FEW Straight Bourbon Whiskey 46.5% 700ml

This is the American heartland in a leather jacket. FEW’s straight bourbon is a high-rye mash bill beast — sharp-dressed, loud-mouthed, and impossible to ignore. You’re not here for softness; you’re here for grit wrapped in caramel.

On the nose, it hits like walking into a bakery next to a sawmill. Fresh rye bread, charred oak, cinnamon bark and vanilla pod rise immediately, chased by orange peel and a slap of fresh corn mash. There’s a sweet grain funk under the surface — that bold, fermented depth that reminds you this is made by hand, not dialled in by spreadsheets. Dig deeper, and you’ll find notes of roasted peanut shell, tobacco pouch, and a bit of sassafras.

The palate is assertive, but not harsh. Sweet caramel and toffee roll in first, followed quickly by rye spice, burnt sugar crust, and a crack of black pepper. There’s weight here — that chewy mid-palate bourbon lovers dream about. Then comes a wave of herbal brightness: mint, rosemary, even a flash of star anise. The oak is grippy but not bitter, offering roasted coffee bean and cocoa nibs as it drifts toward the finish.

The finish is long, slightly oily, and warm as a Chicago summer night — all toffee, clove, and charred orange rind. A classic, reimagined with a shot of espresso and a punch to the jaw.

Serve it neat, or on a single rock. Works stunningly well in an Old Fashioned if you lean into the spice with a flamed orange twist and a touch of mole bitters.