NYC | NYC Whiskey Review

Spy Trail Straight Bourbon Whiskey

March 18, 2026 NYC

Name: Spy Trail Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Color: Light Brown

Nose: Corn, malt, oak, vanilla, pepper spices

Taste: Corn/malt, rye, oak, dark fruits, sugar/vanilla

Spy Trail Distillery is located in Ronkonkoma, NY (Long Island) and was founded in the last few years. They produce vodka, bourbon, honey bourbon, and black tea bourbon in small batches.

Spy Trail Straight Bourbon Whiskey has a mash bill of 60% corn, 20% wheat, 11% malted barley, 9% rye and is bottled at 45.6% abv in Batch #3. The nose comes off as a solo corn/malt blend, but has a little dryness from the wheat and rye. When I sampled the bourbon neat, I did find it a little hot and rough, but with a small ice cube the flavors released more. I noticed more dark fruit notes and the creamy vanilla/sugar flavor on the finish. This expression is overall good for being a younger whiskey and new to the marketplace and would make a good mixer in a cocktail or enjoyed on the rocks.

I also very much like the 375ml bottle (half bottle) and I wish more distilleries would release bottles in this size. It is perfect for throwing in your backpack for a hike, camping, fishing, etc. It says, “I brought some whiskey! How about we all have a wee dram…” . Sometimes when you bring a full bottle you say (without words), “I am raging alcoholic asshole and I need a full bottle of booze to enjoy this day trip”. The 375ml bottle can keep things classy.

Priced around $50 and worth it if you like the flavor profile. If I am on Long Island this year I will make a point to stop by and check it out the distillery and the tasting room.

If you like it, drink it! – Chris

If you like it, drink it!

Note: I contacted the distillery to purchase some samples, and they sent me this bottle for gratis.

Iron Smoke Straight Bourbon Whiskey

March 4, 2026 NYC

Name: Iron Smoke Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Color: Light Brown

Nose: Corn, oak, vanilla, white fruit

Taste: Corn/rye, toasted oak, vanilla/caramel, apple, and pepper

Iron Smoke Distillery is based in Fairport, NY which is in the upstate area of New York near Lake Ontario. It was established in 2011 by Tommy Burnett who wanted to create a whiskey with the flavor of apple smoke barbecue. I have never heard of such a flavor combination in a whiskey and I had my doubts, but I am always will to try something new.

Iron Smoke Straight Bourbon Whiskey is aged 2+ years in new American white oak that is triple charred and is then bottled at 40% abv. The mash bill is a four-grain combination that is sourced from farmers in the Finger Lakes region. The official mash bill is not released, but I found it more corn mash forward.

When I first opened the bottle my immediate reaction “this stuff is young, rough, and affordable baseline whiskey…”. I was also surprised at how hot it tasted for a 80 proof whiskey. As I sampled a bit more, I noticed there was something hidden on the backend. The more I sampled with water/ice the more I could detect the apple and wood smoke flavors. I was surprised how nice they tasted. I am not going to lie, I thought it was going to be a gimmick cocktail type whiskey but I was pleased to see that Iron Smoke was not making a gimmick whiskey. I will not say Iron Smoke Bourbon is a slow sipper, but on ice it works very well for me. I think with one or two more years in the barrel the whiskey would soften to a level that would be more enjoyable served neat.

Priced around $50 and worth the money if you like the profile and I am looking forward to trying more expressions.

If you like it, drink it! – Chris

If you like it, drink it!

Note: I contacted the distillery to purchase some samples, and they sent me this bottle for gratis.

Vale Fox “Curium”

December 24, 2025 NYC

Name: Vale Fox “Curium”

Color: Copper

Nose: Malt, caramel, oak, earth, honey-spice, green grasses

Taste: Malt, caramel, oak, earth, green grasses, cognac

2 Days left to Christmas! Do you have your bottles yet?! This is #2 on my list for 2025!

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year! – Chris

Vale Fox Distillery is located in Poughkeepsie, New York and was founded in 2017 by Eral Gokgol-Kline. The company started with gin and now as released their first single malt “Curium”.

