Great Jones Distilling Co. Brings Whiskey Back To Manhattan
Spirit.Ed: Great Jones Distilling Co. Brings Whiskey Back To Manhattan
Great Jones Distilling Co. is a distillery based in the New York borough of Manhattan and is the first to distill whiskey in the city since the Prohibition era. CASSIUS had the pleasure of participating in a tasting tour of Great Jones Distilling Co., along with a round of drinks from their house bar, and the experience was memorable.
Earlier this month, I visited Great Jones Distilling Co., shortly after reviewing the brand’s excellent rye expression, which sparked my interest in learning more about the other whiskies produced by Great Jones. I was first informed of Great Jones in 2023 while attending an event in New York where a fellow attendee suggested I try out, quote, “truly homegrown New York whiskey,” which piqued my curiosity.
Great Jones is situated in the NoHo neighborhood, a handsome structure that is far more spacious inside than anyone would expect. The tour itself began with our guide taking us to a higher floor in the building to take in the massive, two-story custom-made still nicknamed Medusa, which is housed in glass.
With much of the alchemy behind the whiskey happening in barrels, the guide showed how the different lines in the staves, in particular the depth of the toast line, impart flavor into the whiskey. Then, along with natural weather patterns and temperature changes how that also adds depth and richness to the final product before bottling.
As I’ve done a few dozen tasting tours since covering adult beverages, I was familiar with the process of how distilled spirits are made, but Great Jones was the first to explain the stave line concept in grand detail. As the tour rolled on, we learned how the grains used in Great Jones come from upstate New York. Lastly, a point of pride for Great Jones was the fact that they use New York’s tap water, famed for its higher quality and not dissimilar to how Kentucky boasts about its limestone-enriched water.
Onward to the actual tasting, we were given pours of the straight bourbon, four grain bourbon, and rye. As I was already familiar with the rye, I was particularly interested in the bourbon expressions. While the mashbills weren’t disclosed, the expected notes of honey, caramel, and burnt sugar came across in both bourbons, with the four grain having more character and heat due to its 90 proof designation in comparison to the bourbon’s 86 proof.
Finishing off with the flavorful rye, the core range was well represented and, shocking to me, the rye remained the favorite. After the tasting, we headed up to the bar to take in a smoked Old Fashioned made with the rye whiskey as its base, along with a tasting of a few distillery exclusives.
Great Jones Distilling Co. proves that a burgeoning distillery needs only to focus on the quality of the product and not the size of the operation to compete in the high-stakes world of American-made whiskey. Over time, Great Jones’ stock of liquid will only improve upon a truly solid base, and for whiskey fans visiting New York, the tour is informative and inviting. There would be worse ways to spend a day in Manhattan.
To learn more about Great Jones Distilling Co., click here.
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Photo: Great Jones Distilling Co.
