Project Description
FORTUNE FANCIES THE BOLD
Inspired by pre-prohibition times, the golden age of spirits.
FEW is made up of equal parts, craft and courage and always 100% grain to glass!
BORN IN THE HOME OF TEMPERANCE
A grain-to-glass distillery since 2011, FEW Spirits produces award–winning craft whisky and gin in a tucked away alley located in the growing Chicago suburb of Evanston, Illinois. A historical town where prohibition lasted until 1972, Founder and 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.
Hletko always knew he wanted to make craft spirits – produced in the local Chicago area – that offered something different, delicious and fun. Living in Evanston, a town that was prime for change after being dry for four decades post the repeal of prohibition, he 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 and feel of the design, which pays homage to the 1893 World’s Fair in Chicago – FEW is the true definition of a local Illinois craft spirit.
Hletko always knew he wanted to make craft spirits – produced in the local Chicago area – that offered something different, delicious and fun. Living in Evanston, a town that was prime for change after being dry for four decades post the repeal of prohibition, he 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 and feel of the design, which pays homage to the 1893 World’s Fair in Chicago – FEW is the true definition of a local Illinois craft spirit.
THE STORY BEHIND FEW
Also known as the Columbian Exposition, the 1893 world’s fair took place in Chicago, Illinois. It represented the dawn of modernism and introduced the American nation to phosphorescent lights, moving walkways, an electricity powered water fountain and the invention of the Ferris wheel.
It was even the launching ground of a notable brand of juicy chewing gum and a brand of beer that was awarded a first-place blue ribbon. Both are still around today.
However, it was also the golden age of pre-prohibition whisky.
Several decades later, Evanston, a suburb just north of Chicago, would become known as the seat of prohibition and the established headquarters for the temperance movement – spearheaded by the Women’s Christian Temperance Movement, who also advocated heavily for women’s suffrage. Prohibition was repealed in 1933, but Evanston was a dry community that clung dear to concept of the noble experiment decades after repeal.
These two iconic moments in time and place, became the inspiration behind FEW Spirits.
It was even the launching ground of a notable brand of juicy chewing gum and a brand of beer that was awarded a first-place blue ribbon. Both are still around today.
However, it was also the golden age of pre-prohibition whisky.
Several decades later, Evanston, a suburb just north of Chicago, would become known as the seat of prohibition and the established headquarters for the temperance movement – spearheaded by the Women’s Christian Temperance Movement, who also advocated heavily for women’s suffrage. Prohibition was repealed in 1933, but Evanston was a dry community that clung dear to concept of the noble experiment decades after repeal.
These two iconic moments in time and place, became the inspiration behind FEW Spirits.
TRUE TO HIS ROOTS
While Evanston’s history itself led to the creation of FEW, the biggest inspiration for Hletko was his own family history. Prior to World War II, Paul’s grandfather owned a large brewery in what is now the Czech Republic and after losing the brewery to the Nazi invasion he fought the remainder of his life to get the brewery back. When his grandfather passed away and Paul was at the end of his time with the music industry, he decided to start a distillery of his own.
In 2011 the FEW Distillery opened and since then has produced award-winning spirits that are original, distinctive and playful. Hletko’s love for the nuances and flavour of whiskey and his flexibility to innovate with gin have made them FEW’s backbone products, but he continues to play around and innovate daily with limited expressions and new collaborations. In the future, he aspires to take FEW to an even bigger production facility where he and his team can continue to produce their liquid for enthusiasts around the world, while remaining true to their craft roots.
In 2011 the FEW Distillery opened and since then has produced award-winning spirits that are original, distinctive and playful. Hletko’s love for the nuances and flavour of whiskey and his flexibility to innovate with gin have made them FEW’s backbone products, but he continues to play around and innovate daily with limited expressions and new collaborations. In the future, he aspires to take FEW to an even bigger production facility where he and his team can continue to produce their liquid for enthusiasts around the world, while remaining true to their craft roots.
PRODUCTION
Born from locally sourced grains, aged in American oak barrels and bottled in American-made glass bottles, FEW boldly claim 100% grain-to-glass.
Small but mighty, FEW Distillery makes its spirits using three stills, which according to Hletko is a rarity among production facilities of its size. Both the whiskey and gin originate in a Vendome still used for initial distillation, then a 1,500-liter hybrid still is used to finish the whiskies, while a smaller 150-liter pot still is used exclusively to distil the gins with their botanicals. The distillery team consists of a small group of loyal and passionate craft spirit professionals.
FEW Spirits features a refreshing and innovative portfolio including a stable of core spirits and several small batch limited edition specialty expressions. Each flagship spirit is a new take on the timeless liquors of the past; distilled from the very best grains, aged to perfection, and bottled under the FEW roof. The small batch limited editions hold true to the premium quality FEW drinkers have to come to love and expect from the brand but offer something novel to the oft-ordinary taste and style their followers have grown accustomed to.
In a world over saturated with mass-produced spirits, only few remain truly handcrafted, locally sourced and small-batched. FEW has never strayed from this – even as it grows, the team continue to provide consistently impeccable spirits that are true to their craft roots and reminiscent of their home base.
Small but mighty, FEW Distillery makes its spirits using three stills, which according to Hletko is a rarity among production facilities of its size. Both the whiskey and gin originate in a Vendome still used for initial distillation, then a 1,500-liter hybrid still is used to finish the whiskies, while a smaller 150-liter pot still is used exclusively to distil the gins with their botanicals. The distillery team consists of a small group of loyal and passionate craft spirit professionals.
FEW Spirits features a refreshing and innovative portfolio including a stable of core spirits and several small batch limited edition specialty expressions. Each flagship spirit is a new take on the timeless liquors of the past; distilled from the very best grains, aged to perfection, and bottled under the FEW roof. The small batch limited editions hold true to the premium quality FEW drinkers have to come to love and expect from the brand but offer something novel to the oft-ordinary taste and style their followers have grown accustomed to.
In a world over saturated with mass-produced spirits, only few remain truly handcrafted, locally sourced and small-batched. FEW has never strayed from this – even as it grows, the team continue to provide consistently impeccable spirits that are true to their craft roots and reminiscent of their home base.
