Brooklyn Navy Yard • Est. 2010

Copper & Char

From Grain to Glass

New York City's premier craft distillery, creating small-batch bourbon, rye, and whiskey in the historic Brooklyn Navy Yard.

Our Story

A Return to Tradition

Founded in 2010, Copper & Char became the first whiskey distillery in New York City since Prohibition. We set up shop in the historic Paymaster Building—a 123-year-old structure in the Brooklyn Navy Yard that once processed payroll for thousands of shipyard workers.

Our founders left careers in finance and engineering to pursue a passion for traditional whiskey making. What started as a hobby in a 300-square-foot room has grown into an award-winning distillery, but our commitment to craft remains unchanged.

Every bottle we produce is distilled, aged, and bottled on-site using New York grains and water from the Catskill Mountains. We believe in transparency, quality, and the magic that happens when copper meets char.

1899

Paymaster Building

“Where naval history meets the art of distillation”

Grain to Glass

The Process

Milling & Mashing

New York corn, rye, and barley are milled fresh daily. We cook them in small batches to create a sweet, fermentable mash.

Fermentation

Our proprietary yeast strains work for 3-5 days, converting sugars into alcohol and developing complex flavor precursors.

Distillation

Double-distilled in traditional copper pot stills. The copper reacts with sulfur compounds, creating a smoother, cleaner spirit.

Aging

Maturing in new American oak barrels with a #4 char. Our warehouse experiences true Brooklyn seasons, accelerating the aging process.

Bottling

Every bottle is filled, labeled, and numbered by hand. Small batches mean each release has its own unique character.

Our Collection

The Spirits

Flagship90 Proof

Straight Bourbon

Caramel, vanilla, toasted oak

Our cornerstone whiskey. Aged at least 4 years in new charred oak barrels. Notes of butterscotch and warm spice with a long, smooth finish.

Limited94 Proof

Empire Rye

Pepper, honey, dried fruit

A bold expression of New York terroir. Made with 75% NY rye grain. Spicy and complex with underlying sweetness.

Specialty88 Proof

Peated Bourbon

Smoke, toffee, sea salt

Bourbon meets Islay. We lightly peated a portion of the barley to create this unique marriage of sweet and smoky.

Collaboration80 Proof

Coffee Whiskey

Espresso, dark chocolate, molasses

A partnership with Brooklyn roasters. Cold-brewed coffee infused into our young whiskey. Perfect for after dinner.

Cask Proof115+ Proof

Barrel Strength

Intense oak, dark cherry, tobacco

Uncut and unfiltered. Each batch varies with the barrel. For the serious whiskey enthusiast.

Experience

Visit Us

The Gatehouses Tasting Room

Located in the historic 1896 entrance to the Brooklyn Navy Yard. Join us for flights, cocktails, and guided tastings seven days a week.

299 Sands Street, Building 121

Brooklyn, NY 11205

Mon–Thu: 12pm – 8pm

Fri–Sat: 12pm – 10pm

Sunday: 12pm – 6pm

(718) 555-0199

Distillery Tours

Walk through our production floor, learn about barrel-aging, and sample our award-winning whiskeys. Tours last approximately 45 minutes.

Brooklyn Navy Yard

Gatehouses

c. 1896