The Illustrious FEW Spirits, Evanston, IL
Chicagoland Award Winning Spirits
We were at The Ritz Carlton Hotel on the Mag Mile in Downtown Chicago the first time we understood how serious this FEW Spirits thing was. The distillery made a barrel for them aged on Benedictine. The hotel rinses your glass with absinthe before serving…this was back in 2013!
We all know Koval to be the first Chicago distillery since prohibition but we find ourselves drinking more FEW over the calendar year than any other local spirit. The distillery and their speakeasy tasting room are a mile north of The Neat Pour Studios. This week on The Neat Pour Podcast we spotlight the Imortal Rye Whiskey from FEW. This rye whiskey is proofed down to 93 with cold extracted 8 Immortals Oolong Tea.
Pre-Prohibition Inspired, Small Batch Spirits
At the recent San Francisco World Spirits Competition the Evanston crew took home no less than five awards including a Silver for Immortal Rye
FEW Straight Bourbon (GOLD)
FEW Straight Rye Whiskey (GOLD)
FEW American Blended Whiskey (BRONZE)
FEW Cold Cut Whiskey (proofed with cold brewed coffee) (SILVER)
FEW Immortal Rye Whiskey (SILVER)
The Dude Abides + Tropic Thunder
200ML Sizes of Core Offerings, 3 for $100
We love that this small operation is the definition of craft, taking chances with mind bending interpretations of whiskey styles with wonderful execution. The Immortal Rye is like nothing on the home bar. An eye opening experiences that bring excitement to the category. In Chicago all their releases are readily available at retail chains. The tasting room is literally down a nondescript alley just a few blocks from Sketchbook Brewing up in E-Town.
F.E.W, is named after the founder of the Evanston Women’s Temperance Union, Frances Elizabeth Willard. Cocktails are served in the same 200ML glass bottles that the you can purchase the spirits in.
I’d advise anyone looking to escape occupied Chicago to pay them a visit. Icons of Whisky named FEW named few the most sustainable distillery of 2021.
Evanston
Cocktails we enjoyed during our visit.
Boulevardier (FEW Whiskey Italian Wine Barrel Finished, Cappelletti Italian Bitter, Dollin Sweet Vermouth)
The Dude Abides (FEW Cold Cut Bourbon, St George Coffee Liqueur, Orgeat, Chocolate Bitters)
Tropic Thunder (FEW Barrel Gin Infused w Toasted Coconut, Passionfruit Syrup, Falernum, Lemon Juice)
918 Sour ( FEW Straight Bourbon, Chai and English Breakfast Tea Syrup, Lemon Juice, Angostura Bitters)
The Last Word (FEW Breakfast Gin, Green Chartreuse, Luxardo Maraschino, Lime Juice)
—The Neat Pour
Be sure to check out Episode 38 of The Neat Pour Podcast for our full thoughts on the Immortal Rye
Few Things In Life Are Better Than English Breakfast Gin
Statue of the Republic, Chicago World’s Fair 1893