Great Jones Distilling Company
686 Broadway btw W 4th St and Great Jones St, Greenwich Village / NoHo
The Place: The bar upstairs at “Manhattan’s first whiskey distillery since Prohibition,” located in the middle of NYU-town.
The Time: Wednesday April 17, 6:30pm. I’m meeting a friend to watch an NBA play-in game at Rocco’s across the street. I’m in Manhattan already, but rather than sitting at a sports bar for a full hour before tip-off (and before my friend is set to arrive), I decide to hop across Broadway and check out the bar at Great Jones Distilling Company, a new(ish) whiskey distillery that apparently exists right here!
The Vibe: I have zero expectations since I just stumbled in, though I’ve heard of Great Jones before. The entryway is like a textbook showcase distillery–everything is shiny and copper and designed for tourists to spend money. It looks like there’s a restaurant in the back, but when I ask the host if there’s a bar where I can grab a drink, she directs me up the spiral staircase, which opens into a space that feels like a swanky, art-deco inspired hotel lobby bar. To the left is a window wall with a view of Broadway, and to the right behind glass doors is the distillery, where they give tours and whatnot. It’s a little busy, populated by some happy hour after-work folks and maybe tourists? I can’t really tell, since I’d think they were hotel guests but this isn’t actually a hotel. It’s got a nice, relaxing vibe, though the music is what I can only describe as aggressive jazz.
The Other Side at Great Jones Distilling Company
The Bartender: So I almost wasn’t going to write about this place because my entire understanding of it is basically just the bartender and it rocks, but it’s so singularly my experience, how could it be helpful for anyone else? And then I remembered that this is my fucking blog that I’ve been doing for almost ten years now and I make all the rules. ANYWAY. The bartender and I immediately start talking about basketball. (Since I’ve become a #sportsfan, I’ve tapped into the power of talking to men about sports and I feel like I now understand how the other half lives.) Bullet points about this bartender: he’s a Celtics fan (they’re looking good to clinch the east this season), he also loves rum, he plays guitar in a band with someone I went to college with (!!!) AND la pièce de résistance? WE HAVE THE SAME NAME. Granted, his is spelled with one “m” as opposed to my two BUT STILL. We’re bonded for life now.
The Drank: Does it matter? (Just kidding, of course it does.) Great Jones Distilling Company only makes whiskey, so I obvi have to get a whiskey cocktail, (though they do feature a few other NY-made spirits on the menu). I choose the one that sounds the most interesting: The Other Side, a tropical-style drink with rye, coconut, guava, allspice and ginger. It’s $20 (yikes) and comes in a tiki mug (double yikes) but nonetheless, it’s pretty tasty. Sami also tells me they have a female head distiller! And that’s a thing I deeply care about! More on that soon :)
Was I Hit On?: Sami mentions his girlfriend pretty quickly into our conversation so I can confidently say no, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t make a new friend!! Also once I say I’m meeting my friend at Rocco’s, he tells me they get packed so I should probably get there early to snag seats. I close out, he gives me a shot for the road and we exchange Instagrams, because that’s what the kids do these days, I guess. (Sami was right, it was poppin’. Luckily I was able to get two primo spots to watch the 76ers beat the Heat by ONE POINT to play the Knicks in the first round. Okay, I’ll stop now.)
Should You Drink Here Alone?: Sure! You have to know about this place, since it’s off the beaten path, but I think that’s what makes it a perfect spot to imbibe solo, whether you want to read a book or hang out with a cool bartender. Support women distillers and support other people named Sam(m)i!