One of Western New York's premiere DESTINATIONS!

Above, check out these photos at The Barrel Factory!

Welcome to The
Barrel Factory:

the landmark, newly-restored, 116-year-old historic factory in Buffalo's legendary
​Old First Ward, featuring:
Lakeward Spirits craft distillery,
Pressure Drop Brewing craft brewery,
Buffalo's Best Cucina restaurant,
Bar Cultivar craft hard cider bar,
​and much more!

​​​Located at ​​65 Vandalia Street, 
corner of Republic & Hamburg Streets, 
Buffalo, NY  14204

Craft Distillery & Brewery Tasting Room & Factory Store, Restaurant,
​& Craft Hard Cider Bar are OPEN ​ON Thurs. at 5 to 10 PM,
​Fri. at noon to 11 PM, Sat. at noon to 11 PM, & Sun. at noon to 8 PM!  JOIN US!

Fridays TRIVIA Night 8 PM!

Who Whacked Don Stefano?

Our friends at Buffalo History Tours have cooked-up an all-new
​MURDER MYSTERY DINNER for this spring!

It's the 1950's in Buffalo, the heyday for our city's mobsters.  Don Stefano rules 'The Organization' with a steel fist and when he shows-up dead at his own birthday bash, there is no shortage of suspects!

This funny interactive murder mystery dinner mixes real life characters from Buffalo's most notorious mobsters and an ingenious plot that will keep you guessing...

In the Lakeward Spirits Event Center at The Barrel Factory on Fridays at 6 PM:  March 29, April 5, April 12, & April 19!

Learn More & Get Tickets!

Introducing Lakeward Spirits' FATHOMS BELOW Spiced Rum!
Buffalo's FIRST Spiced Rum

AVAILABLE NOW in the craft distillery's
​Tasting Room & Factory Store!

​Rum Infused With 8 Spices
Finished On American Oak
90 Proof / 45% ABV

Since 1793, captains have reported sightings of a serpent-like creature moving beneath the waves of Lake Erie.  Mysterious and distinctive, this leviathan seemed the perfect inspiration for Fathoms Below.

Our Spiced Rum is vapor-infused with a 8-spice blend and aged on custom charred American White Oak. Aromas of cinnamon, toffee, and candied ginger blend perfectly with smooth vanilla tones pulled from the wood.

Surprisingly dry and complex; Fathoms Below is a unique substitute for a snifter of bourbon, or the perfect addition to a nautical cocktail.

​Proudly distilled and bottled from scratch by Lakeward Spirits craft distillery at The Barrel Factory, 65 Vandalia St., Buffalo, NY.

#lookLakeward

World-renowned guitarist Preston Reed LIVE on April 18 at Lakeward Spirits in Buffalo!

Preston Reed LIVE in concert
on Thursday, April 18th
at Lakeward Spirits in The Barrel Factory!

7:30 - 10:30 PM

Learn More!

"Heart stopping tour de force" - Billboard

We're "Made in Buffalo!"

"The newly opened Lakeward Spirits in the up-and-coming First Ward neighborhood makes its own vodka and infusions and will soon be adding gins and Scottish-style whiskys to the mix. Everything is made with New York State produce, and the huge, airy loft space also hosts events."

​- Condé Nast Traveler, Oct. 20, 2016

Spring Cocktails are here at Lakeward Spirits!

Check out the distillery's high-quality craft spirits
produced from scratch onsite in Buffalo, NY!

​​Spring is here.  Join us for the inauguration of Lakeward Spirits' new SPRING COCKTAIL MENU, available now at The Barrel Factory in Buffalo's legendary Old First Ward.  You can enjoy the new craft cocktails along with these LAKEWARD SPIRITS LIQUORS:

​-NEW Fathoms Below Spiced Rum, Buffalo's FIRST spiced rum!
-Lakeward's signature, all-grain Grain Canyon Vodka!
-Inland Sea Rum, Western New York's FIRST authentic rum, 2019 Bronze Medal winner from the American Distilling Institute!
-Wild Gin
-Evergreen Gin

The craft distillery's iconic TASTING ROOM & FACTORY STORE, now shared with Pressure Drop Brewing, features a bar & lounge area, double-sided fireplace, 2-level outdoor PATIO, and a separate four-season cigar porch.  Extensive use of reclaimed wood and other materials went into the restoration!

