Kings County Distillery is New York City's oldest operating whiskey distillery, yet was only founded in 2010! We were looking to pass the time in Brooklyn and decided to sign up for a tour and tasting. We paid $14 and spent an hour with our own personal tour guide (since no one else signed up for that time) and learned a lot! We started off in the Boozeum, where he gave us a rundown of the history of whiskey in the New York City area and why exactly they can be the oldest distillery at only six years old. From there, we headed to where the magic happens and got a firsthand look at the distillation process. It's definitely a small batch operation. Next, we went to the barrel room to get some insight on the aging process until finally, it was time for the tasting! We sampled about six different whiskeys including their flagship, seasonal, chocolate, and moonshine. We couldn't leave without buying a bottle. They have a cocktail bar near the gate entrance, as well. We tried to stop in, but it was all rented out for a private party so we couldn't hang out which was kind of a bummer. Overall, it was really cool to see and learn a thing or two! read more

Kings County Distillery - Barrels - Distilleries Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Don't let the surrounding industrial scenery fool you. Once you are inside/within the premises of their adorable backyard you'll appreciate every detail of this place. Even though a whiskey distillery, they have managed to have a cocktail menu that is inclusive for non-whiskey lovers just the same. Since their snacks options are limited, they are kind enough to allow outside food to be brought as well as deliveries. My girlfriend and I stumbled upon the location while running errands on a Sunday and needless to say, our errand run was cut short as we enjoyed a few rounds of cocktails based on recommendations from the lovely staff during this cold Late November day. Definitely going back sooner than later. read more

Kings County Distillery - And try we shall - Distilleries Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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Ordered a 750ml bottle of their spiced whiskey a little while ago, and it was fine - but sorta just fine. Clocking in around $35 or so, the price wasn't TOO bad, but it wasn't a bargain either. The taste of the whiskey was alright, but if spiced whiskey is your thing, I'd probably look elsewhere. I've had a number of whiskeys in my time, and the bite on this whiskey is a little much. I'd probably buy it again just to support local Brooklyn businesses, but it wasn't my favorite by any means. Still, give it a shot and see what you think. read more

Absolutely love this place! We went for the tasting room (no tour) around 1pm on Saturday. The tasting room is in an old rustic building, which I really enjoyed and the distillery is in a separate building, which you won't be able to see unless you book a tour. My party enjoyed the whiskey flights and the bartender was very friendly. I thought the price was reasonable. This place also lets you bring in your own food so we brought snacks from the Wegmans near by. Overall a very good experience!! Just note that there's only one big table indoors that's able to sit 6 people so it might not be the best for large parties. It wasn't an issue for us though since we were the only big group there. read more

Very cute little whiskey place hidden in the navy yard. You can order drinks or a flight. A lot of nice options. I suggest taking an Uber or car service instead of public transportation from here. read more

Fun and educational experience. We got here early to enjoy a cocktail before our tour started - highly recommend, especially on a hot day like we had! You start your tour outside with your group learning the background of the distillery then make your way inside to see where it's all made, learn the process, and see where and how they store it. We finished our tour back outside tasting a few samples of the different product they make and learning how to really taste whiskey. They also have bottles for sale if you like what you had. It was a fun day! read more

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Booked a tour of the distillery for six people on a Saturday evening ($14 a person). When first arriving, you wait at the large intimate bar which has a large cocktail selection. Tour starts off in another tasting room where a brief history is explained, then you're off to the actual distillery where they explain some of the stuff they make. At the end you're led up to a gift shop and barrel room where more of the specific stuff is talked about. Only at the end of the tour are the free samples doled out. Person heading the tour was informative and the grounds are a pleasure to walk through. Not the easiest to get to, but worth it once here. read more

Kings County Distillery - Distilleries Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

