our story
Why We Do What We Do
While living in fast-paced New York City, we found ourselves yearning to slow down and enjoy life with our loved ones in our hometown of Buffalo, New York. After nearly a decade away, we have returned to our roots to bring our passion for fine spirits and our quest to live in the moment with the people we care about to the banks of the Buffalo River. At Hartman’s Distilling Company, we hope that our space and products encourage you and your loved ones to do the same: slow down, drink up, and share memories of old while forever making new ones. Then as now, these are the good old days.
– Jen and Justin Hartman, Co-Founders
Behind Every Hartman’s Product
Justin is not just Hartman’s co-founder; he is also our master distiller. Justin’s passion for distilling didn’t come from some innate urge to create alcohol or need to perpetuate a family legacy (although it was later discovered Justin’s great-grandfather was a moonshiner in the Black Rock neighborhood of Buffalo). It grew from a collection of moments—from sipping exquisite bourbon with his father and brother to enjoying cocktails and swapping family stories. It seemed to him that the better the whiskey or finer the cocktail, the more time people spent together laughing, connecting, and making memories.
In time, Justin took his passion and ran with it. He spent several years traveling the country studying distilling, barreling, aging, and blending. He graduated from Moonshine University’s Distiller’s Course in Louisville, Kentucky—the heart of Bourbon Country—where he learned blending techniques rooted in 18th century French winemaking traditions. He learned the science behind barrel aging and how to produce the smoothest distillate. He also developed his own theory as to why Western New York has a superior climate and conditions for aging spirits, similar to Ireland or Scotland.
That Western New York essence together with Justin’s dedication and authentic passion inform every Hartman’s product. We hope you love our spirits as much as we do.