Grain

FEW Single Malt

FEW Spirits trades a lot on their location and story, but they have a right to. Housed in the home of the US temperance movement, owner Paul Hletko struggled to change the prohibition-era ordinances still on the town law books to be able to get his distillery running. Started in 2011, FEW makes their spirits grain-to-glass. The distillery has several offerings and the labels feature woodcut prints of wonders from the 1893 World’s Colombian Exposition in Chicago. The distillery’s name shares initials with Francis Elizabeth Willard (1839–1898), founder of the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union, which is based in Evanston. This single malt is not one of their current offerings but has been in the past, so can be still be found on shelves, with the idea it could be revived in the future.

By Adam | June 20, 2019 | Foreign | No Comments |

Situated just north of Glasgow, Port Dundas distillery was closed in 2010 after distilling grain whisky for almost two hundred years. By the end of the 19th century, it was one of the largest whisky makers in Scotland by volume, at over two million gallons a year. The grains used were barley, rye, and most curious of all, American corn. Unlike many distilleries that fell into closure due to poor sales or temperance movements, the decision to close Port Dundas was made due to another distillery in Diageo’s portfolio, Cameronbridge, having a higher production capacity. Even though the distillery was demolished in 2011, enough product remains for Diageo to have two offerings at least in the American, this Port Dundas 12 Year and an 18 Year grain scotch.

By Adam | December 13, 2018 | Lowland | No Comments |

In less than 10 years since opening in 2009, Balcones has emerged rapidly on the whisky scene, named for the Balcones Fault that runs near Waco. Awarded the best American craft whisky distillery in 2016, the distillery sought to make a uniquely Texan expression of whisky in copper pot stills and has earned many industry awards. The Balcones Baby Blue is their flagship, derived from the blue corn native to the state. Balcones and founder Chip Tate parted ways in 2014 amid great contention, yet the creativity and commitment of the distillery appears undiminished as their offerings expand.

By Adam | November 13, 2018 | Foreign | No Comments |