The Gatehouses bar in front of the Kings County Distillery, at the corner of Sands and Navy, is the best kept secret at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. The ambiance, the vibe, the just the right amount of patrons -- all perfect. And the whiskey/bourbon cocktails are classic. Whiskey Sours, Manhattans, Old Fashioneds you name it, it's recommended. You can buy their famous bourbon at the bar to take home with you. And some light snacks are available. There's also a great outdoor patio in warmer weather. Get here before the secret gets out, or the Wegmans opens. read more

Kings County Distillery - Old fashioned, manhattan and whiskey sour - Distilleries Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Been meaning to come here for a long time, but y'know, Navy Yard isn't the easiest place to get to. Luckily, was in the hood for other things and had time to catch happy hour at KCD ($2 off cocktails!). I love their "Experimental" cocktail menu. Lots of things you wouldn't expect, like moonshine margaritas and martinis. I went with the Don't Ask Why, which was made with strawberry ginger moonshine. Awesome and refreshing - perfect for summer! I also did a flight. They have set flights, but you can just mix and match yourself (including the limited edition pours!). I went with the Brandy (made in collaboration with Brooklyn Winery), the chocolate whiskey, and the grapefruit jalapeno moonshine. The Brandy was super amazing. Really smooth and flavorful. Might have to come back and buy a bottle. The chocolate whiskey is an acquired taste. And I love all the flavored moonshines they're doing (bartender also let me try their lemongrass infused moonshine that they only use for drinks, but I would've definitely ordered it). One thing to note is that they do tours, and after the tours are done (about an hour and a half), everyone rushes into the tasting room and it's hard to order drinks, so plan accordingly, especially if you're in a rush. Either way, the bartender was super awesome, and offered to pour shots for us since he didn't have time to sneak in a cocktail order. Great space (with an outdoor yard with picnic tables), great booze, and awesome cocktails! read more

The whiskey is excellent, but the best part honestly was the staff. Everyone was super nice and a lot of fun. Will definitely be returning soon. read more

What a wonderful time. Came to the King County Distillery as part of a Greenwood Cemetery whiskey tour. Our tour guide was awesome- I wish I could remember his name. He might have been one of the owners. We learned all about how whiskey is made (it's quite a complicated process!). Then we got to try their products. I fell in love with the peated bourbon- just the right amount of smoky. After we stopped at the Gatehouse cocktail bar for a peated old fashioned. Two thumbs up. It's a cute little space. This would make for a great date! read more

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I was slightly confused when I arrived to pick up my order, as the areas by the gatehouse are a part of the Wegman's parking lot. But once I figured it out the experience was pretty good. With the cute props and such outside, I could imagine small gatherings like tastings happening. Due to the precautions taken to keep the staff and the public, No one is allowed to go in the gatehouse. So I called into the plastic flaps, "hello?" The friendly employee greeted me warmly and asked my name and birthday for the order confirmation. She passed me my order through the flaps and thanked me for my purchase. Less than 5 minutes, in and out. I took a shot and was pleasantly surprised by the strength and flavor of the chocolate whiskey. I ended up making a nutella latte and i turned out amazing. I figured the higher price is due to the small batches, locations and unique quality. I can't wait until the tasting room and tours re-open. read more

One of the best things I've done as a local in a long time. This place was such a fantastic find! We called last minute and asked if we could join the final tour of the day, and they got us in! Woot woot! We were looking for things to do with an out of town guest and I'm glad I discovered this place. The amount of history we got from this tour, not just whiskey but also US history through the way it was impacted by the whiskey industry was incredibly informative! We enjoyed ourselves so much and learning about this craft distillery. Additionally, it's great to support local business. It was fun to taste a bunch of their spirits too. I loved this place! I can't wait to come back and visit their bar as well! read more

Kings County Distillery - Distilleries Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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This review is only for the actual bar - we didn't check out the distillery tour or see where the whiskey is actually made while we were there. Talk about a cozy and quaint little spot that for now, that's a tiny bit out of the way? This is it. It's kind of perfect. The staff are all great and the bartenders make some seriously tasty cocktails. I would equate this to a whiskey cafe of sorts. The vibe in here is super chill, all wood, well decorated and cozy bar. There's a great little outdoor space with strung lights, out back. Definitely some great history here as well, if that's your thing. If you're looking for other places within the area, Rooftop Reds and Vinegar Hill House can be good options. Note to self: I'd imagine this to be super cute & well decorated around the holidays - check this place out now! read more

