September 23, 2025
So, you want to get into whiskey? Good news: you don’t need to age your own barrels or have a master’s degree in distilling. All you need is a little curiosity, a decent pour, and a willingness to trust your palate. Everyone starts somewhere, and at Great Jones, we think your whiskey journey should start with a pour as bold as the city itself.
Whether you’re sipping for the first time or brushing up on your barrel basics, consider this your street-smart primer to tasting, pairing, and styling your bar cart setup like a seasoned pro.
What Is Whiskey, Really?
Or, maybe you’re asking, “How does rye whiskey vs bourbon compare?” Before we talk tasting, let’s review some of the fundamentals. At its core, whiskey is a distilled spirit made from fermented grains that are aged in oak barrels and full of character. But that’s just the beginning.
Rye Whiskey is made with at least 51% rye grain. It brings the heat: bold, peppery, and dry—perfect for anyone who likes a bit of bite in their sip. Case and point, Great Jones Rye Whiskey.
Bourbon uses at least 51% corn, giving it a smoother, sweeter profile with notes of vanilla, caramel, and toasted oak. Great Jones Straight Bourbon is no exception—but because we’re biased, we have to brag a bit about its perfection.
Wheated Bourbon (like Great Jones Wheated Straight Bourbon) has added wheat content in the mash bill that allows for a softer profile with a rich, buttery texture.
Need help choosing? Think of rye whiskey as your late-night jazz track, and bourbon as your slow Sunday brunch playlist.
Know The Three: Nose, Palate, Finish
Categories tell you how a whiskey is made, but the real tasting experience? That lives in the details. It’s the way a bold rye whiskey punches through with spice, or how a bourbon smooths everything over with rich sweetness. Great whiskey isn’t just sipped—it’s sensed. And once you start noticing the layers, you’ll never drink it the same way again.
Here’s how to tune your senses.
Nose:
- Swirl. Sniff. Repeat. First impressions are a big deal, and the nose gives you your first clue. Expect aromas like vanilla, toasted spice, or fresh corn, depending on the grain and barrel. You might detect cake batter and vanilla in Great Jones Straight Bourbon.
Palate:
- This is where the flavors land. Roll the whiskey around your mouth to pick up the layers, whether it’s punchy spice from our Rye Whiskey or caramel from our Wheated Straight Bourbon. Basically, what couldn’t be interpreted from smell alone happens here. This is the actual tasting experience, and where you see a distiller’s mastery shine in every sip.
- Great Jones Tip: Don’t rush this part of the process! Really allow it to sit and develop even further. You’ll uncover new taste profiles mid-palate.
Finish:
- The afterglow. Some whiskeys exit quickly, others hang around like a good story. Take your time. You’ll notice the finish can change and evolve the more you sip. This lingering aftertaste sets whiskey apart from other spirits and brings the whole flavor story full circle.
What to Sip First (and What to Eat With It)
Your first whiskey experience shouldn’t be about proving anything. It should be about discovering your flavor vibe. Start with one of these.
Great Jones Straight Bourbon: Look for combinations that are warm and sweet, rich and buttery, or smoked and charred. Grilled steak brings out its smoky depth, pecans echo the toasty notes, and dark chocolate highlights the bourbon’s caramel richness.
Great Jones Rye Whiskey: This whiskey’s inherent spice means it can live harmoniously with bold and assertive flavors. Look for nutty, sharper cheeses like cheddar, gouda, blue cheeses, and spiced meats like peppered salami.
Great Jones Wheated Straight Bourbon: The key is to find a balance of sweet and savory flavors that highlights the wheat-forward taste. Think toasted brioche, stone fruits, creamy cheeses, and bright herbs.
Build a Better Bar Cart
We know not everyone can catch a subway to NoHo every night (even though we wish you did!), so we’ve made sure Manhattan’s spirit always has a place on your bar cart. Our For The Home Collection has the tools to elevate your home ritual and help you make simple whiskey cocktails with real style.
Our set of Crystal Rock Glasses and full Mixology Set are a great place to start—instant class and cohesion, without the pomp and circumstance. Over time, you can always add some stylish bar tools or accessories, like Brass Coasters or the signature Great Jones Smoke Top. Don’t know what to mix? Check out a few of our cocktail recipes and learn how to make a simple whiskey cocktail right at home.
Learn It. Live It. Taste It in NoHo.
You could read all day about whiskey—or you could taste it where it’s made. The best way to learn? Experience it firsthand. As Manhattan’s first legal whiskey distillery since Prohibition, Great Jones Distilling Co. is the place to do just that.
Impress out-of-towners (and locals) with a VIP Whiskey Tour & Tasting, where you’ll get a guided tour of our distillery in NoHo plus a tasting of four Great Jones whiskeys, all led by real whiskey experts at Great Jones Distilling Co. Or, if you want to put those newly refined senses to the test, book the Bourbon & Bites Experience. Here, you’ll sample three Great Jones whiskeys and an Applejack, each one paired with curated bites from local purveyors. It’s the perfect way to see just how much aroma, flavor, and finish can evolve when you know what to look—and taste—for.