The FEW Single Malt Whisky is a seasonal release from those crafty lads in Illinois and is the third member of their whiskey trio. The occasional sibling of the FEW Bourbon and FEW Rye it doesn’t get nearly the attention that the others get not because it isn’t good, but because it’s not as widely distributed.

To make this single malt the folks at FEW took an undisclosed percentage of their malted barley and smoked it with cherry wood which is supposed to give it a subtle smoky flavor to the whisky, but I honestly didn’t pick any of it up in this sample. It came across as bold and earthy with very little sweetness peaking it’s head out, but no real smokiness that I could find. It reminds me a lot of the Roughstock Montana Pure Malt and if it behaves like it too then I’m sure it would open up and expand more in the bottle over time, but since I’m going off of this sample, no chance to find out if that indeed would bee the case.

FEW Single Malt Whisky Review

ABV: 46.5%
Price: $70*
Distiller: FEW
Mashbill: 100% malted barley

EYE
Dark straw

NOSE
Barley and hay start things out with some nice notes of butterscotch fudge and mushrooms. Raw sugar and dusty grains mix in the background and help create a pleasant earthy aroma with a touch of sweetness.

TASTE
I sense a theme here with the barley and hay now dominating the palate. Subtle notes of wood, raw grains, citrus and ambiguous sweetness combine with a touch of astringency in a flavor that’s rich, but a tad one dimensional.

FINISH
Long and full of barley, alfalfa, hay, raw grains and a warm earthy undertone that rides out for the entirety of the finish.

BALANCE, BODY & FEEL
Feels a bit unbalanced with almost no sweetness on the palate and finish to even out the grainy earthy notes. Medium body with an easy texture that carries only a light amount of burn.

OVERALL
I really enjoy the rich fudgy grain on the nose and the rustic grainy flavor, but it all comes across a bit one dimensional. It would be nice is there was a bit more sweetness in there to help balance things out, and if I could pick up some of that smoked malt they talk about it having, but all things considered it’s still pretty good. A fun little American single malt that’s worth a taste if you get the chance.

SCORE: 86/100

*sample sent by FEW for the purposes of this review

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