Founded in 2010, Kings County Distillery is NYC's oldest whiskey distillery after prohibition. They have a small group operation, but offer tours everyday for $14, which you can either purchase online in advance or through a walk-in. Unless you live in DUMBO, unfortunately, you will likely take at least 2 trains to get to Vinegar Hill. The distillery is located in an old navy yard red brick building. Your tour will begin on the second floor, where your guide will teach you the history of whiskey production, taxation and consumption and continue in the distillery room on the ground floor. In the distillery room, you will learn how whiskey is fermented and distilled and what distinguishes bourbon from other whiskeys. In case you were wondering, no, bourbon doesn't have to be made in Kentucky to be identified as "bourbon". Then, you will head back to the second floor to enter the barrel aging room, where they store barrels for around 2 years prior to bottling them. Finally, the best part of the tour is when you get to taste most of their whiskeys. Because we were the only ones in our tour, we had the fortune of getting a private tour! Our tour guide was amazing and offered us extra whiskey to taste. The chocolate bourbon, spiced bourbon, and the smoked bourbon (this one won an award in 2016) were definitely interesting flavors to experience. After that amazing tasting, we ended up purchasing a lot of bourbons and spending a lot of money, but it was completely worth it. The tour is a fun indoors activity for a cold, rainy night for large groups or couples who are sincerely interested in learning how whiskey is made. read more

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Navy Yard is home to The oldest whiskey distillery in New York! Not only is King's County Distillery so accessible to visit, they also source all of their corn and barley locally from New York. Our modest host was a member of the small King's team herself, and walked us through the distillery where they hand bottle all of their wares. We were able to try their flagship whiskey (two year barrel aged), peated whiskey, moonshine (not aged in a barrel), chocolate whiskey, and winter time whiskey that was basically all spices converged into a liquid and tasted like the holidays. If you are wondering if the above was a typo, it'wasnt .. KCD has made a peated whiskey here in Brooklyn. Go to the castle-looking bar in front of the distillery and get a taste if you don't believe me. It tastes like more. read more

Kings County Distillery - One day to two years of coloration changes from aging whiskey in a barrel - Distilleries Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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Came here for the tour and enjoyed the place. It was a hot summer day, so it was a little rough. they have a tasting bar towards the main entrance and you can pay for your tour there and they will re-direct you to the paymaster building for the tour up on the second floor. For the intro of the tour, we stood around for about 20 minutes while the gave a history on the distillery. I was kinda hankering to sit down and they had all this seating in open room. Not sure why we didn't just sit. After going over the history, you will take a little tour of the distilling room and also the barrel aging room and then back to the 2nd floor for the tasting. The spirits were just ok in my opinion. Nothing fancy, however they do claim to be the oldest operating whiskey distillery (7 years old). read more

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Our tour guide Rick was informative and did an amazing job of explaining the process of making moonshine, bourbon and whiskey. The tasting was great as well! read more

Some of my all-time favorite bourbon and one of my favorite spaces in Brooklyn. It's definitely worth getting flights when you go there so you can try a variety of their whiskeys. I love the chocolate bourbon as a special treat. They also occasionally partner with other places and they had a special bourbon aged in wine barrels that was out of this world. Aside from the spirits, the atmosphere is great. In the summer they have a nice patio area and in the winter you can cozy up indoors in their mini castle-like space. Sometimes during the summers, they'll make popsicles with their bourbon drinks and it's delish! read more

Coffee AND Whisk(e)y?!?! Sign me up! We went here after a friend's glowing review and recommendation. I'm a big whiskey fan and King's County did not disappoint. My wife and I came here a bit too late for a tour, but we did order most of their whiskies and made it a great visit. The bartenders are personable and make great drinks. We enjoyed having open conversation about the establishment, life, and work... truly salt of the earth people here. The building itself has history and really sets the tone. This will be a stop for us every time we are in New York from here on out! read more

