Few Spirits Flaming Lips Brainville Rye 750ML

FEW Spirits Flaming Lips Brainville Rye 750ML is a limited-edition American rye whiskey bottled at 40% ABV (80 proof) in a 750ml format. Born from a collaboration between FEW Spirits and the rock band The Flaming Lips, this expression stands out for its use of French wine yeast sourced from the Loire Valley — a fermentation choice that introduces fruit-forward complexity rarely found in rye whiskey. Only 5,000 bottles were produced.

Quick Facts: ABV: 40%  |  Origin: Evanston, Illinois, USA  |  Style: Straight Rye Whiskey  |  Distillery: FEW Spirits

Production & Heritage

FEW Spirits was founded in 2011 in Evanston, Illinois — a city that was once the headquarters of the Women's Christian Temperance Union and remained dry until 1972. The distillery has built its reputation on grain-to-glass production and experimental techniques. Brainville Rye uses a mashbill of 70% rye, 20% corn, and 10% malted barley, fermented with a French wine yeast strain from the Loire Valley rather than a standard distiller's yeast. This deliberate departure generates fruity esters that founder Paul Hletko has described as adding "a lot of fruity flavors you don't normally find in rye whiskey." The spirit is aged in new, charred American oak barrels custom-made in Minnesota.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Mint leaf and apple blossom open the nose, followed by toasted oak and a thread of cinnamon. There is a subtle citrus-smoke interplay underneath that hints at the Loire yeast's influence.

Taste: The entry is well-rounded rye spice — red pepper and ginger — supported by a malted milk backbone. Mid-palate, the wine yeast character emerges clearly: flamed orange peel, greengage plum, and quince give way to melon and stone fruit notes that are unusual for the category. Baking spice and peppercorn anchor the palate and prevent the fruit from drifting too sweet.

Finish: Medium in length with a fizzy, apple-lace quality and leafy herbal notes. Swedish pepparkakor spice and allspice linger as the fruit recedes.

How to Drink Brainville Rye

Neat or with a few drops of water is the most rewarding way to experience the Loire yeast character — water opens up the fruit notes considerably. At 40% ABV, it doesn't need heavy dilution.

• Sazerac: The greengage and quince notes pair naturally with absinthe and Peychaud's bitters, adding a fruity twist to the classic template.
• Rye Old Fashioned: The malted milk backbone and baking spice hold up well against sugar and Angostura, while the fruit complexity adds dimension a conventional rye may lack.
• Whiskey Sour: The apple and citrus character in Brainville Rye complements fresh lemon juice without needing additional sweetening beyond the standard recipe.

Best For

• Gifting a Flaming Lips fan who also appreciates whiskey
• Rye whiskey enthusiasts exploring unconventional fermentation techniques
• Adding a talking-point bottle to a home bar collection
• Side-by-side tastings comparing standard distiller's yeast rye against wine-yeast rye

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Brainville Rye taste like? Brainville Rye leads with classic rye spice — ginger, red pepper, baking spice — but pivots into unusual stone fruit, greengage plum, and melon notes created by its Loire Valley wine yeast fermentation. The finish carries allspice and leafy herbs.

How does Brainville Rye compare to FEW Rye Whiskey? Both share the same 70% rye, 20% corn, 10% malted barley mashbill and are produced at FEW Spirits in Evanston, Illinois. The key difference is fermentation: Brainville uses a French wine yeast from the Loire Valley instead of a standard distiller's yeast, which generates noticeably more fruit-forward esters and a softer mouthfeel.

Is Brainville Rye good for sipping neat? Yes — at 40% ABV it is approachable without dilution, and the wine-yeast fruit character is most clearly expressed when tasted neat or with a small splash of water.

Where is Brainville Rye made? Brainville Rye is distilled and aged at FEW Spirits in Evanston, Illinois, a northern suburb of Chicago. The distillery handles production from grain to glass on-site.

What foods pair well with Brainville Rye? Smoked duck breast complements the rye spice and fruit complexity. Aged Gruyère or Comté echo the malted milk backbone. Apple tarte tatin mirrors the apple blossom and greengage notes. Charcuterie with whole-grain mustard plays off the peppery finish. Gingerbread or pepparkakor cookies reinforce the baking-spice character in the finish.

What sizes does Brainville Rye come in? Brainville Rye is available in the standard 750ml bottle size.

Is Brainville Rye worth the price? Brainville Rye positions as a mid-premium craft rye with genuine production novelty — Loire Valley wine yeast fermentation and a limited run of just 5,000 bottles. For collectors and experimentally minded rye drinkers, the unique flavor profile justifies the price above standard craft ryes.

Why Brainville Rye?

The Loire Valley wine yeast is not a marketing afterthought — it fundamentally reshapes the flavor profile, introducing greengage plum, quince, and melon notes that simply do not appear in conventionally fermented rye whiskey. With only 5,000 bottles produced, availability is finite. Drinkhacker awarded it a B+ rating, calling it "quite a compelling experience." For anyone who has explored the standard FEW range and wants to see how a single variable — yeast strain — can redirect an entire whiskey, Brainville Rye is the most direct answer the distillery has offered.