FEW Bottled in Bond is a grain-to-glass straight bourbon from FEW Spirits in Evanston, Illinois, made from 70% corn, 20% rye and 10% malted barley and bottled at 100 proof (50% ABV).
FEW was founded in 2011 by Paul Hletko in a small warehouse beside the train tracks in Evanston, just north of Chicago, a city long known as the birthplace of the temperance movement that spawned Prohibition. Hletko helped change the city's laws to allow distilling, and the brand draws inspiration from the 1893 Chicago World's Fair.
The bourbon is fermented with a Belgian beer yeast and aged in #3 char barrels. As a bottled-in-bond whiskey, it is the product of one distilling season, aged at least four years in a bonded warehouse and bottled at exactly 100 proof. The nose opens with custard and creamy vanilla.
Its striking World's Fair label makes it a handsome gift.
Bourbon must be made in the United States from a mash of at least 51% corn and aged in new charred oak containers, and straight bourbon must be aged at least two years. Those rules give bourbon its characteristic sweetness, with caramel and vanilla drawn from the charred barrels.
The Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897 set strict rules to guarantee a whiskey's authenticity, and they still apply today.
Fermenting with a Belgian beer yeast adds fruity, spicy esters that carry through to the whiskey.
A 20% rye share gives a lively spice that balances the sweetness of the corn.
Specifications
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Producer: FEW Spirits, Evanston, Illinois
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Style: Straight bourbon, bottled in bond
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Mash Bill: 70% corn, 20% rye, 10% malted barley
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Yeast: Belgian beer yeast
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Barrel: #3 char
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Proof / ABV: 100 proof (50% ABV)
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Region: Illinois, USA
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Size: 750ml
How to Enjoy It
Sip it neat or with a splash of water, or mix an Old Fashioned or a Manhattan. It pairs with barbecue, custard tarts or pecan pie.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is it made?
FEW Spirits in Evanston, Illinois, grain to glass.
What is the mash bill?
70% corn, 20% rye and 10% malted barley.
Is it bottled in bond?
Yes, aged at least four years and bottled at 100 proof.
Explore more in our Bourbon collection.
