Few Spirits Black Rebel Motorcycle Club Motor Oil Whiskey 750ML

Few Spirits Black Rebel Motorcycle Club Motor Oil Whiskey 750ML is a 101-proof (50.5% ABV) triple-blend American whiskey from FEW Spirits in Evanston, Illinois. Part of FEW's Icons of Rock Collection, this collaboration with the band Black Rebel Motorcycle Club earned an 85–89 score from Robb Report, rated "Very Good."

Quick Facts: ABV: 50.5% (101 proof)  |  Origin: Evanston, Illinois, USA  |  Style: Triple-Blend Whiskey  |  Distillery: FEW Spirits

Production & Heritage

FEW Spirits operates as a grain-to-glass distillery in Evanston, Illinois, meaning every step — mashing, fermenting, and distilling — happens on-site before the spirit enters specially selected barrels for aging. Motor Oil Whiskey stands apart through its unusual construction: a blend of three distinct whiskeys, each processed differently. The first component is FEW Bourbon finished in rum barrels, the second is FEW Bourbon finished in vermouth barrels, and the third is a mesquite-smoked wheat whiskey. This triple-component approach layers sweetness, herbal bitterness, and heavy smoke into a single cohesive pour — a production method virtually unmatched in the American whiskey landscape.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with dark caramel and medicinal cinnamon, followed by charred oak and apricot. A hint of burnt orange peel lingers beneath layers of mesquite smoke.

Taste: The entry is rich with molasses and cocoa, giving way to bitter black cherry and sweet vermouth notes at mid-palate. Black pepper and toasted vanilla build toward peak intensity, while grassy sweetness from the rum-barrel component and herbaceous, vegetal character from the vermouth-barrel bourbon weave through every sip.

Finish: Long, smoky, and slightly sweet, with charred oak and lingering spice. The mesquite smoke carries through to the very end, anchoring the finish with a dry, warming quality.

How to Drink Motor Oil Whiskey

At 101 proof, Motor Oil rewards neat sipping in a Glencairn or rocks glass — a few drops of water open the aromatics considerably. The smoky-sweet profile also makes it a distinctive cocktail base. An Old Fashioned highlights the molasses and dark caramel without overwhelming the mesquite smoke. A Boulevardier plays naturally off the vermouth-barrel component, amplifying the herbaceous bitterness already built into the blend. A Penicillin leans into the smoky backbone, with honey-ginger syrup complementing the rum-barrel sweetness.

Best For

• Gifting a rock music fan who also appreciates bold American whiskey
• Exploring experimental blending techniques beyond standard bourbon or rye
• Adding a conversation-starting bottle to a home whiskey collection
• Hosting a comparative tasting of FEW's Icons of Rock Collection releases

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Motor Oil Whiskey taste like? Motor Oil Whiskey delivers a layered profile of molasses, cocoa, bitter black cherry, and toasted vanilla, anchored by persistent mesquite smoke and a long, slightly sweet finish. The vermouth-barrel component adds herbaceous, vegetal notes that distinguish it from conventional bourbon.

How does Motor Oil Whiskey compare to FEW All Secrets Known? Both are limited-edition releases from FEW's Icons of Rock Collection, but Motor Oil uses a triple-blend construction (rum-barrel bourbon, vermouth-barrel bourbon, and mesquite-smoked wheat whiskey), while All Secrets Known — the 2019 Alice In Chains collaboration — is a single bourbon expression. Motor Oil skews significantly smokier and more complex in its layering.

Is Motor Oil Whiskey good for sipping neat? Yes — at 50.5% ABV it has enough structure and complexity to reward neat sipping, though a splash of water helps reveal the apricot and caramel aromatics beneath the smoke.

Where is Motor Oil Whiskey made? Motor Oil Whiskey is produced at FEW Spirits, a grain-to-glass distillery located in Evanston, Illinois, just north of Chicago. All mashing, fermenting, distilling, and aging take place on-site.

What foods pair well with Motor Oil Whiskey? Smoked brisket or pulled pork matches the mesquite backbone naturally. Dark chocolate truffles mirror the cocoa and molasses notes. Aged Gouda or Gruyère complement the toasted vanilla. Pecan pie echoes the caramel sweetness, and charcuterie with dried apricot ties into the stone-fruit aromatics on the nose.

What sizes does Motor Oil Whiskey come in? Motor Oil Whiskey is available in the standard 750ml bottle size.

Is Motor Oil Whiskey worth the price? Motor Oil positions as a limited-edition, collaboration-driven release within FEW's premium tier, and the triple-blend production method involving two distinct barrel finishes plus a mesquite-smoked component justifies its placement above standard FEW expressions in both complexity and collectibility.

Why Motor Oil Whiskey?

The defining characteristic here is the triple-blend architecture — combining rum-barrel-finished bourbon, vermouth-barrel-finished bourbon, and mesquite-smoked wheat whiskey into a single bottle is a production approach with almost no parallel in American whiskey. That structural ambition translates directly into the glass, delivering a range of flavors from tropical sweetness to herbal bitterness to campfire smoke that no single-barrel product can replicate. Robb Report's 85–89 rating confirms the execution matches the concept. As a limited collaboration release within FEW's Icons of Rock Collection, Motor Oil also carries genuine scarcity — once this run is gone, it is not a bottle that returns to shelves on a predictable schedule.