FEW Rye Whiskey
FEW Rye Whiskey is a 750mL straight rye whiskey bottled at 93 proof (46.5% ABV), distilled grain-to-glass by FEW Spirits in Evanston, Illinois, from a mash of 70% rye, 20% corn and 10% malted barley, and aged in air-dried oak barrels. It is the whiskey that revived distilling in the hometown of the temperance movement — and it is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor.
- ABV: 46.5% (93 proof)
- Size: 750mL
- Mash bill: 70% rye, 20% corn, 10% malted barley
- Ageing: Air-dried oak barrels; no age statement (straight rye — at least 2 years in new charred oak by law)
- Distillery: FEW Spirits, Evanston, Illinois — 100% grain-to-glass since 2011
- Origin: Illinois, USA
Prohibition's Hometown, Distilling Again
FEW takes its name from Frances Elizabeth Willard, the temperance leader headquartered in Evanston — a town that stayed dry long after Prohibition ended. Founder Paul Hletko opened the grain-to-glass distillery in an Evanston back alley in 2011, and the rye became its calling card: Whisky Advocate named it Craft Whiskey of the Year in 2013. The brand's sell-sheet tradition ferments the rye with a French Loire Valley wine yeast, a nod to the fruit-driven profile the corn's sweetness rounds out. Explore the distillery on the FEW vendor page, or browse our rye whiskey collection.
Tasting Notes
Generous rye spice married with corn sweetness — cinnamon and clove over caramel and honey, with the pepper, ginger and vanilla warmth and orchard-fruit finish (cherry, plum, pear) described in the brand's sell-sheet copy.
How to Enjoy
At 93 proof it holds its spice in a Manhattan without going missing behind the vermouth — or pour it neat to taste the grain-to-glass character straight. More craft ryes are in our rye whiskey collection.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is FEW Rye made?
In Evanston, Illinois — FEW is a 100% grain-to-glass distillery, milling, fermenting, distilling, ageing and bottling in-house. (Listings that say Indiana are wrong.)
What does FEW stand for?
The initials of Frances Elizabeth Willard, the Evanston temperance leader — an ironic namesake for the distillery that brought spirits production back to her town.
How old is FEW Rye?
It carries no age statement. As a straight rye it is aged at least two years in new charred oak; older age claims in retail copy belong to FEW's separate Bottled-in-Bond rye.
Grain-to-glass from the town temperance built — order FEW Rye Whiskey online from Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.
