Situated proper on Broadway in NoHo, North of Houston Road, the spacious 28,000 sq. ft house has a working distillery, tour and tasting bar, restaurant, speakeasy, and occasion house.
The identify pays homage to each Nice Jones Alley and adjoining Nice Jones Road, which had been named for Samuel Jones within the late 1700s, and was an space recognized for its Prohibition-era exercise.
The concept was born from the assumption that the very best spirits ought to be the embodiment of their origins, threading the historical past of bourbon in New York to the current day. The whiskies are made solely at their sister distillery situated within the Black Filth area, lower than two hours north of Manhattan in Upstate New York. The grains are grown within the wealthy ebony soil and have been aged in new charred American Oak barrels, leading to a easy, balanced, and sophisticated style with a particular spiciness.
We ask Celina Perez, head distiller for Nice Jones Distillery about making whiskey in NYC.
Introduce your self and inform us a bit about how grew to become a distiller. What impressed your profession?
I’m Celina Perez. I’ve been the Head Distiller on the Nice Jones Distillery Co. since June 2019.
Working in distilleries was a pure development of getting labored within the meals and repair trade in NYC. I began my profession behind the bar and on the identical time, I used to be a cheesemonger, dabbled in bread, then beer, and eventually, whiskey.
I’ve had the distinctive alternative to develop my ardour for spirits by working to make rum, liqueurs, and whiskey over the previous 11 years. I’ve at all times cherished whiskey – and really, the remainder is historical past.
Discuss to us about Nice Jones Bourbon. Packaging/location/historical past/identify.
We’re situated at 686 Broadway within the NoHo neighborhood of Manhattan. Nice Jones is impressed by and a microcosm of, the Metropolis. There’s a profound juxtaposition between the power of NYC – the hustle and bustle proper exterior our doorways – and the romantic notion of whiskey-making taking place inside. We’re very proud to be the primary whiskey distillery in Manhattan since Prohibition and pay homage to the wealthy tradition of Prohibition-era New York and a celebration of whiskey — previous and current.
What would you want bartenders to find out about your Bourbon?
Preserve it easy, use top quality elements, and rejoice the integrity of the whiskey. I like to take pleasure in Nice Jones Bourbon in a basic Sazerac or Manhattan – our whiskey pairs properly with different thoughtfully-produced, New York-made merchandise.
What are the foundational and cultural rules that drive/outline your model?
Nice Jones Bourbon is impressed by New York Metropolis, its spirit of innovation, power, and hustle.
Nice Jones Straight Bourbon is crafted from elements grown within the legendary Black Filth area of Warwick Valley, NY. As soon as the location of a prehistoric lake, the soil right here is famend for its nutrient-rich content material which imbues a particular spice in our whiskeys. Our 100% corn, barley, and rye are mashed and reduce with Catskill Mountain water to create a uniquely New York spirit.
With every thing we distill and produce, we’re proud to push the boundaries of nice whiskey making. New York Metropolis is at all times altering and evolving, and we’re so fortunate to have the ability to develop new and thrilling whiskey releases within the middle of the biggest metropolis on this planet. I’m at present engaged on some thrilling New York Malts, a cherry-smoked Rye, a espresso malt Bourbon, and distinctive barrel finishes.
Why does range, fairness, and inclusion (DE&I) matter to as we speak’s shoppers—influencing which manufacturers they worth and help?
As we speak’s shoppers want to find out about and be impressed by manufacturers that replicate their values – and that very a lot matches my ethos. Everyone knows that the world of spirits and distilling might be very one sided, so I’ve constructed my staff to replicate the range of New York Metropolis.
How does seeing ladies in management positions similar to your personal affect the trade?
After I first began within the trade, ladies in distilling had been very uncommon. As we speak, a lot of my mates are feminine distillers and pillars of the trade, particularly in NY. It’s actually inspiring to see that 10 years later, among the most essential and revered leaders within the spirits trade are ladies, and it’s a real testomony to our laborious work and experience. Shifting ahead, we have to proceed to drive consciousness of ladies in distilling and deal with inner training.
What recommendation do you might have for girls coming into or already within the wine, beer and spirits trade?
Observe your ardour. Don’t be intimidated by the labor-intensive necessities of distilling. You may be taught to raise a 50lb bag of corn, however nobody can ever train you to actually love whiskey.
When you love the spirits trade and have a ardour for making whiskey – go for it – you actually can be taught the remainder.
