Hartman's Distilling Co. - Buffalo, New York

Zack Schneider

Stepping into Hartman's Distilling Co. felt like walking into a piece of Buffalo's living history. Tucked away in the city's Old First Ward, the distillery occupies the historic Cooperage building—a site that's breathed new life into the neighborhood. From the moment I walked in, it was clear that Hartman's is more than a distillery; it's a celebration of community and craftsmanship.

Owned and operated by Justin and Jennifer Hartman, along with their family partners Bob and Lisa Hobba, Hartman's Distilling isn't just about the spirits; it's about the experience. The distillery tours, offered on the last Saturday of every month, are a must. They're not only informative, providing a deep dive into the art of whiskey making and the rich history of bourbon, America's native spirit, but also immersive, concluding with a tasting of four of Hartman's famous whiskeys. The sense of history is palpable, especially learning that the building once housed a company integral to the barrel-making industry, underlining the importance of barrels in spirit aging​ (Hartman's Distilling Co. )​​ (Buffalo Rising)​.

The story behind Hartman's is as compelling as the spirits they craft. Justin and Jennifer returned to Buffalo with a vision to slow down and enjoy life's finer moments, encapsulated in their fine spirits. Justin, the master distiller, has a passion that's not just about distilling but about creating moments and memories. This ethos is evident in every sip of their offerings, from their Straight Bourbon Whiskey to the unique Loganberry Flavored Vodka​ (Hartman's Distilling Co. )​​ (Hartman's Distilling Co. )​.

As someone who appreciates the craft behind a good drink, I was impressed by their selection. The American Dry Gin, Vodka, and Straight Rye Whiskey are standouts, each with a story and a smoothness that speaks to the meticulous process behind their creation. The Loganberry Vodka Seltzer was a refreshing surprise, a nod to local flavors that captures the essence of Buffalo in a bottle.

Hartman's is a testament to Buffalo's spirit of innovation and community. It's a place where the drinks are rich in history and the atmosphere invites you to make new memories. As I left, I couldn't help but feel part of something bigger—a story of passion, heritage, and the simple pleasure of sharing a good drink with friends. Hartman's Distilling Co. isn't just a distillery; it's a beacon of Buffalo's vibrant culture and an experience I'll treasure.

Rickie Metcalf

It was my first time going here, but I was obsessed with this place. It was intimate, clean, and had comfortable and cute decor. The drinks were on point, and the service was wonderful. Everyone was friendly, but Cayde the bartender was SUCH a vibe, he really made our afternoon. 10/10 recommend, say hi to Cayde if you go!

Simon Suarez

I just visited Hartman’s earlier today in order to check out what spirit selection they had to offer and hopefully get a bottle of tequila/agave spirit. The bartender who attempted to help was a white man with long hair. I did not catch his name. I asked if they sold any spirits to which he rudely pointed me towards a list of spirits. I asked him if they sold any tequila or agave spirits, and he then again rudely answered that you can only get Tequila made in Mexico, which is true. I misspoke and corrected myself to see if they had an agave spirit, which can be made outside of Mexico. He doubled down on me saying the wrong thing. I don’t care whether Hartman’s makes agave spirits or not. This was my first time visiting the establishment and the treatment I received makes me want to never come back. A little bit of customer service can go a long way, and the person that served me did not have any of it. I will probably stop by again in the future to see if the service is different than what I experienced. And I will update this review if that happens.

Emily T

We came in on Saturday afternoon with a group of 14 and had the best time! Service was incredible, everyone was so fun and kind and we had a blast. Cade and Amber were fantastic. Will definitely stop in again!

Crystal G

We stopped by on a Saturday night and came for dinner and drinks. It was about 7 pm and it was quite the lively scene. There was a dj playing some great Drake, to get pumped for his upcoming concert, and 90’s throwback hits. It was quite a scene and as the night went on it turned into a packed party. We were lucky to arrive when we did because the seating here is very casual, first come first serve and there aren’t a ton of tables. We started off with espresso yo self and aviation cocktails which were delicious! And we decided to try a few different menu items since it was our first time trying their food. The duck fat popcorn was tasty and had the right amount of truffle salt, the duck fat def gave it a more deluxe flavor. It was the perfect amount to snack on. The sweet potato hummus was probably the best thing we had. It had perfect ratios of sweet potato and chick peas and the pepitas and candied walnuts were awesome toppings. I will order this again and again. Finally, the nachos with grilled chicken were also good. The queso was home made and there were a generous portion of toppings, chicken included.

This is a beautifully designed space and you can go back and forth between Hartmans and Resurgence which is cool to get 2 spots in 1. They distill all their liquor and make some delicious high end cocktails. One of their specialties is Loganberry flavored vodka, cocktails and their own seltzer. Overall a great time and we will be back soon.

Darlene Lutz

To start, the vibe of this place is amazing; great Christmas music playing throughout, lots of festive decorations…I highly recommend to get you in the Christmas spirit. Then comes the food; Quesadillas so-so good!!! Steak sandwich and burgers were scrumptious! Put that together with a great waitress, Brittany; I call this a perfect evening! And one more thing…bringing home a bottle of in house Loganberry Vodka; the slushy was A-Fricken-amazing!!!!!!

Mike Grzeskowiak

Wish I could give this place zero stars. This review is in relation to the brunch that they offer. The portion sizes are very small. When I say small I mean a 6in skille, not full. My wife and I had the corned beef hash and the skillet. The skillet - not sure what’s in this but it was flavorless and was covered in off the shelf (Heinz?) aioli. The hash - frozen potatoes, burnt and dry/hard corned beef, a single egg that was supposed to be scrambled- but instead was dry and over cooked. The aforementioned “aioli” sauce all over it. Both meals came with bread (from Wegmans) that was stale and had no butter ( and aioli all over it) the cappuccino - in the wrong glass (also tiny) - really really bitter. The machine they use is a barista express home machine ( I have one) and whomever made it has no clue how to use it.

Stick to what you do - spirits. This was total garbage. At a total bill of $40.23 - you should be ashamed to serve this. Not only do I feel ripped off - we’re still hungry.

Julia Black

It was our anniversary and the employees went out of their way to make the evening special. The barrel room is amazing. It is so cozy and private. We will definitely be back.