New York Distilling Opens Cocktail Bar, Event Space

Steinbeck said that ‘New York is where you prove if what you think in theory makes sense in real life. New York Distilling Co. is testing that, opening Jaywalker, a new cocktail bar and event space in Bushwick rooted in the creative spirit of New York City.

Designed as an ode to the city’s artists and rebels, Jaywalker blends cocktail culture with experiential programming, visual storytelling, and a return to the embrace of joy and happiness in the pleasures of a great drink.

At the center of Jaywalker is the eponymous Jaywalk Rye, a trailblazing whiskey created from a 17th century variety of New York rye that is just one-third the size of conventional rye. Its simple and emphatic purpose is to belie the assumption that rye whiskey is "spicy." The distillery itself shines with copper stills, while nods to the brand’s rebellious identity blend New York grit with a playful sense of nostalgia, including references to Jaywalk Rye’s slogan “Size Matters.” Along the back wall, murals by David Wondrich and Dean Kotz (The Comic Book History of The Cocktail) trace the history of Jaywalk and American rye whiskey in the style of a graphic novel.

Moving beyond the textbook distillery model, Jaywalker invites guests to engage directly with the process through guided tastings, immersive blending experiences, and, among an extensive and creative cocktail list, approachable riffs on the Manhattan and Martini made with New York Distilling Co. spirits at just $12 each.

Reframing whiskey as something social rather than overly formal, the menu balances seasonal creations with staples like “The Original” Manhattan, served with equal parts Jaywalk Small Batch Rye and house vermouth blend, finished with bitters and a brandied cherry.

“’ For me, the simultaneous simplicity and complexity of a great Manhattan is the epitome of a great night out,” says New York Distilling Co. founder Allen Katz. “By the second drink in hand there is usually a realized plan in play built on curiosity and confidence. That’s the feeling we want Jaywalker to capture.”