In celebration of the upcoming 100th anniversary of Shea’s Buffalo Theatre, Shea’s Performing Arts Center and Hartman’s Distilling Company announce a special edition of Hartman’s Bourbon – Shea’s Centennial Blend 285 Special.
This limited engagement is in honor of Shea’s Buffalo Theatre founder, Michael Shea, in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Shea’s Buffalo “Wonder” Theatre. At Shea’s, this bourbon was uniquely aged with the help of Hartman’s Distilling Company and the Shea’s Mighty Wurlitzer theatre organ. For the entire 2024-2025 season, four different barrels of bourbon were nestled within the organ chambers of the Mighty Wurlitzer 285 Special, absorbing the rich tones and music of the Shea’s Buffalo Theatre centennial groundbreaking season – infusing every note and acoustic vibration into the charred rye and wheated bourbon barrels themselves.
“We have done some exciting aging projects before but nothing with this magnitude of an undertaking,” Justin Hartman, president & co-founder of Hartman’s, said. “Aging four 52 Gallon barrels of bourbon in the eaves of the historical Shea’s Theatre, perfectly tucked between the two 30-foot Wurlitzer organ pipes, was an incredible feat. The massive sonic vibrations caused by the organ pipes will force the bourbon to interact with the charred and toasted layer inside the barrel. I stood in between these organ pipes with earplugs when a low chord was struck, it shook my soul. Imagine an entire year of that exposure!”
The barrels were recently carefully removed from the Wurlitzer chambers, rolled out of Shea’s Buffalo Theatre, and transported to Hartman’s Distilling Company for bottling.
“For nearly 100 years, Shea’s Buffalo Theatre has been a place where artistry, history, and community converge,” Brian Higgins, president & CEO of Shea’s Performing Arts Center said. “Partnering with Hartman’s Distilling to create the Shea’s Centennial Blend is a fitting tribute to that legacy, blending the craftsmanship of bourbon making with the power and richness of Shea’s Mighty Wurlitzer. Just as every performance leaves an imprint on our audiences, every note of music has now left its mark on this once-in-a-lifetime spirit. It’s a celebration of where Shea’s has been and where we’re going as we begin our second century.”
The public is invited to a release party for the Shea’s Centennial Blend 285 Special taking place at Hartman’s, 5:30 – 7:30pm, Friday, September 5. This will be the first opportunity to purchase the limited edition before they hit store shelves. Shea’s Centennial Blend will also be served at Matinee Buffalo and at Shea’s Performing Arts Center bars, while supplies last.
The Mighty Wurlitzer Organ was installed at Shea’s Buffalo Theatre in December of 1925 and played during the Shea’s Buffalo Theatre grand opening on January 16, 1926. Built at the Wurlitzer Company in North Tonawanda, the Shea’s Buffalo organ is the last Wurlitzer “285 Special” styled organ in the world.
More details can be found on Shea’s website at: www.Sheas.org/wurlitzer-blend.
