FEW Spirits American Gin 750ML is a grain-to-glass craft gin distilled in Evanston, Illinois, bottled at 40% ABV (80 proof). What distinguishes this expression from most gins on the market is its refusal to strip character from its base spirit — it begins life closer to a white whiskey than a neutral grain alcohol, giving the finished gin a rich, textured backbone that carries its eleven botanicals in an unusually layered way.Quick Facts: ABV: 40% (80 proof) | Origin: Evanston, Illinois, USA | Style: American Gin | Distillery: FEW SpiritsProduction & HeritageFEW Spirits was founded in 2011 by Paul Hletko in Evanston, Illinois — a town that was once home to the headquarters of the Women's Christian Temperance Union and was dry for nearly a century. The distillery operates as a true grain-to-glass producer, mashing, fermenting, and distilling on-site. The gin's mashbill of 70% corn, 20% wheat, and 10% malted barley is fermented with saison beer yeast and distilled to an intentionally low 130 proof, preserving the grain's inherent sweetness and body rather than stripping it to neutrality. Eleven botanicals — including juniper, bitter orange, lemon peel, vanilla, and Cascade hops (some grown in Hletko's own yard) — are then introduced, yielding a gin that bridges the gap between traditional botanical-forward London Drys and the emerging American grain-forward style.Tasting NotesAroma: Bright lemon peel and orange blossom meet warm vanilla on the nose, followed by soft juniper and a subtle floral hoppy quality. There is a gentle sweetness underneath, hinting at the corn-heavy grain bill.Taste: The entry is soft and approachable, settling sweetly on the palate with lemon meringue-like citrus and a dusting of vanilla. Mid-palate, juniper and floral notes come forward alongside orange peel, while a warm, lightly spicy quality — reminiscent of cinnamon — builds through the peak. The grain character gives the mouthfeel unexpected weight for a gin at 40% ABV.Finish: Medium-length and mellow, with lingering lemon, gentle baking spice, and a faint bitterness from the hops. The vanilla and grain sweetness trail off slowly, leaving a clean but characterful close.How to Drink FEW American GinNeat or over a single large ice cube, this gin rewards contemplation — the grain depth and vanilla notes open up beautifully as the spirit warms slightly. It also performs exceptionally well in cocktails where the base spirit needs to be heard. A Gin & Tonic with a grapefruit twist plays off the citrus and hop botanicals. A Bee's Knees (gin, honey, lemon) amplifies the spirit's inherent sweetness and meringue-like quality. A Negroni built with FEW Gin gains extra structure from the grain backbone, standing up to Campari's bitterness with more authority than a typical London Dry.Best For Whiskey drinkers curious about gin who want a grain-forward entry point Craft cocktail enthusiasts exploring American-style gins Gifting a spirits geek who values unusual production methods Building a home bar focused on small-batch American distilleries Frequently Asked QuestionsWhat does FEW American Gin taste like? FEW American Gin leads with bright lemon peel and warm vanilla, moving into soft juniper, orange peel, and a hint of cinnamon spice. The corn-heavy mashbill gives it a distinctly sweet, round character that sets it apart from sharper, juniper-dominant gins.How does FEW American Gin compare to St. George Dry Rye Gin? Both gins take a grain-forward approach, but FEW uses a corn-wheat-barley mashbill fermented with saison yeast, while St. George Dry Rye Gin builds its base from a pot-distilled rye spirit, resulting in a spicier, more peppery profile. FEW leans sweeter and softer, with more pronounced vanilla and citrus notes.Is FEW American Gin good for sipping neat? Yes — its low distillation proof preserves grain character and body that most gins lack, making it one of the more rewarding American gins to drink neat or with a single ice cube.Where is FEW American Gin made? FEW American Gin is produced at FEW Spirits distillery in Evanston, Illinois, located just north of Chicago. The distillery was founded in 2011 and operates as a complete grain-to-glass facility.What foods pair well with FEW American Gin? Lemon-herb roasted chicken complements the citrus and botanical notes. Goat cheese with honeycomb echoes the gin's vanilla sweetness. Grilled shrimp with a citrus butter highlights the lemon peel character. Thai green curry works well against the floral hops and warm spice. Lemon tart mirrors the meringue-like quality found in the mid-palate.What sizes does FEW American Gin come in? The standard bottling is available in the 750ml format.Is FEW American Gin worth the price? FEW American Gin positions as a premium craft gin, reflecting its grain-to-glass production, small-batch scale, and house-grown botanicals. For drinkers who value artisanal process and a genuinely different flavor profile over mainstream smoothness, it delivers strong value within its tier.Why FEW American Gin?The defining move behind this gin is distilling to just 130 proof from a 70/30/10 corn-wheat-barley mashbill fermented with saison beer yeast — a set of decisions borrowed more from craft brewing and bourbon-making than from conventional gin production. The result is a spirit that retains its grain identity rather than hiding behind botanicals. Cascade hops grown on-site in the founder's yard add a layer of terroir that few gins can claim, and the eleven-botanical recipe balances classic juniper and citrus with vanilla and floral notes in a way that reads as distinctly American. For anyone looking to understand what American gin can be when it stops imitating London, FEW's flagship bottling makes the case clearly.
