Buffalo Happy Hour

In this episode, we sit down with Alex Hunnell, Brand Development Manager for Diageo, to talk about his journey in the spirits industry, his past work, and what it’s like representing one of the most recognizable portfolios in whiskey and Scotch.

Throughout the conversation, we explore several pours from the Diageo lineup, including Crown Royal Marquis, Johnnie Walker Black Label, Johnnie Walker Black Cask, Bulleit Mesquite Sm...

In this episode, we sit down with Justin Hartman from Hartman’s Distilling in Buffalo, NY to talk about what’s next for one of the area’s local distilleries.

Justin shares insight into upcoming releases, events, parties, and how Hartman’s continues to grow within the Buffalo whiskey scene. We also talk about the evolution from sourced whiskey to their own distillate, including how Hartman’s own juice ha...

If you’re from Buffalo, you’ve probably heard the name.

We sat down with DJ RanKan to talk about his journey through the local music scene, what it takes to build something real in this city, and the work that goes on behind the scenes that most people never see.

From DJing to growing a presence in Buffalo’s nightlife , to completely crushing iTeen, to DJing Weddings, all the way to Corporate Events, we dive deep to...

In this episode of Buffalo Happy Hour, we sit down with the team behind Casting Buffalo — a company helping connect local talent to film, television, and commercial opportunities right here in Western New York.

We dive into how casting actually works, what it takes to land a role, and how Buffalo is continuing to grow as a destination for film production.

We also talk about:

• How Casting Buffalo got started

• What productions lo...

We visited The Story Garage in Buffalo, NY, a vintage shop packed with hidden treasures, vintage furniture, retro clothing, vinyl records, and one-of-a-kind finds.

In this episode of Buffalo Happy Hour, we sit down with the owner of The Story Garage to talk about how the shop started, how vintage items are sourced, and why thrifting culture is exploding right now.

The Story Garage has become a local favorite for vintage hunters, coll...

We’re switching gears today with Martingale Rare Reserve Cognac, bringing something different into our Whiskey Advent Calendar lineup. While not a whiskey, cognac plays a huge role in barrel finishing and spirits education — making this a must-try for whiskey fans.

In this episode, we review Martingale Rare Reserve using our familiar scoring system: nose, initial taste, ending notes, collection worthiness, and final rati...

Today’s Advent Calendar spotlight is Heaven’s Door Revelation, a limited and high-profile release that has sparked major conversation in the whiskey world.

In this review, we break down Revelation using our standard scoring method: nose, initial taste, ending notes, collection worthiness, and final score. We discuss Heaven’s Door as a brand, the hype surrounding this release, and whether it lives up to expectations...

Today’s Whiskey Advent Calendar takes us back to Ireland with Natterjack Irish Whiskey – Blend 1, a bold and contemporary take on Irish whiskey blending.

In this review, we score Natterjack Blend 1 across nose, initial taste, ending notes, collection worthiness, and final rating. We discuss Natterjack’s brand identity, how this blend fits into the modern Irish whiskey renaissance, and what sets it apart from tradit...

Today’s Advent Calendar pour is Woodinville Port Cask Finished Bourbon, a fan-favorite from Washington State that showcases how secondary maturation can elevate a bourbon experience.

In this episode, we review Woodinville Port Cask using our full Advent scoring system: nose, initial taste, ending notes, collection worthiness, and final rating. We discuss Woodinville’s grain-to-glass philosophy, how port cask finishing in...

Today on the Buffalo Happy Hour Whiskey Advent Calendar, we’re reviewing Lodestar American Whiskey — a rising name in the American whiskey space that focuses on balance, approachability, and versatility.

Using our standard review process — nose, initial taste, ending notes, collection worthiness, and final score — we break down how Lodestar fits into today’s American whiskey landscape. We also discuss w...

Today’s Whiskey Advent Calendar feature is Finvara – The King’s Gambit, a modern Irish whiskey that blends tradition with innovation. Finvara is quickly building buzz among Irish whiskey fans, and The King’s Gambit has become one of their most talked-about releases.

In this review, we walk through our full Buffalo Happy Hour scoring system: nose, initial taste, ending notes, collection worthiness, and final r...

Welcome back to the Buffalo Happy Hour Whiskey Advent Calendar! Today’s pour takes us to Finland with Kyro Wood Smoke Rye Whiskey, a bold and unconventional rye that brings Nordic influence into the whiskey world. Kyro is known for pushing boundaries, and this wood-smoked rye stands out immediately among global rye whiskey offerings.

In this review, we break down Kyro Wood Smoke using our full rating system: nose, initial tast...

Today’s Whiskey Advent Calendar bottle is the highly anticipated New Riff Malted Rye, a fan-favorite release from one of America’s most respected craft distilleries. New Riff has built a massive following for their bottled-in-bond philosophy and innovative mashbills — and their malted rye is no exception.

We break down this whiskey with our Advent scoring system: nose, initial taste, ending notes, collection worthi...

Today’s Advent Calendar pick is the innovative Hai Seas San Oaks Whiskey, one of the most unique world-whisky blends on the market. Known for its international mashbill and creative aging techniques, San Oaks is gaining traction among whiskey fans looking for something truly different.

We review San Oaks using our Advent scoring method: nose, initial taste, ending notes, collection worthiness, and final rating. We also discuss...

Today’s Whiskey Advent Calendar bottle takes us to Japan for Akashi Japanese Blended Whisky — an accessible, easy-drinking expression from White Oak Distillery. Known for their balance and craftsmanship, Akashi whiskies offer a gateway into the world of Japanese blended whisky.

We break down Akashi using our full Advent rating system: nose, initial taste, ending notes, collection worthiness, and final rating. We also dis...

Today’s Advent Calendar pour is the Oregon Spirit Bottled-In-Bond Wheat Whiskey, a unique BiB release showcasing the softer, sweeter side of American grain. Oregon Spirit Distillers has made a name for itself with grain-forward whiskeys, and this wheat expression really captures the heart of their distilling style.

We rate this whiskey using our Advent scoring system: nose, initial taste, ending notes, collection worthiness, a...

Today’s Whiskey Advent Calendar bottle comes from Virginia’s world-class distillery: Courage & Conviction Double Cask. This American single malt combines bourbon casks and sherry casks to create a layered, sophisticated whiskey that has gained massive respect in the U.S. craft scene.

In today’s episode, we score it using our full Advent system: nose, initial taste, ending notes, collection worthiness, and final...

Welcome back to the Buffalo Happy Hour Whiskey Advent Calendar! Today’s pour is the bold and innovative Westward Single Malt Stout Cask, a Pacific Northwest whiskey that represents Portland’s craft beer culture colliding with American single malt tradition. If you’re a fan of beer-finished whiskey, American single malt, or unique cask experiments, this bottle is going to be right up your alley.

In this episode, we ...

Today’s Advent Calendar bottle is The Guard Bridge Blended Malt Scotch Whisky, an exciting blended malt from Eden Mill that brings together character, craftsmanship, and a fresh take on modern Scotch. Blended malt fans and Scotch newcomers alike will find plenty to appreciate in this pour.

In our review, we break down The Guard Bridge across nose, initial taste, ending notes, collection worthiness, and final rating. We also ex...