This bottle of Curium is “Batch 0001 of 396 bottles” and is cask strength at 63.4% abv. It is a 100% malted barley, matured in American Oak cask & Cognac cask, and is listed as an American Malt. The whiskey is a little hot on the first taste and I was surprised they went with cask strength due to the complex flavor profile. The finish is a little dry and earthy, but I am not surprised as it is aged in Cognac casks. I recommend a touch of water, or a small ice cube to open the flavors. This is not slugging whiskey, it is sipping whisky.

Curium was a gift from my good friends who I affectionately call, “Z Germans….”. They were visiting Upstate NY and stayed in Rhinebeck. They went to the Rhine Wine & Liquor Store and asked for a recommendation of good whiskey. I am planning to get up to Rhinebeck again this Fall and I hope to find time to visit this distillery. I am now going to plan a trip to Germany to repay the kindness!

Priced around $140 and worth it if you like the flavor profile.

If you like it, drink it! – Chris

If you like it, drink it!

The Great Jones Distillery – NYC

December 19, 2025 NYC

6 Days left to Christmas! Do you have your bottles yet?! This is #6 on my list for 2025!

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year! – Chris

The Great Jones Distillery is located at 686 Broadway, New York, NY (Broadway & Great Jones St). The distillery was opened in August 2021 and states it is the first legal operating distillery in NYC since the 1920 Prohibition.It is owned by Proximo Spirits (aka Jose Cuervo) and Black Dirt Distillery in upstate New York is a sister distillery.

The space is very impressive for its size and location in NYC. The layout, bars, restaurants, finishes work, gift shop, etc. all appears to be high quality. I can see a large amount of money was spent to build this venue. I would guess it was $75M all in, and it looks like it was money well spent. Great Jones is a nice place to drop in for a drink and the menu looks good but I did not sample any of the food.

Great Jones has a variety of things you can experience. They have tours, VIP tours, merchandise, Saturday Jazz Brunch, light lunch/apps menu, lounge areas, and a bar. It strikes me as they are covering all the NYC basis of what a venue can offer. Overall, it is a very nice place to visit, but here comes the “BUT”.

But the whiskies I sampled were ok at best. I did a very basic tasting and did not blow any wind up my skirt. I do not want to disparage Great Jones, but if you have never been to a distillery they can be a great experience, but also you can end up having an Emperor’s Clothes experience if you are not paying attention. I am going to go back soon at try their the higher end expressions in the near future and I will provide reviews for their bourbon and rye soon.

Great Jones Expressions (2025):

Peated Scotch Cask Bourbon ($150), 10-year Distillery Reserve Bourbon ($200), Wheated Straight ($50), Straight Bourbon ($45), Empire Rye ($45), and Wolffer Estate Cask Finished Bourbon ($60).

If you are in NYC and are looking to try stop for a whiskey, give them a try. I would love to know what you think.

If you like it, drink it! – Chris

If you like it, drink it!

The Great Jones Distillery – 3 Whiskey Flight

October 22, 2025 NYC

The Great Jones Distillery is located at 686 Broadway, New York, NY (Broadway & Great Jones St). It was opened in August 2021 and states it is the first legal operating distillery in NYC since Prohibition (1920).

My last review was on the facility and this review will be on the three-whiskey flight that I ordered when I visited the bar.

Great Jones Straight Bourbon: 43% abv aged for 4 years. Notes and taste of corn, oak, vanilla and pepper.

Great Jones Four Grain Bourbon: 45% abv aged 4 years. Notes of corn, rye, cream and wood with tastes of the same with notes of wheat/honey.

Great Jones Rye: 50% abv aged 4 years. Notes of rye, white pepper, dark fruit with taste of rye and spices.

These whiskeys were all very “light tasting” and the four years of aging did not impart much depth of flavor. This flight was ok, with no one whiskey being better or worse than the other. They were overall good, but they all fell a little flat for my taste. I noticed that the tasting cards are suggestive as they seem to tell you what to think with descriptions of “well balanced or complex & layered”. Hey Great Jones, I will be the judge of that one.