Lakeward's craft cocktails and bottles, craft beer from Pressure Drop Brewing, WNY wine and hard cider, kombucha, and gifts are available.  FOOD is also available in the Tasting Room from the adjacent restaurant, Buffalo's Best Cucina!

​Lakeward Spirits is OPEN ON Thursday at 5 to 10 PM, Friday at noon to 11 PM, Saturday at noon to 11 PM, and Sunday at noon to 8 PM!  Happy Hour is at 5 to 6 PM with $5 craft cocktails.  

FRIDAYS include TRIVIA at 8 PM.  Board games and pinball are always available!

Buffalo's largest craft distillery, featuring sustainable practices, high-quality liquor production always from scratch, local farm products, and Made-In-USA equipment, also has TOURS available daily!  Stop by!​

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Learn more:

Lakeward Spirits!

NEW:  Pressure Drop Brewing named by Hop Culture
​as one of "The Best Craft Breweries in Buffalo, NY" on Jan. 28, 2019! ​

Update:
​Pressure Drop
​Brewing 
craft beer-making 
operations in full swing! 

Pressure Drop Brewing, the new craft brewery headquartered at The Barrel Factory, has RELEASED a fantastic lineup of craft beers!

Pressure Drop is NOW ON TAP in the combined Lakeward Spirits / Pressure Drop Brewing TASTING ROOM & FACTORY STORE at The Barrel Factory! Growler fills, flights, & cans are also available there!

Stop by soon!

Pressure Drop Brewing!

Bar Cultivar is now OPEN!

Bar Cultivar is now OPEN!

New, Craft Hard Cider-Focused
BAR CULTIVAR
OPEN at The Barrel Factory,
plus RELEASE of 
​NEW SteamPunk Ciders!
JOIN US! 

Learn more about Bar cultivar!

*Update*
​Buffalo's Best Cucina:
NEW restaurant
is NOW OPEN
​at The Barrel Factory!

- Artisan Pizzas
- Unique Small Plates
- Special Salads
​- Paninis
- Gouda Mac 'N Cheese Varieties
- and MORE!

Buffalo's Best Cucina!

It’s kind of a “Made-In-Buffalo" paradise!
​The ONLY area destination with BOTH a craft distillery AND a craft brewery, you really can BUY LOCAL at The Barrel Factory! ​
Sample craft spirits & craft beer (plus also kombucha & delicious dining selections) all made ONSITE!

​upstart ny, November 16, 2018
"Barrel Factory gives new life to old factory"
See feature story!

BUFFALO DINNER CLUB, May 4, 2018:
"When you drive up to The Barrel Factory in Buffalo's First Ward, you can tell it’s going to be a good time."
See blog post!  

VISIT BUFFALO NIAGARA, April 24, 2018: 
"Whether you’re in the mood for a kayak jaunt among the grain elevators, sipping on a craft cocktail, beer or kombucha, tasting hard ciders, or grabbing a bite to eat, The Barrel Factory should be your first destination."
See feature story!

NYC-based Cool Hunting, March 16, 2018
"Buffalo’s Lakeward Spirits craft distillery  
Repurposing the 115-year old Barrel Factory for a spirituous operation"

THE BUFFALO NEWS, March 10, 2018: 
​"A mixed-use wonder: The Barrel Factory"

The Barrel Factory:
July 2018 - celebrating 4 years onsite in Buffalo's legendary Old First Ward!
​Check out our video with BEFORE & AFTER shots:

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Resident businesses at The Barrel Factory! We're "Made in Buffalo!"

Elevator Alley Kayak

Store with kayaks, equipment, & more, plus rentals and tours on the nearby Buffalo River!

Elevator Alley Kayak

Snowy Owl Kombucha

Production studio with free tastings, kombucha shares, growlers, teas, & more available!

Snowy Owl Kombucha

Lakeward Spirits

Craft distillery with a tasting room and factory store, distillery tours, & an Event Center!

Lakeward Spirits

Pressure Drop Brewing

Craft brewery selections are on tap & in cans in our combined tasting room & factory store! 

Pressure Drop Brewing

Buffalo's Best Cucina

Restaurant selections include artisan pizza, paninis, salads, unique small plates, & more!

Buffalo's Best Cucina

Bar Cultivar

Leonard Oakes Estate Winery & SteamPunk Cider present our NEW craft hard cider bar!  

Bar Cultivar