KOVAL Distillery
Brief overview of the distillery
KOVAL is a Chicago-based craft distillery founded in 2008, known for grain-to-bottle production with 100% organic grains from the Midwest. With a custom-built Kothe copper pot still and a 'heart cut' approach to distillation, KOVAL focuses on clean, grain-forward whiskies, single-barrel bottlings and experimental cask-finish releases. The distillery runs a tasting room, shop and guided tours at its Ravenswood address in Chicago.
History
KOVAL was founded in 2008 by Dr. Robert Birnecker and Dr. Sonat Birnecker Hart and established itself as the first legal distillery in Chicago since the mid-1800s. They combined Robert Birnecker’s Austrian distilling background with Sonat’s academia experience to build a grain-to-bottle production apparatus that prioritizes organic raw materials and technical precision. Over time, the founders have spread their knowhow internationally through Kothe Distilling Technologies, advised numerous distilleries, and earned hundreds of awards. In September 2024, KOVAL launched its ultra-premium sub-brand Thresh & Winnow with single-cask and longer-aging releases as a natural extension of the distillery’s focus on grain purity and cask-selection experimentation.
Raw materials and production
KOVAL controls the entire process from sourcing organic corn from the Midwest to milling, mashing, distillation, aging and bottling in-house. Distillation is performed exclusively with the 'heart cut' to preserve the cleanest middle fraction of the distillate. The company uses a custom-built Kothe copper pot still with an extended whiskey helmet, a special column and bubble-cap construction (5000L capacity), and highlights craft through single-barrel bottling. The water comes from Lake Michigan and is purified by natural carbon filtration. KOVAL intentionally works with alternative grains such as millet and produces several single-grain expressions; all enzymes and yeast are non-GMO, and the products are USDA Organic and OU Kosher certified.
Maturation and barrel types
KOVAL primarily ages in 30-gallon new charred American oak casks — a smaller cask size that increases the ratio of wood to spirit — and often uses each cask only once. In addition to classic new oak, KOVAL experiments with secondary finishes in casks such as Brazilian Amburana, former maple syrup casks, and fruit brandy casks. For Bottled-in-Bond releases, federally bonded warehouses are used to meet the minimum requirement of four years of aging.
Whiskeys
The range runs from core products KOVAL Bourbon Whiskey, KOVAL Rye Whiskey and KOVAL Four Grain — all single-barrel and organic-certified — to allocated and limited-edition bottles such as Bottled-in-Bond releases and finish projects (Amburana, maple syrup, brandy casks). Thresh & Winnow acts as an ultra-premium sub-brand with single-cask, longer aging and exclusive releases such as 8-, 10- and 12-year expressions.
| Whiskey | Type / Series | Alcohol | Age | Cask and Style | Flavor Profile | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KOVAL Bourbon Whiskey | Bourbon | 47 % | 30-gallon new charred American oak | Single barrel, grain-to-bottle bourbon made from 51% corn and 49% millet. Organic and kosher. Distilled with heart-cut-only technique and aged in 30-gallon new charred American oak.; Nose: Tropical fruit and subtle sweetness with pepper and buttery notes.; Taste: Soft texture with millet character: mango chutney, vanilla and starchy sweetness.; Finish: Peppery caramel finish with dried fruit and a touch of buttery notes. | Current; Core Range | |
| KOVAL Rye Whiskey | Rye | 40 % | 30-gallon new charred American oak | 100% organic and single-barrel rye, distilled with heart-cut-only technique and aged in 30-gallon new charred American oak. Kosher-certified and produced grain-to-bottle in Chicago.; Nose: Baker’s spice, red pepper, caramelized sugar and warm vanilla tones.; Taste: Soft, spicy and lightly sweet with notes of ginger, cinnamon and coconut/almond tones.; Finish: Long, spicy finish with creamy mouthfeel and maple-like ending. | Current; Core Range | |