This tasting cost $15 which is very affordable for NYC prices and the bar/lounge area. I will go back and try some more whiskeys soon such as Peated Scotch Cask Bourbon ($150), 10-year Distillery Reserve Bourbon ($200), and Wolffer Estate Cask Finished Bourbon ($60).

If you like it, drink it! – Chris

If you like it, drink it!

The Pebble Bar NYC – “on tap” Old Fashioned

August 20, 2025 NYC

The Pebble Bar is located in the historic Rockfeller Center Townhouse which is formerly known as “Hurley’s”. It opened in 2022 and is a small space focused on craft cocktails and high quality food.

I discovered this Pebble Bar from a Youtube video showing how they pre-make their Woodford Reserve Old Fashioneds that are served “on tap” due to the small bar space and the high volume of sales. While I was watching the video, I literally said out loud, “That is bullshit. That can’t taste good.” I thought next time I was in the area I would drop by and order one. I figured I could prove my uneducated non-experienced professional whisky reviewer opinion on a Youtube video that I watched at 6:30am in my underwear.

I have to say…..Holy shit. Even I am sometimes impressed by my fucking stupidity.

The on-tap Woodford Old Fashioned at the Pebble Bar was incredible! I was truly shocked at how well balanced it was and how long it held an its flavor. I am not saying this is the best old-fashioned I have ever had, but it is definitely in the top five. If you are in NYC, I highly recommend visit for a drink. Seating is limited so make a reservation or get there when the bar opens.

Location: 67^th West 49th, New York, NY
Hours: Monday to Saturday 4pm-12am
Payment: Cash & Credit Cards
Food: Dinner or light bites
Reservations: Available
Website: Pebble Bar | Cocktail Bar | Rockefeller Center

I highly recommend the Pebble Bar Old Fashioned!

If you like it, drink it! – Chris

If you like it, drink it!

Italian Cocktail – The Negroni

February 26, 2025 NYC

Name: Italian Cocktail – The Negroni

Color: Red

Nose: Gin, sweet syrup, medicinal spices

Taste: Gin, sweet syrup, medicinal spices, cirtus notes

The Negroni cocktail is said to originate in Italy in the 1940’s. Some records show it originating in France in the 1920’s, but I choose to believe the it came from Italy due to the use of Campari. Wherever or who ever created it, you have done a benefit to society, my thanks to you.

The Negroni is simple cocktail made with dry gin, Campari, and sweet vermouth. It is served in a rocks glass over ice and with a twist. There are other versions of the Negroni, but I prefer the classic. This cocktail is not for everyone for three reasons. One, more people drink vodka than gin. Two, most people do not drink Campari. Three, sweet vermouth has never been as popular as dry vermouth. It is a sad truth, I never really see people ordering Negroni’s in the NYC area.

What I like best about a Negroni is it has some bite to it. It has a medium heavy, slightly syrupy, and has a sharp finish of Campari. It is an excellent substitute for a whisky on the rocks on a hot summer day.

How make a Negroni:

1/3 Dry Gin
1/3 Sweet Vermouth
1/3 Campari Bitters
Stir and Strain in rocks with ice
Add twist of orange or lemon

Negroni Tip:

Make sure you use a quality dry gin. Fruity, earthy, or experimental gins will not blend well with the other mixers. Trust me I have tried it. For the “Anthony Bourdain “Big Ass Negroni” use an 8-ounce rocks glass, one big ice cube, and 3x the measures of booze.

I recommend you try one this summer. They do taste better in Italy for some strange reason.

If you like it, drink it! – Chris

If you like it, drink it!

Harry’s Bar – Venice, Italy

February 19, 2025 NYC

Name: Harry’s Bar

Location: Venice, Italy

Website: Cipriani | Harry’s Bar Venice | Venezia, Italy

Harry’s Bar is located around the corner from St. Mark’s Plaza in Venice, Italy and was founded in 1931 by Giuseppe Cipriani. If the name “Cipriani” sounds familiar, it’s because it is hotel/restaurant worldwide company that has many properties and few locations in NYC. The history of Harry’s Bar is very interesting and I recommend you look it up.

