Discovering the Spirit of Music: The FEW Smashing Pumpkins Bourbon

In an innovative collaboration, alternative rock group The Smashing Pumpkins has partnered with craft distiller FEW Spirits to unveil a distinctive bourbon whiskey. This unique limited-edition whiskey expression is inspired by the band’s iconic discography and iconography, blending the bold flavors of FEW Spirits bourbon with The Smashing Pumpkins’ avant-garde musical spirit.

A taste of rock ’n’ roll

If you’re a fan of celebrity-backed spirits, here are five things you need to know about FEW Smashing Pumpkins Bourbon.

A Collaborative Spirit

The whiskey is a collaboration between Smashing Pumpkins and FEW Spirits. The Smashing Pumpkins, known for their influential sound showcased in iconic albums including Siamese Dream, was formed in Chicago by frontman, vocalist, and guitarist Billy Corgan, bassist D’arcy Wretzky, guitarist James Iha, and drummer Jimmy Chamberlin in 1988. The band has undergone several line-up changes, a breakup, and a reunion over 36 years, with Billy Corgan the sole constant member since The Smashing Pumpkins’ formation. With a diverse sound style, The Smashing Pumpkins is best-known for melancholic melodies, such as ‘Try, Try, Try’, ‘Bullet with Butterfly Wings’, and ‘&1979’, and has received accolades including two Grammys and an AMA award.

The mastermind behind The Smashing Pumpkins

The band has collaborated with hometown, Chicago-based craft distiller, FEW Spirits, located in a suburb of Evanston, Illinois. A grain-to-glass distillery established in 2011, FEW Spirits has produced a range of award-winning craft whiskies and gin, and was subsequently acquired by Kentucky-based distiller, Heaven Hill.

A Cut Above the Rest

The bourbon whiskey is cut from cask strength using tea. FEW Smashing Pumpkins Bourbon starts life as the FEW distillery’s core straight bourbon expression, distilled from a mashbill of 70% corn, 20% rye, and 10% two-row malted barley. After an aging period of 4 years, the bourbon was cut from a cask strength of 62% ABV to a bottling strength of 46.5% ABV – but unusually, the bourbon was flavor-cut using ‘Midnight Rose’ black tea instead of water.

The art of aging whiskey

A Label of Artistry

The label for FEW Smashing Pumpkins whiskey was designed by Chicago-based visual artist, Katelan Foisy, who was inspired by the style of vintage tea tins and labels combining them with elements of Art Deco and Victorian design. Foisy has previously created designs for Billy Corgan’s Madame ZuZu’s tea emporium products, the interior album art for Corgan’s solo album Ogilala, and stage tour backdrops for the Smashing Pumpkins.

A work of art in its own right

A Series of Rock-Music-Themed Expressions

FEW Spirits has released a series of rock-music-themed expressions. The FEW Smashing Pumpkins bottling is the fourth label from a series of rock-music-themed celebrity collaborations released by FEW Spirits. The first was ‘Brainville’, created in collaboration with rock act The Flaming Lips, a rye whiskey distilled from a mash fermented using French wine yeast. A second label, ‘All Secrets Known’ was named after a song by legendary grunge band Alice in Chains, and was tequila cask-finished bourbon. The third label, ‘Motor Oil’ is a blend of two cask-finished bourbons and a smoked wheat whiskey created alongside the Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, and one of Whisky Advocate’s highest-rated whiskies.

A whiskey connoisseur’s dream

A Limited-Edition Release

The release coincides with The Smashing Pumpkins’ North American Tour 2024. Alongside many other shows, The Smashing Pumpkins are off on tour with Green Day. The FEW Smashing Pumpkins bourbon is a limited-edition release, celebrating the upcoming release of the new thirteenth Smashing Pumpkins album, and will be rolled out to select US retailers throughout Summer 2024.

Get ready to rock ’n’ roll

“The whiskey is a reflection of the band’s music – bold, innovative, and not afraid to take risks.” - Billy Corgan