Craft spirits pioneer Few Spirits today announced the release of Few Chicago Smokeworks Whiskey, meant to commemorate the Great Chicago Fire of 1871.
Few has operated in Chicago for nearly a decade.
This new release is 93 proof. It begins with Few malt whiskey made from cherrywood smoked malted barley and rye grain. On the nose is dark Molasses, honey graham cracker, cherry jam, campfire and vanilla, the distillery reports. The palate brings cereal grain, caramel apple, baking spice and mellow-but-complex smoke.
“Chicago’s an old city with a proud history full of deeply ingrained traditions that loves any excuse for a party,” says Few Spirits Founder Paul Hletko. “With Few Chicago Smokeworks, we wanted to honor the grit and determination of our city by remembering how far we’ve come.”
He adds, “Fall in Chicago is also a time for wall-to-wall football, and this is a particularly exciting season in our city. With that in mind, we wanted to create a liquid with rich flavors tempered by easy, round smokiness that are right at home at a great tailgate party.”
When designing the label, Few’s distilling team took samples of the whiskey and tasted Chicago barbecue all over the city. The experience inspired an aesthetic full of “smoke, cast iron, copper, personality and happiness,” the distillery reports.
Few Smokeworks rolls out in August and continues through the fall, available for a suggested retail price of $50 per 750-ml. bottle. The whiskey will reach beverage alcohol stores in 34 markets, as ships nationally through the distillery’s online ecommerce shop.
Heaven Hill purchased Samson & Surrey, the previous owner of Few, in 2022.
