians and promoting excellence in music education. Its mission is to remove financial and systemic barriers, fostering the growth of artists, leaders, and performers who will define the future of music. By providing grants to gifted music students, the Lou Gramm Foundation strives to help shape future recording and touring professionals committed to their craft.
About Make-A-Wish Western New York
Make-A-Wish® creates life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. Serving the greater Rochester and Western New York regions, the organization seeks to bring every eligible child’s wish to life because research shows children who have wishes granted can build the physical and emotional strength they need to fight their illness.
Site Production Underway
Festival production at Camp Eastman began this week as crews started installing fencing and building out the site’s infrastructure, including tent structures and staging areas. The buildout will continue over the next three weeks to transform the space into a fully immersive festival environment.
Passes are on sale now at hoochenanny.com/passes, with advance pricing available through Thursday, August 7.
General admission passes are available for one day ($55), two days ($95), or three days ($135), plus service fees. General admission includes access to the festival site during hours of operation, up-front standing room at both stages, entry to the Concert Pavilion Beverage Center and Stageview Craft Cocktail Lounge, the Artisans Bazaar and Barrel Bistro food experience, free beer tastings at Lager Land, water fill stations, and over 25,000 square feet of covered seating space. The event is open to all ages, with designated 21+ areas identified on-site.
Guests who want to experience the whiskey tastings can purchase General Admission Tasting Passes, available for one day ($85), two days ($150), or three days ($215), plus service fees. These passes include all general admission benefits, plus access to the World of Whiskey tasting experience, featuring 20 curated whiskey tastings with additional options available for purchase on-site.
VIP Passes are available for one day ($160), two days ($310), or three days ($430), plus service fees. VIP guests enjoy all the benefits of general admission tasting, plus access to the Ide Family of Dealerships VIP Loft presented by Skrewball, bird’s-eye views of both stages with exclusive VIP bridge access, private whiskey tastings, full cash bars, plush cocktail lounges, sit-down dining and dedicated catering for purchase, climate-controlled luxury restrooms, a cigar bar featuring custom-made, hand-rolled cigars, and free on-site parking.
For full festival details and to purchase passes, visit hoochenanny.com.
Music Lineup
The 2025 festival will feature an expanded music lineup with international, national, and regional artists performing across two stages, delivering a dynamic mix of Americana, rock, alternative, punk, outlaw country and rockabilly.
Friday, August 8: Charles Wesley Godwin, Old 97’s, The English Beat, Cristina Vane, Checks & Exes, Johnny Hart and the Mess
Saturday, August 9: Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, The Record Company, Tommy Brunett’s All-Star Cavalcade of Scoundrels featuring Andy Kim, The Jack Knives, Vandoliers, Mike Powell and The Echosound, The Isotopes, The Medicinals
Sunday, August 10: moe., Dark Star Orchestra, Galactic featuring Anjelika “Jelly” Joseph, Eggy
Whiskey Lineup
This year’s whiskey programming will be triple the size of the inaugural festival, showcasing more than 150 of the finest spirits from local, national and regional distilleries. The World of Whiskey Tasting Experience will showcase more than 30 national and regional distillers areas inside an 16,000-square-foot structure tent. The tasting experience will offer interactive sampling stations, educational sessions, and opportunities to meet the distillers behind the brands, with samples ranging from classic bourbons to unique craft expressions.
The five unique Tasting Experience areas are:
- Rickhouse Rendezvous is a prohibition-style rickhouse-meets-speakeasy presented by The New York State Distillers Guild, it will highlight distillers from across the Excelsior state along with interactive exhibits and educational displays.
- American Whiskey Journey is a coast-to-coast experience showcasing whiskey-producing states and distilleries across the country. Patrons will be immersed in the rich culture and heritage of American’s signature spirit, and presented visions of what American whiskey is and can be in the future.
- Rarities Bar offers Hoochenanny whiskey fans exclusive access to some truly rare sips – exclusive, limited-edition whiskeys, from local, regional and national distillers, including several exclusive to Hoochenanny.
- Libations Lounge offers a selection of craft whiskey cocktails from veteran mixologists, allowing guests to experience pre-prohibition classics up to modern innovations. Patrons can mix their neat whiskey into a specialty cocktail, or explore a menu of non-whiskey spirits to craft the perfect drink.
- Fireside Chats are conversations moderated by nationally recognized whiskey media personalities along with a rotating lineup of industry experts and Hoochenanny master distillers, blenders, and ambassadors.
