Few Spirits Rye Whiskey 750ML

Few Spirits Rye Whiskey 750ML is a grain-to-glass American rye whiskey distilled in Evanston, Illinois, bottled at 46.5% ABV (93 proof) in a 750ml format. Named Whiskey Advocate's 2013 Craft Whiskey of the Year, this small-batch expression stands apart for its unconventional fermentation with a French wine yeast sourced from the Loire Valley—a technique that coaxes fruit-forward character rarely found in rye.

Quick Facts: ABV: 46.5%  |  Origin: Evanston, Illinois, USA  |  Style: Small Batch Rye  |  Distillery: Few Spirits

Production & Heritage

Few Spirits Distillery operates in Evanston, Illinois—a suburb of Chicago that maintained Prohibition-era dry laws until 1972. The distillery produces its rye whiskey entirely on-site from a mashbill of 70% rye, 20% corn, and 10% malted barley. What truly distinguishes this expression is the fermentation stage: rather than using a standard distiller's yeast, Few employs a wine yeast imported from France's Loire Valley, which drives the fruity, aromatic complexity layered beneath the grain's natural spice. The spirit is then aged in charred new American oak barrels before being bottled at a robust 46.5% ABV without chill filtration, preserving body and texture.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with warm caramel and raw honey, followed by chamomile tea and a thread of cedar. Subtle baking spices—cinnamon and nutmeg—emerge as the whiskey opens in the glass.

Taste: The entry is buttery and grain-forward, with rye spice asserting itself quickly on the mid-palate. Vanilla and brown sugar develop alongside cinnamon bark and black pepper, while the Loire Valley yeast influence surfaces as juicy citrus zest and stone fruit, giving the whiskey an unexpected dimension of sweetness and complexity.

Finish: Medium-long and warming, with fiery cinnamon giving way to orange peel and toasted oak. A lingering butterscotch note rounds out the experience with a pleasant, slightly drying close.

How to Drink Few Rye

At 46.5% ABV, Few Rye has enough structure to drink neat or with a single ice cube; a few drops of water open up the fruit notes without flattening the spice. It also performs exceptionally well in cocktails:

• Manhattan: The rye spice and caramel sweetness stand up to sweet vermouth, and the fruit-forward yeast character adds depth that simpler ryes lack.
• Sazerac: Cinnamon, citrus peel, and black pepper mirror the cocktail's absinthe rinse and Peychaud's bitters almost perfectly.
• Old Fashioned: The inherent vanilla and brown sugar reduce the need for heavy sweetening, letting the grain and oak speak clearly.

Best For

• Rye whiskey enthusiasts exploring craft distillery alternatives to sourced whiskey
• Gifting to someone who values unusual production techniques and provenance
• Building a home bar anchored by a versatile, cocktail-ready American rye
• Side-by-side tastings comparing grain-to-glass craft rye against established labels

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Few Rye taste like? Few Rye delivers bold cinnamon and black pepper spice balanced by caramel, vanilla, and an unusual citrus-and-stone-fruit character derived from its Loire Valley wine yeast fermentation. The finish is warm, moderately long, and marked by orange peel and toasted oak.

How does Few Rye compare to WhistlePig 10 Year? WhistlePig 10 Year is a 100% rye sourced from Canada and aged a full decade at 100 proof, producing a heavier, more oak-driven profile. Few Rye is distilled in-house from a 70% rye mashbill and bottled younger at 46.5% ABV, favoring fruity complexity and grain-forward spice over deep barrel influence.

Is Few Rye good for sipping neat? Yes—the 46.5% ABV provides enough intensity to hold interest without overwhelming heat, and the wine-yeast fermentation adds layers of fruit and spice that reward slow sipping.

Where is Few Rye made? Few Rye is distilled, aged, and bottled at Few Spirits Distillery in Evanston, Illinois, a suburb just north of Chicago. The distillery handles every stage of production on-site, from milling grain to barreling.

What foods pair well with Few Rye? Smoked brisket or pulled pork complements the whiskey's cinnamon and oak spice. Sharp aged cheddar mirrors the caramel and butterscotch notes. Dark chocolate with orange peel echoes the citrus finish. Pecan pie amplifies the brown sugar and vanilla mid-palate. Charcuterie boards with salami and honey offer a savory-sweet contrast to the rye grain character.

What sizes does Few Rye come in? The standard expression is widely available in a 750ml bottle, with 200ml formats occasionally found in select markets.

Is Few Rye worth the price? Few Rye positions in the mid-premium tier for American craft rye. Its grain-to-glass production, distinctive Loire Valley yeast fermentation, and award-winning pedigree—including Whiskey Advocate's 2013 Craft Whiskey of the Year—offer genuine differentiation that justifies its place above entry-level ryes.

Why Few Rye?

The Loire Valley wine yeast fermentation is not a gimmick—it fundamentally shifts the flavor profile away from the one-note spice that defines many young ryes, introducing citrus and stone fruit layers that have no analog in the category. That distinction earned it Whiskey Advocate's 2013 Craft Whiskey of the Year along with Gold Medals from the World Whiskey Awards, Beverage Tasting Institute, and International Whisky Competition. Unlike many "craft" ryes on the market, Few distills and ages its own spirit entirely on-site in Evanston, giving drinkers a true grain-to-glass product with full traceability. For anyone seeking a rye with genuine originality—not just a label change on sourced stock—this bottle delivers a verifiable point of difference.