FEW Italia Bourbon is one of the latest experiments from Paul and the inventive staff at FEW – who are definitely among my top craft whiskey producers. I really should compile a list of my top craft whiskey producers because there’s really about 8-10 or so who continually produce quality stuff and I think the ones doing it right, like FEW, deserve a major shoutout. Anyways, back to the whiskey at hand.
In a nut-shell the FEW Italia Bourbon is their traditional FEW bourbon finished in wine casks which I’ll let the folks at FEW tell you more about before we jump into the full FEW Italia Bourbon review.
FEW Italia Bourbon Review
In FEW’s Words: FEW Italia Bourbon
“A collaboration between FEW, Eataly and Folio Fine Wine Partners, Italia is made from two barrels of FEW’s standard bourbon, finished in casks from Sicilian winery Donnafugata, which add fruity notes of citrus and apple. Italia is available at all US Eataly locations (Chicago, New York, Boston and Los Angeles), and at the distillery.”
FEW Italia Bourbon price, ABV, age and other details
Region: Illinois, USA
Distiller: FEW
Mash Bill: 70% corn, 20% rye & 10% malted barley
Cask: New Charred Oak, Ex-Donnafugata Wine Casks
Age: NAS
ABV: 46%
Price: $50*
FEW Italia Bourbon Tasting Notes
EYE
Orangish caramel
NOSE
Herbal, oak, fruity sweetness, cinnamon, cocoa, caramel and bits of mint and tea tree oil.
PALATE
Cinnamon, roasted grain, piney herbal, fruit, chalky cocoa, oak and a touch of wheat toast.
FINISH
Long and chalky -> Herbal, fruit, cinnamon, oak and leather.
BALANCE, BODY & FEEL
Good sense of balance, medium body and a warm chalky feel.
FEW Italia Bourbon Review – OVERALL
The FEW Italia Bourbon is nice. It doesn’t feel 100% cohesive till the finish, but holds itself together regardless. The aroma has a nice boatload of that classic FEW herbal character paired with a nice red fruit sweetness. The palate is a slightly less complex and more chalky version of the same but then the finish lands it home and where I end up fully enjoying what’s happening.
The depth of the finish is warm, welcoming and inviting and turns the whiskey from being fully topical into an experience that builds to a crescendo. FEW Italia Bourbon isn’t fully a daily drinker for me, but definitely something I’d sip on now and then if I had a bottle because it’s interesting, different and tasty.
SCORE: 86/100
*Disclosure: This sample of FEW Italia Bourbon was graciously sent to me by the company for the purposes of this review. The views, opinions, and tasting notes are 100% my own.