Participating brands include:
1911 Established, Barrelhouse 6 Distillery, Black Button Distilling, Bubba’s Secret Stills Whiskey, Buffalo Distilling Company, Burnt Church, Castle & Key Distillery, Cooper’s Daughter Spirits, Den of Thieves, Do Good Spirits, Finger Lakes Distilling Co., Fort Hamilton Distillery, Hudson Whiskey, Iron Smoke Distillery, Jefferson’s Bourbon, Lock 1 Distilling Company, Michter’s, Old Scotland Road Distillery, Pinhook Bourbon, Rabbit Hole, Smooth Ambler, Springbrook Hollow Farm Distillery, Starlight Distillery, Stranahan’s Colorado Whiskey, Tenmile Distillery, Tin Cup Mountain Whiskey, WhistlePig Whiskey and Woodinville Whiskey Co.
Barrel Bistro Food Lineup
The Barrel Bistro, presented by OneDigital, will feature a selection of local food vendors and trucks located directly within the festival grounds, making it easy for guests to grab a bite without leaving the event. All vendors will offer walk-up service throughout the three days of the festival, unless otherwise noted, and guests can enjoy their selections at designated seating areas, including both covered and uncovered spaces. Food vendors at the Barrel Bistro will include Compané Trattoria, Eat Greek Food Truck, Ice Cream Factory, Jaime’s Dreams Bakery, Rio Tomatlán, The Sheffield Tavern, Swan Market, Swilly’s and Whiskey River Pub & Grill.
Lager Land Beer Lineup
Lager Land will feature a selection of 12 of the Northeast’s best lagers, served inside a 3,000-square-foot tent located near the main festival area, with a view of the stage. Designed as a walk-up tasting experience, it will offer the first five tastings free, with additional flights of five available for $10. Lager Land will feature pours from 3HB (Three Heads Brewing), Allagash Brewing Company, Frequentem Brewing Co., Irondequoit Beer Company, Jack’s Abby Craft Lagers, Meier’s Creek Brewing Company, Prison City Brewing, Steuben Brewing Company, Strangebird Beer, Swiftwater Brewing Co., Tröegs Independent Brewing, and Von Trapp Brewing.
More Expanded Festival Experiences
The 2025 festival will offer a variety of immersive experiences, including:
- Highball Stage - Featuring performances by top international and national music groups.
- Fermenter Stage, presented by Harv’s Harley Davidson - Showcasing top international and national music groups, along with the best local and regional talent.
- Ide Family of Dealerships VIP Loft presented by Skrewball – This premium ticket option offers exclusive access to a two-story, 5,000-square-foot oasis with a bird’s-eye view of the festival stages or access to the VIP bridge for the best main stage experience. The experience includes sit-down dining, a full cash cocktail bar, plush seating with a cigar bar, and exclusive whiskey tastings. Climate-controlled luxury restrooms provide comfort while guests enjoy the ultimate festival experience.
- Concert Pavilion - This 5,000-square-foot covered space offers views of the main and local stages, with ample seating and lounge areas. It can comfortably accommodate 750 patrons and features an 32-foot bar serving beer, wine, and seltzer. Festival and band merchandise will also be available to browse while enjoying live music in a relaxed atmosphere.
- Stageview Cocktail Lounge, presented by Indus Hospitality – A craft cocktail bar with a direct view of the main stage, offering specialty drinks available for purchase. The 2,000-square-foot space is located inside a newly constructed lodge facility built by the Town of Irondequoit Recreation Department. The lounge accommodates approximately 300 people and is available on a first-come, first-served basis.
- Lager Land - Complimentary beer flight tastings featuring five different pours will showcase approximately 13 local craft brews inside a 3,000-square-foot tent located near the main festival area. Guests may purchase an additional flight of five tastings for $10.
- Barrel Bistro, presented by OneDigital - A variety of local food vendors will offer culinary options to complement the festival experience.
- Artisans Bazaar - This marketplace will feature unique creations of local artisans and handcrafted goods.
Seeking Unique Vendors for the Artisans Bazaar
Vendors are invited to showcase unique, one-of-a-kind goods at the festival, focusing on rare, quirky, and unconventional items. This is an opportunity for artisans and creators to offer festivalgoers something extraordinary. Vendor applications are now open. Those interested in participating can apply at hoochenanny.com/artisans-application.
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