Next time you’re planning a whisky trip through New York, add one more stop to your itinerary.
Earlier this week, New York Distilling Company (NYDC) celebrated the grand opening of Jaywalker, a new cocktail bar and brand home dedicated to its growing Jaywalk Rye portfolio. Located in Brooklyn’s vibrant Bushwick neighborhood, the venue brings together New York whiskey, cocktails, food, and culture under one roof.
Founded in 2011, New York Distilling Company has spent the past decade helping shape New York’s modern craft spirits movement. While many whiskey enthusiasts know the distillery for its Dorothy Parker Gin and rye whiskey offerings, Jaywalker represents a significant next chapter – a permanent home where visitors can experience the full breadth of the company’s portfolio.
Behind the project are co-founders Allen Katz and Tom Potter. Potter is best known as the co-founder and former CEO of Brooklyn Brewery, established in 1987 and widely regarded as one of the pioneering forces behind New York’s craft beer renaissance. Katz, meanwhile, serves as the creative force behind New York Distilling Company’s spirits program, developing the recipes and flavor profiles that have defined the brand’s identity. Central to the company’s whiskey program is its commitment to New York-grown rye. Katz has worked closely with Finger Lakes farmer Rick Pedersen to source organic, non-GMO rye varieties, including heritage grains that help distinguish Jaywalk Rye from more conventional American rye whiskeys. The distillery combines traditional craftsmanship with modern production methods, supported by additional aging and warehousing partnerships across Upstate New York.
The grand opening itself reflected the energy of Bushwick. Guests were welcomed with live music, food, and a menu of six cocktails showcasing the distillery’s gin and rye portfolios. The atmosphere felt distinctly New York creative, colorful, and unpretentious.
At the heart of the new venue is Jaywalk Rye, a whiskey range built around heirloom rye varieties rarely seen in modern American whiskey production that Katz and Pederson collaborated on.
Jaywalk Straight Rye
- Mash Bill: Blend of Horton Heirloom Rye and Field Race Rye
- Age: Blend of 6-, 7-, and 8-year-old barrels
- ABV: 46%
- Name Origin: “Jaywalk” references New York City’s rebellious street culture. The term itself originated in the early 1900s as a description for pedestrians crossing streets outside designated areas.
Jaywalk Bonded Rye
- Mash Bill: Blend of Horton Heirloom Rye and Field Race Rye
- Age: 7 years
- ABV: 50%
- Name Origin: Same Jaywalk concept celebrating authentic New York character and history.
Jaywalk Heirloom Rye Cask Strength
- Mash Bill: 100% Horton Heirloom Rye
- Age: 7 years
- ABV: 114–116 proof (varies by barrel)
- Name Origin: Celebrates the revival of the historic Horton rye grain, first cultivated around Rye, New York in the 1700s.
Mister Katz’s Rock & Rye
- Mash Bill: Based on New York Distilling rye whiskey (not publicly disclosed)
- Age: Young rye whiskey
- ABV: 32.5%
- Ingredients: Rye whiskey, rock candy sugar, cherries, cinnamon, citrus.
- Name Origin: Named after co-founder and master distiller Allen Katz. “Rock & Rye” is a classic 19th-century American whiskey cordial.