I would like to suggest that the bar put some kind of line system in place. I could tell that the bartenders were doing their best and serving people as quickly as possible, but I waited on what I thought was the line for a long time on Sunday, July 3rd about 3pm, only to be completely skipped over. I'm not the most aggressive or most attractive person in the room, so I understand that I'm not always seen. Nonetheless, it really left me with a bad taste in my mouth and I left feeling ashamed for allowing myself to be ignored. Thank you for your consideration. read more

I am someone who has a fascination with learning. So when I found out there were distilleries in NYC again, AND that they were doing tours, I jumped on it. Kings County is the longest running distillery in the city (to my knowledge) and definitely gave a great tour. Their facilities are enormous, and kind of out of the way, but worth going to. Do the tour, stop at the Gatehouse bar, and pick up a bottle. While the whiskey isn't super great (yet), I see it becoming really good after the whiskey has had time to actually age. Definitely a great thing to do when you're over 21, bored, and want a day time excursion where you learn and drink. Would definitely do this tour again in a couple of years once the whiskey has aged a bit more. read more

Perfect rainy day hang out! I had a particularly rough day and to my delight my cousin treated me to some whiskey tasting. It's so serene and the music is very chill. The whiskey just hit different lol! Very cute date spot as well! Will be back! read more

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This is my first distillery tour and it was awesome! Our guide Sara was fun and professional , guided us through the history of whiskey making and the found of the distillery. After we visited the distilling and fermentation room, we came to the storage room at second floor. The aroma was amazing~ sweet with a hint of wood and whiskey, name angles share. At the end of tour we tasted moonshine ((-｡-)straight bourbon(*^o^*), peated bourbon(^_^), winter spice moonshine(｡ì _ í｡) and chocolate moonshine （TT）Tasting is very personal so I suggest you to try yourself ! Later we went to the tasting room . Hot toddy and penicillin was great , grapefruit and ginger whiskey is a bit bitter if you like it . After all , it was an amazing trip！ read more

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Discovered this place by accident today and I'm so happy I did. Cool space. Excellent liquor. I'll be back. read more

Kings County Distillery - Distilleries Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Kings County Distillery was a fun stop during a quick Brooklyn visit. The distillery is located just past the gated area on the right, when you enter the Brooklyn Navy Yard. We arrived as a tour was wrapping up. A nice woman from the business invited us to sit, and she let us know someone would be with us shortly to run through a tasting. We were able to try four spirits and received a brief overview of each. Though we didn't purchase a bottle, we did buy one of the books written by the folks behind Kings County Distillery (Dead Distillers). After our visit to the distillery, we moved on to the gate house, where KCD has an adorable tasting room. We opted for some cocktails which were all very interesting (I highly suggest trying the one with the chocolate whiskey and cherries - easily my favorite). When we first sat down a server came over to take our order, but we had to go up to the bar ourselves after that, even though there seemed to be quite a few people working. Not a big deal, of course, we just weren't exactly clear if this is a table service or bar service situation. If you're in Brooklyn and want to do something a little different from the typical bar scene, I'd suggest spending an afternoon at the distillery. read more

Kings County Distillery - Mint julep - Distilleries Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

I came on a tour here with a bunch of friends and it was a fantastically awesome experience. Having never been to a distillery before and also the intrigue of getting to do some tastings encouraged us all to go along. The guy (Colin I think- who essentially "began" the distillery on his front porch...) took us around was absolutely great and even though they must have shown over 200 people that day, his explanation of how the distillery started up, a snap shot of the distilling and barreling processes (and tastings!) were delivered very personally, and was extremely informative- it was really a very interesting overview. I had no idea that they are the first distillery to open in New York since the prohibition era! We were able to try their bourbon, moonshine and some chocolate whiskey which they've been experimenting with (-the cacao husks coming from the Mast Brothers factory). He played the latter down a lot explaining that they've sort of been messing around with it, and still trying to tweak it, but I thought it was damn delicious. The bourbon (which isn't yet available for commercial sale) was excellent and the moonshine was great too. Walked away buying a few bottles for ourselves- which themselves are beautifully and simply packaged, and very well priced. Again- a fantastic, interesting and delicious local experience, thank you so much guys! read more

