Few Spirits Bourbon Barrel Aged Gin 750ML

Few Spirits Bourbon Barrel Aged Gin 750ML is a 93-proof (46.5% ABV) American gin rested in bourbon barrels, produced in Evanston, Illinois. Originally conceived as a limited-edition release to bridge the gap while the distillery's whiskey aged to maturity, this barrel-aged gin earned a B+ from Drinkhacker and has since become a permanent fixture in the Few Spirits lineup.

Quick Facts: ABV: 46.5% (93 proof)  |  Origin: Evanston, Illinois, USA  |  Barrel-Aged Gin  |  Distillery: Few Spirits

Production & Heritage

Few Spirits operates in Evanston, Illinois — a suburb of Chicago that was famously dry for nearly a century following Prohibition. The distillery built its reputation on grain-forward spirits, and this gin starts with a mashbill of 70% corn, 20% wheat, and 10% malted barley before botanical distillation with juniper, lemon, vanilla, orange peel, and hops. After distillation, the gin rests for four months in charred oak bourbon barrels, picking up color and wood-derived complexity that sets it apart from traditional London Dry styles. The concept was born out of necessity — Few needed a product to release while its bourbon and rye whiskey stocks matured — and the result was a gin designed specifically to appeal to whiskey drinkers.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Juniper leads but shares space quickly with warm vanilla and toasted oak. Underneath, citrus peel and a faint herbal hop character provide lift without overwhelming the barrel influence.

Taste: The palate opens with a recognizable gin backbone — juniper, coriander, and bright lemon — before the bourbon barrel aging makes itself known at mid-palate. Smoky charred-oak sweetness weaves through the botanicals, delivering notes of dark chocolate and licorice alongside peppery spice. The corn-heavy mashbill contributes a round, almost creamy texture that carries the 46.5% ABV without excessive heat.

Finish: Medium-long, with a distinctly bitter, almost quinine-like quality that gradually resolves into lingering vanilla and dried citrus peel. A subtle fennel note surfaces late, adding unexpected herbal complexity.

How to Drink Few Barrel Gin

Neat or with a single large ice cube is the most rewarding approach — the barrel character unfolds as the spirit opens up, and dilution reveals hidden botanical nuances without drowning the oak. That said, this gin's hybrid personality makes it remarkably versatile in cocktails. A Negroni gains additional depth, as the barrel-aged base stands toe-to-toe with Campari's bitterness. A Bee's Knees highlights the honey-like sweetness and citrus notes already present in the spirit. And a barrel-aged Martinez variation, using sweet vermouth and maraschino liqueur, leans into the dark chocolate and vanilla undertones for a cocktail that drinks almost like an after-dinner pour.

Best For

• Introducing a bourbon drinker to the world of gin
• Building a home bar section dedicated to barrel-aged spirits
• Mixing Negroni variations with added depth and wood complexity
• Gifting a craft spirits enthusiast who values unusual production methods

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Few Barrel Gin taste like? It tastes unmistakably like gin — juniper, citrus peel, and herbal spice are all present — but four months in bourbon barrels add smoky vanilla, dark chocolate, and a woody warmth more commonly associated with aged whiskey.

How does Few Barrel Gin compare to Ransom Old Tom Gin? Ransom Old Tom Gin is widely credited as one of the first barrel-aged gins on the modern market and uses a maltier, softer base with a sweeter Old Tom profile. Few Barrel Gin runs hotter at 93 proof versus Ransom's 88 proof and leans more heavily into bourbon-barrel char and spice, making it drier and more assertive on the palate.

Is Few Barrel Gin good for sipping neat? Yes — the 46.5% ABV provides enough structure and concentration for straight sipping, and the bourbon-barrel aging adds the kind of warmth and complexity that rewards a slow pour without a mixer.

Where is Few Barrel Gin made? Few Spirits distills this gin in Evanston, Illinois, a city just north of Chicago that was historically one of the centers of the American temperance movement and remained dry long after Prohibition ended nationally.

What foods pair well with Few Barrel Gin? Smoked salmon benefits from the juniper and citrus botanicals. Dark chocolate truffles complement the barrel-derived cocoa notes. Grilled stone fruits like peaches mirror the spirit's vanilla sweetness. Sharp aged cheddar contrasts the herbal spice, and charcuterie boards with cured meats balance the gin's peppery finish.

What sizes does Few Barrel Gin come in? The standard offering is a 750ml bottle, which is the most widely available format.

Is Few Barrel Gin worth the price? Positioned in the premium craft tier, it sits above most conventional gins but competes directly with other barrel-aged and small-batch American gins in its range. The hybrid bourbon-gin character and limited-production backstory provide genuine differentiation that justifies the premium over standard unaged gins.

Why Few Barrel Gin?

What started as a creative stopgap — something to sell while Few's whiskey barrels matured — turned into one of the more compelling barrel-aged gins available in the American craft market. The 70/30/10 corn-wheat-barley mashbill gives it a whiskey-like richness that most barrel-aged gins, which typically start from neutral grain or malt-forward bases, simply cannot replicate. The hop botanical is another unusual choice, adding a bitter herbal edge that prevents the oak sweetness from becoming cloying. For drinkers who live at the intersection of gin and bourbon, this 93-proof release occupies a space that very few other spirits have credibly claimed.