I chat about FEW Spirits Whiskey with Paul Hletko, founder and master distillery of FEW Spirits in Evanston, Illinois, on creativity, family and state history, and passion for people. A mile and a half north of Chicago, FEW Spirits distillery is located in a grungy alley; a fitting location for salt-of-the-earth rocker, founder Paul Hletko. A real character, Paul’s desire to create FEW came from artistic passion and determination to reconnect with his family history in a positive way. His grandfather’s family owned a brewery in what was Czechoslovakia prior to the Second World War. After the Nazis invaded in 1939, confiscating the brewery while his family were murdered in the camps, Paul’s grandfather survived and spent the rest of his life trying to get the brewery back – sadly, he never did. When his grandfather died, Paul realised without the brewery, his family legacy and history was lost. By creating FEW, Paul not only was able to reconnect to his family, but to bring families and communities together in the present, for the future. As Paul says, ‘Whisky is important – but it pales in importance compared to family.’ A musician himself, Paul brings in live bands to FEW all summer long, bringing the community together with live music, cocktails and food. It is touchingly important the magic of bringing people together for FEW, sharing drinks, celebrations, commiserations. FEW is not just a distillery, but a social hub, which takes seriously its responsibility.
FEW Whiskey
FEW Whiskey
FEW Whiskey
I chat about FEW Spirits Whiskey with Paul Hletko, founder and master distillery of FEW Spirits in Evanston, Illinois, on creativity, family and state history, and passion for people. A mile and a half north of Chicago, FEW Spirits distillery is located in a grungy alley; a fitting location for salt-of-the-earth rocker, founder Paul Hletko. A real character, Paul’s desire to create FEW came from artistic passion and determination to reconnect with his family history in a positive way. His grandfather’s family owned a brewery in what was Czechoslovakia prior to the Second World War. After the Nazis invaded in 1939, confiscating the brewery while his family were murdered in the camps, Paul’s grandfather survived and spent the rest of his life trying to get the brewery back – sadly, he never did. When his grandfather died, Paul realised without the brewery, his family legacy and history was lost. By creating FEW, Paul not only was able to reconnect to his family, but to bring families and communities together in the present, for the future. As Paul says, ‘Whisky is important – but it pales in importance compared to family.’ A musician himself, Paul brings in live bands to FEW all summer long, bringing the community together with live music, cocktails and food. It is touchingly important the magic of bringing people together for FEW, sharing drinks, celebrations, commiserations. FEW is not just a distillery, but a social hub, which takes seriously its responsibility.