Bourbon

Bourbon Review: FEW Straight Bourbon Whiskey Bottled in Bond

We review FEW Spirits Straight Bourbon Whiskey Bottled in Bond. It was released to commemorate FEW's 10th anniversary.

OVERALL RATING

8
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Few Straight Bourbon Whiskey Bottled in Bond (image via Carin Moonin)

Tasting Notes

About:

About $50; 100 proof; mash bill of 70 percent corn, 20 percent rye, and 10 percent malted barley; aged in Minnesota oak barrels a minimum of four years.
Appearance:
First off, I will disclose that the bottle (at least the one I got) is capped really tightly. I might have small and limited hand strength (if that’s a thing) but wriggling the stopper out of this was a workout. Be forewarned, slight folks! I suppose it’s better than wobbly and getting whiskey everywhere? Anyway, how this whiskey looks in the bottle: cinnamon meets crimson. In the glass: sightly browner but still very reddish, like a well-polished cherrywood dresser.
Nose:
This has a happily textbook nose for a bourbon, and I ain’t mad about it: vanilla, cherry, butterscotch. Also, notes of rooibos tea and Oreo cookies. The real Oreos, none of this Hydrox shizz or wacky Oreo flavors.
Palate:
What stands out to me the most is that this whiskey is extremely well-balanced. It begins sweet but finishes crisp as a perfectly cold apple. At 100 proof, it’s not alcohol-forward in the least. It’s more savory. A lot of whiskies can be pre- or post-meal, but I would gladly drink this with food. It’s warm but won’t get in your way if you pair it with other strong flavors. Like, if could have it with like a cheese plate or ploughman’s lunch or something like that? It would be a fine repast, my friends.
Finish:
Comments:
I like this. I like it a lot. It’s not overly complex or weird or funky or try-hard, and it needn’t be. It’s a solid, well-made whiskey and I am happy to have it on the roster. Thanks, FEW!

Editor’s Note: This whiskey was either bought as a sample by The Whiskey Wash or provided to us as a review sample by the party behind it. Per our editorial policies, this in no way influenced the outcome of this review.

Carin Moonin

Carin Moonin swapped a 5th-floor walkup in Hoboken, NJ, for a house in SE Portland a decade ago and hasn't looked back. She appreciates Portland's vibrant whiskey scene, finding it complements both the weather and her mood. Carin enjoys exploring the diverse world of brown liquor and its many facets. Her writing has been featured in publications such as Salon.com, DailyDot.com, Willamette Week, Portland Monthly, and others. When she's not indulging in whiskey or writing about it, you can find Carin running, reading, or on the hunt for free samples in grocery stores.

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