Chicago-area craft distillery expands distribution into the Garden State as well as Georgia, Indiana and Connecticut
EVANSTON, Ill., March 23, 2015—At less than five years old, Few Spirits has gained an oversized reputation in the drinks world, making an award-winning line of gins, whiskies and other craft spirits. And as the craft distillery ramps up production, it’s expanding its distribution, launching in New Jersey as well as Georgia, Indiana and Connecticut this month.
The new market launches make Few available in a total of 20 states, as well as Washington, D.C. The brand is also distributed in the UK, throughout Europe and in select locations in Australia, Japan, Thailand and Hong Kong. “It’s been incredible to see my dream become a reality and to watch this business grow—we’ve gone from making 100 gallons a month to 100 gallons a day,” says Paul Hletko, Few Spirits’ founder and master distiller. “And now I’m excited to get our products out there in front of a wider and wider audience.”
A true grain-to-glass producer, Few sources the grain for its spirits from within 100 miles of the distillery and does all fermentation, distillation, aging and bottling on-site. Other ingredients come from as close to Evanston as possible, right down to the Cascade hops used in Few American Gin, which are grown in Hletko’s own backyard. “If we can’t grow it ourselves, we buy it locally,” he says. “And if we can’t buy it locally, we buy it from friends.”
In New Jersey, Few will be distributed by Hunterdon Brewing Company, a wholesaler focused on craft beverages with a portfolio of some of the most sought-after beers, ciders, sakes and distilled spirits. “Quality craft whiskey is more in-demand than ever,” says Hunterdon’s spirits division manager Jeremiah Goldovitz, “and Few has boldly established themselves as a leader in the category. We’re excited to partner with them.”
Few has partnered with top distributors in the other new states as well: Georgia distribution is handled by United Distributors; Indiana distribution by Glazer’s; and Connecticut distribution by Craft Beer Guild.
These new state launches are the culmination of 18 months of work to expand production and capacity, a project that included installing three new 30-barrel fermenters and a new column still last year, as well as moving barrels and bottling to an 8,500-square-foot warehouse facility about a mile from the distillery.
About Few Spirits
Based in Evanston, Ill., a Chicago suburb that was once an international headquarters for the temperance movement, Few Spirits is a craft distillery making whiskies and gins from locally grown grains and other ingredients sourced as close to home as possible, including Cascade hops grown in master distiller Paul Hletko’s own backyard. Few Rye Whiskey was named Whisky Advocate’s Craft Whiskey of the Year in 2013, and its Bourbon Whiskey and Barrel Gin were both awarded gold medals by the Beverage Testing Institute. For more information about Few and its awardwinning spirits, visit fewspirits.com.
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