Hog and Barrel Festival returns this weekend

GREENVILLE, SC –  The Upstate’s best festival that honors all things bacon, bourbon and barbecue is back this weekend at Events at Judson Mill.

The 2025 Hog & Barrel Festival kicks off on Friday, October 24 at 7 p.m. with Taste of the Barrel, an elegant five-course bourbon dinner led by Chef Dayna Lee-Márquez of Comal 864, a 2023 James Beard Award semifinalist and Food Network’s Beat Bobby Flay alum. Each course is expertly paired with handcrafted cocktails by Graham Stockley of Escorpión.

Saturday’s Bourbonpalooza is the heart of the festival, where talented local chefs and bartenders compete with their most creative bourbon- and BBQ-inspired dishes and cocktails. Guests can expect to enjoy unlimited tastings, live music, photo ops and tailgate games, and VIP & Super VIP ticket holders gain early access and exclusive perks. Don't forget to add on access to The Bourbon Experience—an hour-long intimate guided tasting of premium bourbons. The event goes from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. with VIPs entering at 1 p.m. Tickets start at $65.The festival takes place at Events at Judson Mill, 701 Easley Bridge Road. Get tickets at hogandbarrelfestival.com. 

Restaurants include Cook's Station, Core 450, Entre Nous, Mill City, Up On The Roof, Sunrise BBQ, and Greenville Tech, and more. Distilleries include Bubba’s Whiskey, Alvin Langston, Old Dominick, Tabby Road, Michter’s, Jack Daniel’s, Old Forester, Woodford Reserve, and more. Judges include Dayna Lee, Christina Blackley, Claudia Amezquita, Anthony Marquez, Adam Jennings, and Connor Hinders.

Event sponsors include Breakthru Beverage, Bravo1 Protection, and Events at Judson Mill. The event photo and video team sponsor is Forward Vantage.

About Hog & Barrel: A Bourbon, BBQ, & Bacon Festival:

A true Southern tradition, nothing pairs better than bourbon, barbecue, and bacon, and nothing brings them together in Greenville like the Hog & Barrel: A Bourbon, BBQ & Bacon Festival. This landmark, two-day festival features bourbon tastings, signature dishes, live music, artisan craftsmen, and more. Tickets and further information can be found at www.hogandbarrelfestival.com.

About High Spirits Hospitality:

High Spirits Hospitality is the parent company of five independent brand companies: Liquid Catering, Events at Judson Mill, Bravo1 Protection, The 405, and High Spirits Events. What started as a small bartending service has grown into a thriving South Carolina-based company with more than 150 employees, more than 35,000 square feet of real estate, and scores of awards and accolades. High Spirits Hospitality is a 100% woman-owned business with the single vision of being the go-to provider for event and security services. Learn more at www.highspiritshospitality.com.