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Booked a tour for a Sunday afternoon. Waited for the tour to begin at the bar. The ambiance and vibe is sweet, very intimate and vintage. Our tour guide was very informative and kept us interested throughout the tour. Would definitely reccomend for bourbon, whiskey and moonshine lovers. The tasting portion could be a bit more but it was still really good nonetheless! read more

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This place should be mandatory for all New Yorkers who drink hard liquor (aka just about everybody). Got off the train @ Barclays & walked several blocks through some shady-looking areas, but once we were inside the Navy Yard, the vibe really took hold. It really felt like I stepped outside of NYC for a bit. The Distillery itself is housed inside one of the original building on the pier and has a really cool vintage look. The tour was pretty cheap ($8 a ticket) and we learned quite a bit about NY's history & the process of making whiskey. After the tour, we got to sample their 3 flavors (chocolate whiskey, moonshine & a standard whiskey) & purchase bottles. I bought a really nice set of all three flavors in a wooden box as a gift. I really enjoyed the trip out here & highly recommend it. read more

Kings County Distillery - Distilleries Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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The tour is so worth the price. You'll learn a lot, you'll laugh a lot, you'll drink a lot--win-win! The bar is in a gorgeous building and they let you wile away the hours drinking and chatting for as long as you want. No food, but you can get small bags of chips or almonds. Cocktail lovers will enjoy the Mint Julep and Prickly Pear. For house liquors, try the Grapefruit Jalapeno Moonshine, Strawberry Ginger Moonshine, Bourbon, Peated Bourbon, and Chocolate Whisky. My personal favorite was the Peated Bourbon because smokey + bourbon is always a win. read more

Kings County Distillery is the oldest distillery in NYC and it's only 5 years old. It's in a very cool brick building in the middle of the Brooklyn Navy Yards. They offer tours on the hour for a cheap price and it's fascinating to learn the history of not only the distillery, but also the Brooklyn Navy Yards. At the end of the tour, you get to sample 4-5 of their whiskeys. All were good, but the very best is their Honey Whiskey distilled with actual honeycomb. You can only buy it there so be sure to stock up! read more

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The few times learning and drinking at the same time is encouraged. The debate was whiskey or gin, but our group voted on it and Kings County came out on top. A few notes before even getting to the distillery: Google Maps may lead you in the wrong direction. The distillery is in the west wing of the navy yard, not the center as I was led to believe. A single stand alone structure, Kings County isn't impressive until you walk into the brick building and get a whiff of that whiskey. Head upstairs to purchase an $8 ticket for the tour, which is well worth the money. Combining a bit for history, chemistry, and humor, the tour not only held my attention for a full hour, but I actually learned something! Be sure to get a good pic of the barrel room on the second floor. The tasting was a perfect way to end the tour; now that I know chocolate bourbon exists, I might have to switch it up a bit. If you're a bourbon enthusiast or just want something fun to do on a weekend (regardless of weather), stop by Kings County! read more

