What happens when Buffalo's finest bartender gets pregnant? We gain Buffalo's finest bartending…read moresupply boutique...and she gets a baby. Win, Win! Perhaps you have noticed in the past several years that the winds of change have been blowing in Western New York mostly in the culinary/mixology realm. Bars in the recent past relied on large-bosomed attractive bartenders who had no idea what the hell a Negroni was, but they could make a hell of a vodka Red Bull. About three years ago that all changed. Bars started utilizing house made syrups and shrubs, bitters and infused oils, and herbs and spices. Bartending in Buffalo was elevated to a high art, where the bartender became more than a good listener (with a nice bosom), but a master of their trade with in depth knowledge of spirits and paired flavors. Drinks were elevated from something that'll get ya drunk, to something to be savored and relished. It is the difference between Red Lobster and the French Laundry, i.e. a Grand Canyon sized chasm. This begs the question from whence did these winds of change originate, and no, the answer is not the Scorpions. While I can go into a long and detailed history, you can read my other reviews for that. Let us just say the conclusion to that historical musing would lead you squarely to Jon Karel, Kerry Quaile, and Zack Mikida...the proprietors of this fine establishment and mixologists extraordinaire (tags I do not use lightly). Should you be one of the fortunate in Western New York to watch any of these three ply their craft you would have noticed a large array of specialized tools at their disposal. Things like Yarai Mixing glasses and Lewis Ice Bags became commonplace, and used for to the delight of the crowd. Watching these three work created a showmanship in a bar not seen since Tom Cruise flipped bottles in Cocktail, which intoxicated (in more ways than one) the viewing audience. However, just like watching the Cooking Channel at home, you learn to demystify that which was previously only the in grasp of a select few. You realize that with some practice and the right tools, you indeed could elevate your home bar and mixology skills, much to the delight of your guests, spouse or house pet. This is where Queen City Shaken & Stirred enters. The aforementioned proprietors decided to help supply and educate the home audience by creating a beautiful boutique on Hertel Avenue (right next to the Sidebar). The classy interior and reclaimed wood theme beautifully accents the inventory of both vintage and state of the art bartending supplies and glassware. On my first visit to the store, I upgraded my jigger and bar spoon, along with a rubber small square ice tray, and some Scrappy's Celery Bitters. However, the pièce(s) de résistance were my three tiki glasses featuring a scowling Fu Manchu, a turquoise mermaid, and the cutest little hula girl (along with the decorative drink umbrellas). While tiki drinks have not made their way into my repertoire up to this point, I'm already studying up on Zombies and Fog Cutters. Mahalo! Which leads to my next point, with Kerry Quaile on hand most of the time (and her very knowledgable staff when she isn't) even if you do not know what you are doing she can teach you. They have a bar set up at the store to teach bartending technique for those unacquainted with the tools of the trade. Not only do they have Buffalo's best hand curated tools and supplies, they have the Queen of Buffalo Mixology (hence the name of the store?) to teach you how to utilize those tools. Boom! There are not enough good things I can write about this boutique since it embodies all that Buffalo stands for. The underlying philosophy is that knowledge is not meant to be hoarded among a select few, but instead shared with all who are willing to learn. It is this post-bousgouise mind-set that has and will continue to ignite the fires of growth and prosperity in the Queen City by significantly upgrading our cultural infrastructure. Buffalo is going through a renaissance and this boutique is yet another manifestation. Queen City Shaken & Stirred is a unique opportunity to learn from the best and be part of that renaissance. Take me to the magic of the moment On a glory night Where the children of tomorrow dream away...in the winds of change

If you like mixed drinks and like the process of making them, this is the store for you. It's tons…read moreof fun here. They have whatever you need to make a perfect martini, mojito, ice cube or anything else that makes what goes into the glass fun and interesting. This is not a discount store, but prices are ok. Street meter or side street parking.