EVANSTON, IL (AUGUST 12, 2024) – FEW Spirits today announces the release of FEW Chicago Smokeworks Whiskey, the latest innovation from the groundbreaking Chicagoland distillery that has been redefining “Midwest whiskey” since its foundation nearly a decade and a half ago as Evanston, Illinois’ first legal distillery since Prohibition. The release is an homage to the rebirth of FEW’s home city after the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. The release is perfectly timed for end-of-summer backyard barbecues and the beginning of the college and NFL football seasons and the festive pregame tailgating that comes along with them.
The whiskey:
FEW Chicago Smokeworks (46.5% ABV/93 Proof) begins with FEW Malt Whiskey made from cherrywood smoked malted barley and rye grain for a rich and complex whiskey bursting with flavor. Rich and chewy with hints of smokey cherry, charred caramel, and smoked meat barbecue, it’s a bold and soulful reimagining of a traditional malt whiskey.
Tasting notes:
- Aroma: Dark Molasses, honey graham cracker, cherry jam, campfire and vanilla
- Taste: Cereal grain, caramel apple, baking spice and mellow but complex smoke
“Chicago’s an old city with a proud history full of deeply ingrained traditions that loves any excuse for a party,” said FEW Spirits Founder Paul Hletko. “With FEW Chicago Smokeworks, we wanted to honor the grit and determination of our city by remembering how far we’ve come.”
He continued, “Fall in Chicago is also a time for wall-to-wall football, and this is a particularly exciting season in our city. With that in mind, we wanted to create a liquid with rich flavors tempered by easy, round smokiness that are right at home at a great tailgate party.”
The label design:
When designing the label, FEW’s distilling team took samples of the whiskey and tasted Chicago barbecue all over the city. The experience inspired an aesthetic full of smoke, cast iron, copper, personality and happiness. What they saw while enjoying favorites like brisket and cornbread became the inspiration for the label design. The design is a perfect melding of Chicago’s history, architecture, no-nonsense barbecue scene and how whiskey just seems to complement it all so well. After all, Chicago is a drinking town.
FEW Smokeworks (SRP $50) will begin rolling out in August and continue through the fall. The whiskey will be available for sale in 34 markets, as well as nationally through the distillery’s online ecommerce shop, at www.fewspirits.com/products/.
Suggested Cocktails:
FEW Kickoff Cocktail
- 2 oz FEW Chicago Smokeworks
- 1/2 oz Campari
- 1/2 oz Amaro Averna
- Stir ingredients in a mixing glass with ice. Strain into rocks glass over one large ice cube. Garnish with a flamed orange twist.
FEW & A Brew: FEW Chicago Smokeworks & Amber Ale
- 1 Pour Chicago Smokeworks Whiskey
- 1 Amber Ale Beer
- Enjoy game day by pairing Chicago Smokeworks with your favorite craft Amber Ale.
Find FEW Spirits online at www.FEWspirits.com and use the hashtag #FEWspirits to find us on Instagram @FEWspirits.
About FEW Spirits
A grain-to-glass distillery embracing innovation since 2011, FEW Spirits produces award–winning craft whiskey in a tucked away alley located in Evanston, IL, a historical town where Prohibition lasted until 1972. Founder & Master Distiller Paul Hletko changed the future of Evanston when he opened FEW Spirits Distillery, the first (legal) alcohol-production facility of any kind to ever open there. Since, he’s collaborated with rock stars, employed experimental distillation and proofing methods, and more.
Hletko always knew he wanted to make craft spirits — produced in the local Chicago area — that offered something that broke the rules of traditional whiskey making and offered something rare and different. Living in Evanston, a town that was prime for change after being dry for four decades post the repeal of prohibition, Paul felt it was the perfect home and backdrop for FEW and the brand. Deeply integrated into the brand story, both Evanston and Chicago are crucial elements of the FEW DNA and its inspiration. From its liquid, created from locally grown or sourced ingredients, to the look & feel of the label design, which pays homage to the 1893 World’s Fair in Chicago — FEW is the true definition of a local Illinois craft spirit.