Kings County Distillery - barrels - Distilleries Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Had a really great day at the Navy Yard that culminated in the excellent tour of Kings County Distillery. A friend was come in from New Jersey on a perfect peak fall day, and we took the Turnstile bus tour of the Navy Yard, then ambled on over to the distillery for the tour. We were a few minutes late, but it started outside where they were growing corn to be included in future batches of whiskey. The tour guide was incredibly knowledgeable, and despite priding myself on being a history buff (particularly as it relates to the Fort Greene-Wallabout-Clinton Hill-Bed Stuy part of Brooklyn, where my family has lived for more than a century), I learned a whole lot about the history of distilling and drinking in Brooklyn. The personal history of the distillery is fascinating as well, including how it started and dealt with setbacks like the devastation of hurricane Sandy (apparently, it became overrun with mice and rats, which were heroically and celeritously dispatched by the distillery's cats. Being a cat person and fan of history, I thought it was particularly cool). The building itself is awesome and beautiful, from the structure itself, to the wooden barrels and stills. I didn't expect being in a distillery to be a particularly calming experience, but it totally was. We got to see the where the whiskey is made, the storage room on the top floor (accessed via an external staircase), and finishing in the immaculate tasting room, where we sampled three different products. The chocolate whiskey was a little funky for my taste, but the moonshine and bourbon were stupendous. The perfect end to this day, we walked up to Dekalb to grab slices from Mario's (corner of Clermont and Dekalb) to eat over at the Alibi (Dekalb between Vanderbilt and Clermont) with a few beers. It was a few years back, so they didn't have the open air spot where you could get cocktails, but the tour itself is well worth the price and trek down to the Navy Yard. Definitely looking forward to finding any excuse to head back there. read more

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Amazing, informative tour! Learned a lot about American bourbon and got to taste some interesting samples. After you take the tour, you can visit their bar, which is super relaxed and has great cocktails made with their spirits. Recommend this for any New Yorker or out of towner! Very friendly staff and very covid safe. read more

My favorite part of the tour was standing in the barrel room. The angel share was heavenly. I want a candle made out of this so I can experience it in my apartment all the time. The tour was very informative. Staff was friendly and knowledgeable. My tour group included about 20 people so it kind of felt like a class trip. As for tastings, the moonshine and whiskey were good, but my favorite was the chocolate whiskey. If you love bitter dark chocolate, you'll like this whiskey. The pumpkin whiskey went down okay, but had a strange aftertaste. I don't think I would drink and enjoy any of the whiskeys straight. If I were to buy a bottle, it would be the bourbon, so I could make cocktails. I had a warm apple cider with bourbon after the tour and it was just what I needed on a chilly, fall day. read more

Kings County Distillery - Barrel room - Distilleries Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

They have a drink called penicillin and I felt so much better drinking 20 of these drinks then I have in a long time from taking medicine :)...... but....,. The day after was awful. Super headache. Not sure I have been cured of my ailment - but this is a charming place with good staff and shocking the Bree they served was yum. Whiskey flights + good bree =. Winning :) read more

Kings County Distillery - Penicillin drink :). And what is a an amazing arrangement of flowers . - Distilleries Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Whiskey fans, you don't want to miss out on this hidden gem in the Navy Yard. I never would have thought NYC would be a place to find a good whiskey tour, but alas King's County Distillery does not disappoint. Highly recommend this tour and tasting for a rainy day with friends and family. read more

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We arranged a special Sunday tour with the owner Colin because we're Orthodox Jews and can't do the Saturday hours. He was really, incredibly accommodating and spent about an hour giving us a detailed and interesting tour. It was very informative and a great time. I'm not a drinker but my husband and the other guys on the tour said that the bourbon was quite good and we all bought bottles. I liked the moonshine (as did everyone else) -- something I wasn't anticipating. I definitely recommend doing the tour with a group of friends, it was a great way to spend the afternoon. read more

Kings County Distillery - Aging - Distilleries Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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Had a great time here! I came here with my husband for a tour on a Sunday afternoon. Be sure to book your tickets in advance - they do sell out early. We had a few people who wanted to join our 3pm tour, but they were turned away and told that the next available tour time was 5pm. I enjoyed the tour of the distillery. It isn't big by any means, it's only two floors, but it was very interesting to learn about the foreshot, heads, hearts and tails. Our tour guide was very fun - she cracked a lot of jokes and answered a lot of our questions about the whiskey distillation process. Had a great time here and would encourage anyone in the area to visit! read more

Kings County Distillery - Distilleries Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Never thought a place like this could be at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. Fantastic Whisky and Bourbon that they themselves distilled... And in the small building (gatehouse) as you enter the yard.. Definitely check this place out!!! read more

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