New York City is home to many of the best-loved bars in the world, but it only recently got its first legal post-Prohibition whiskey distillery, Great Jones Distilling Co. That will be welcome news to the ears of EVGB residents; their East Village rentals are just a 20-minute walk from where the alchemy takes place. Let’s get spiritual.

The Distillery

Whiskey and NYC go hand in hand; after all, you can’t make a Manhattan cocktail without bourbon. Yet, it was just over a century ago that liquor was banned in New York, and though the days of Al Capone and (illicit) speakeasies are long gone, it wasn’t until 2021 that the city got its own legal distillery. Only ingredients sourced from New York go into Great Jones’ range of bourbon and rye whiskies. And you can check that for yourself, too, with a distillery tour and tasting. 

The Bar and Restaurant

While the tour is ideal for getting to know your new neighbor, Great Jones has plenty to keep you coming back again and again. Take a seat at the Tasting Room Bar and sink a Sour Cherry Flip while enjoying the views overlooking Broadway. The Grid restaurant will open on Oct. 14, offering dishes of East Coast oysters, French onion soup, and lobster rolls in suave surroundings. It’s headed by Per Se alumnus Adam Raskin, so you know it’s going to be special.

The Shop

It would be rude to return to your East Village apartment without a bottle or two of Great Jones-produced nectar under your arm. The distillery has its own gift shop, where you can purchase their straight bourbon, four-grain bourbon, and rye whisky. They also sell luxury barware — gold cocktail shakers, teardrop bar spoons, crystal mixing glasses — offering you the chance to channel your inner Tom Cruise and perfect your mixology skills back at your apartment. 

The Cocktails

You’ll want to get a few recipes up your sleeve to impress visitors to your EVGB home. And there’s no better way to begin than by taking your cue from the mixologists at Great Jones. Peruse their directory of drinks to discover the Empire State Cobbler (a tall glass of whiskey, apple cider, lemon juice, and orgeat); the citrusy Ice Pick; and, of course, their take on the indomitable Manhattan. And when you’ve tried all of those, return to Great Jones, and hit up the experts for more inspiration.