My first visit was about 15 years ago in October and my second visit was 2 years ago in July. I suggest you visit for an afternoon drink from 2:00-5:00pm. I recommend their Bellini, Martini, or a Negroni along with some small snacks. HOWEVER, buyer beware, this place is very expensive. Even the late Anthony Bourdain was quoted saying “Harry’s Bar costs a fuck lot”. He is not wrong.

If Harry’s Bar is out of your price range, you can opt to go to St. Mark’s Plaza and sit outside for a drink, but it’s really just a little cheaper. If St. Mark’s is not going to work for your budget, I recommend you walk 10-15 minutes away from St. Mark’s up the canal. You will find several outdoor cafes on the water that have great views and reasonably priced drink and food.

Tip for first time travelers to Venice:

Summer is ridiculously busy and can be brutally hot. The city is all stone so it holds and radiates the heat at the same time regardless of being on the water. Most places do not have ice cold air conditioning so you can feel exhausted walking around no matter how much water you drink. I recommend to everyone to see Venice in the early Fall. There are less people, cooler weather, and it is easier to get seat at Harry’s Bar.

Harry’s Bar is absolutely worth a visit if you are in Venice and it fits your budget.

If you like it, drink it! – Chris

If you like it, drink it!

Campari

January 29, 2025 NYC

Name: Campari

Color: Candy Red

Nose: Herbs, floral, sugar notes

Taste: Herbs, medicinal, sugar, orange peels

Campari an Italian liqueur infused with herbs, fruit, alcohol and water. It was invented in 1860 and is used primarily as a mixer in cocktails, but it is a type of bitters and is considered an aperitif. It is best known to be mixed with soda water, citrus juice, and in Negroni, American, Boulevardier, and a few other less known cocktails.

When I started traveling to Italy many years ago, I used to treat myself to a “Campri on the Rock’s” on each visit. It was more like punishing myself. I look back and laugh on my younger self for trying to enjoy such an unpleasant drink in a beautiful country. However, today in wiser years, I keep a bottle on my bar for my favorite summer cocktail the “Anthony Bourdain Big Ass Negroni”.

This year I will be expanding my cocktail reviews to add a few Italian cocktails and I will be doing some bar reviews in Italy for any readers heading over this summer for a vacation.

Priced around $40 and a necessity on your bar for certain cocktails.

If you like it, drink it! – Chris

If you like it, drink it!

Taconic Rye

November 28, 2024 NYC

Name: Taconic Rye

Color: Light Brown

Nose: Rye, wood, caramel, light spices

Taste: Rye, wood, caramel, light spices, orange/citrus zest

Taconic Founder’s Straight Rye Whiskey is from the Taconic Distillery which was formally the “Millbrook Distillery”. This expression is bottle number 4/143 and is at 45% abv. The mash bill is 95% rye, 5% malted barley, and it is aged 3 for years in virgin American oak barrels. Taconic distillery states that their whiskey is good for sipping and/or cocktails

This rye is smoother than I expected and can be drank neat or on the rocks. I think an improvement would be a higher abv so it would hold its flavor profile better in a cocktail.

I picked this expression up the 14th Street Green Market a while back and got a chance to meet one of the owners and we had a nice chat. I hope to get up to the distillery soon now the world seems to have returned to normal.

Priced around $45 and worth the money for the taste and to support a New York State distillery.

If you like it, drink it! – Chris

If you like it, drink it!

Spy Trail Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Iron Smoke Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Vale Fox “Curium”

The Great Jones Distillery – NYC

The Great Jones Distillery – 3 Whiskey Flight

The Pebble Bar NYC – “on tap” Old Fashioned

Italian Cocktail – The Negroni

Harry’s Bar – Venice, Italy

Campari

Taconic Rye

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