FEW Single Malt Whisky

A taste of Scotland… Chicago-style.

Paul Hletko’s grandfather lost his Czechoslovak brewery to the Nazi’s in World War II and never got it back. Paul was doing home brewing and wanted to go into business for himself and took his family history and experience to heart, founding FEW Spirits in 2011. Ever the rebel, he opened his "grain to glass" craft business in Evanston, Illinois — the birthplace of the temperance movement — from a small building whose only entryway is through a back alley. And we are all glad he did. Over the last five years he has grown to three Whiskies, three Gins, and seven employees whose motto is "By the Few, for the Few."

FEW Single Malt is only offered a few times per year. So it’s technically their "fourth" Whisky product… a stepsister to their White, Rye, and Bourbon Whiskeys. And as if producing a Single Malt in the good ‘ol United States of America isn’t special enough, Paul and the team took it one step further. Instead of using peat smoke like some distilleries in Scotland, they air dry most of the malt naturally and smoke the rest over cherry wood. Paul says that’s where the "earthy" notes come from. One thing is certain, at a proper 46.5% ABV this easy-drinking dram will deliver the flavor.

Smartass Corner:
FEW Spirits has a nice ring to it, but it is also a poke in the eye to governmental kill-joys. You see, F. E. W. are the initials of Francis Elizabeth Willard who was a leader of the Prohibition movement in Evanston back in the day.