Hartman’s Distilling Co. sits in Buffalo’s Cobblestone District at 55 Chicago Street, housed in a restored 1800s warehouse that once stored grain from ships coming through the Great Lakes. Founded in 2017 by Mark Hartman, a former aerospace engineer who left his corporate career to chase his passion for craft distilling, this operation represents Buffalo’s return to its pre-Prohibition spirits-making roots. The 3,000-square-foot facility features custom copper stills and focuses on small-batch bourbon, rye whiskey, and vodka production. Hartman’s journey started when he began distilling as a hobby in his garage, eventually convincing his family and local investors that Buffalo needed a premium craft distillery. The transition from engineer to distiller wasn’t immediate—it took three years of planning, permitting, and perfecting recipes before opening to the public. Mark handles most of the distilling himself, with help from his wife Sarah who manages operations and their small team of local employees. Their philosophy centers on using New York State grains whenever possible and letting the spirits speak for themselves without rushing the aging process. Visitors get an intimate look at a working distillery where production happens in plain sight. The tasting room maintains the building’s industrial character with exposed brick walls and original wooden beams, while large windows let you watch the distillation process. You can sample their spirits while learning about the grain-to-glass process from Mark himself, who’s usually on-site and happy to talk shop about everything from mash bills to barrel char levels.