FEW Smashing Pumpkins Bourbon Whiskey with Madame Zuzus Midnight Rose Tea
FEW Smashing Pumpkins Bourbon Whiskey with Madame Zuzus Midnight Rose Tea is a 93-proof (46.5% ABV) limited-edition collaboration in a 750mL bottle between FEW Spirits of Evanston, Illinois and the Smashing Pumpkins. It starts as FEW's four-year-old straight bourbon — 70% corn, 20% rye, 10% malted barley — then is proofed not with water but with Midnight Rose black tea from Madame Zuzu's Emporium, the tea shop run by Billy Corgan and Chloé Mendel Corgan. It is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- Proof / ABV: 93 proof (46.5% ABV)
- Size: 750mL, limited release
- Base: FEW 4-year straight bourbon — 70% corn, 20% rye, 10% two-row malted barley
- Twist: proofed with Midnight Rose black tea (rose-petal-scented) from Madame Zuzu's, Highland Park, Illinois
- Origin: distilled and bottled by FEW Spirits, Evanston, Illinois
When Bourbon Meets the Smashing Pumpkins
FEW founder Paul Hletko has a history of rock-band collaborations (Flaming Lips, Alice in Chains), but this one is personal: a fellow Chicagoan's band, a hometown tea shop, and FEW's own grain-to-glass bourbon. Cutting the whiskey from cask strength with brewed Midnight Rose tea instead of water infuses it with rose water and sandalwood notes the label wears proudly — "straight bourbon whiskey with tea," a blend of both, technically a distilled spirits specialty. Label art by Chicago artist Katelan Foisy nods to vintage tea tins with a "Tonight, Tonight" lyric on the back. Explore the FEW collection and more bourbon whiskey at Del Mesa.
Tasting Notes
The nose shows ripe honeydew, vanilla, and rose water over sandalwood and caramel. The palate is smooth and aromatic — delicate rose and lemon peel, sweet orange-slice candy, lingering spice, black tea, and classic bourbon vanilla — with a long, contemplative finish where tea-driven rose fades into gentle oak spice and warmth.
How to Enjoy
Neat or over one large rock, preferably with Siamese Dream on the turntable. The floral-tea character also makes an unusually good boulevardier-style pour for the adventurous.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is FEW Smashing Pumpkins a flavored whiskey?
Not exactly — it is FEW's straight bourbon proofed with black tea instead of water, so the tea is part of the proofing, not an added flavoring. The label calls it "straight bourbon whiskey with tea."
What tea is used in FEW Smashing Pumpkins Bourbon?
Midnight Rose, a blend of black teas scented with rose petals, from Madame Zuzu's Emporium in Highland Park, Illinois — the tea shop run by Billy Corgan and his wife.
Is this a limited release?
Yes — a limited-edition collaboration, though FEW has indicated it may become a more regular offering over time.
Rock history in a glass — order FEW Smashing Pumpkins Bourbon online from Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.