Did it.
On Saturday there was a mini break to the heat wave, so my friend Sarah P. and I took the opportunity to take a tour of local distillery – FEW. Named for Frances Elizabeth Willard, leader of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union, a nod to our town’s dry history. To enter the distillery feels a bit like finding your way to back alley speakeasy. Because it is, in fact, in a back alley
The building is tucked right up against the El- tracks. After entering you find yourself in their tasting room where we met up with the guide and the other tour-ists.
See those posters up top? The images on each were inspired the the Chicago’s World Fair.
I mentioned earlier that we’d received a bit of a break from the heat wave that afternoon. Apparently the distillery had not received the message. Holy sweat balls. It was seriously hot. It was a sauna! Have I ever sweated so much in my life? It’s debatable.
Our guide brought us into the warehouse/production part of the facility and I’m sure told us a lot of good information on how Gin is distilled and this and that and the other. But my brain was focused on cooling down so the learning was at a minimum. I did learn that it's juniper that makes gin, gin. isn't that kismet.
Here is our guide, explaining what those blue tanks are for. (I have no idea!). But I do know that one of those silver canisters contained grappa. I sniffed it.
I also learned that bourbon gets it’s lovely amber color from the barrel. And look at the top right, they also make hot sauce. random.
barrels and barrels and barrels of booze.
“Bungs!” Why didn’t I ask what was so exciting about Bungs!? IT’s because my brain was sweating.
The inside tour took about 30 minutes and then it was on to the tasting and to a room with a breeze!
Despite what my grimace is telling you, I actually liked just about everything we tried. 4 different types of Gin, a Rye and a Bourbon.
Do you like a tour that ends in shots of gin/bourbon? Then you should go on this tour. Just wait til it REALLY cools off. for reals.