| KOVAL Four Grain Whiskey | Four Grain | 47 % | 30-gallon heavily charred new oak | Single-barrel, USDA Organic whiskey made without corn: a mash of oats, malted barley, rye and wheat. Distilled with heart-cut-only and aged in heavily charred 30-gallon new oak from Minnesota. Jim Murray gave 96/100.; Nose: Banana-dominant aroma with butterscotch, caramel and cake-like notes.; Taste: Creamy and full-bodied with banana bread, hazelnut-chocolate and bakery-spice notes.; Finish: Spicy finish with clove-pepper and a touch of maple and dried fruit. | Current; Core Range | |
| KOVAL Bottled in Bond (Limited Edition) | Rye (Bottled in Bond) | 50 % | Minimum 4 years | 30-gallon charred American oak; aged in federally bonded warehouses | An allocated single-barrel 100% rye Bottled-in-Bond (bottled at 100 proof) with minimum 4 years of aging in federally bonded warehouses. Each bottle is individually numbered and USDA Organic + OU Kosher certified.; Nose: Brandied cherries, cinnamon and sugar on toasted rye bread; notes of herbs and licorice.; Taste: Rich, full-bodied with marbled rye, mesquite, apple and spices such as cinnamon and ginger.; Finish: Rich and balanced with bread-pudding character and warm cinnamon-ginger notes. | Limited; Allocated / Limited |
| KOVAL Bottled in Bond Bourbon - Anime Central 2025 Limited Edition | Bourbon | 50 % | 30-gallon new charred American oak | Anime Central 2025 limited single-barrel bourbon with 51% corn and 49% millet. 100 proof, individually barrel-numbered. Limited stock — around 120 bottles remaining as listed on the product page.; Taste: Notes of mango chutney and vanilla with peppery caramel finish (as listed on the product page).; Finish: Peppery caramel finish. | Limited; Available while stock lasts; 120 bottles | |
| KOVAL Bottled in Bond Rye - Anime Central 2026 Limited Edition | Rye | 50 % | Minimum 4 years | 30-gallon charred American oak; federally bonded warehouse | Anime Central 2026 limited single-barrel 100% rye Bottled-in-Bond; 100 proof, individually numbered (1–150). Aged minimum 4 years and bottled at 100 proof.; Taste: Grain- and spice-driven with cinnamon and ginger nuances (as listed on the product page).; Finish: Spiced finish with warmth from cinnamon and ginger. | Limited; Limited, numbered; 150 bottles |
| KOVAL Rye Aged in Amburana | Rye (Finish) | 50 % | New American oak (primary) and Brazilian Amburana finish; finish: Amburana wood finish (vanilla, cardamom, coconut, cinnamon, allspice) | Limited edition single-barrel 100% organic rye: first aged in new American oak, then finished in Amburana wood casks. Bottled at 100 proof, individual single-barrel edition, non-chill filtered.; Nose: Vanilla and cardamom with toasted coconut and cinnamon bark.; Taste: Bold rye-spice meets allspice, cardamom and coconut cream mid-palate.; Finish: Long, warm finish with cinnamon, black pepper and exotic wood character. | Limited; Limited / single cask | |
| KOVAL Rye - Finished in Maple Syrup Barrels | Rye (Finish) | 50 % | 30-gallon new charred American oak; finish in former maple syrup casks; finish: Maple syrup cask finish (adds sweetness, butterscotch, vanilla and chai-like finish) | Single-barrel 100% organic rye finished and aged in former maple syrup barrels. Bottled at 100 proof, non-chill filtered and USDA Organic + OU Kosher certified. For example, Cask #7152 yielded 209 bottles.; Nose: Fruit, vanilla and a layer of maple character with butterscotch and candied fruit notes.; Taste: Candied fruit, butterscotch and coconut with maple sweetness and cinnamon-spice.; Finish: Long, spiced and creamy with chai-tea notes. | Limited | |
| Thresh & Winnow 10 Year Rye | Rye (10 Year) | 50 % | 10 Year | American oak (10 years maturation) - single cask | Thresh & Winnow ultra-premium single-cask 10-year 100% organic rye, bottled at 100 proof. Launch of the T&W line in September 2024; product is single cask and USDA Organic + OU Kosher certified.; Nose: Pepper and dried apricots with caramel corn and creme brulee nuances.; Taste: Vanilla, dark chocolate, orange and cinnamon-like spices with a rich mouthfeel.; Finish: Long, warm finish of spice and subtle oak. | Limited; Limited release |
| Thresh & Winnow Brandy Cask Finish Bourbon | Bourbon (Brandy Cask Finish) | 50 % | New charred American oak (primary) with fruit brandy cask finish; finish: Fruit brandy cask finish (gives dried fruit/raisin notes) | Straight bourbon made from organic corn and millet (51/49), finished in KOVAL’s own fruit brandy casks and bottled single-barrel at 100 proof. USDA Organic and OU Kosher certified.; Nose: Toasted caramel, vanilla and subtle dried fruit notes.; Taste: Balanced grain, brown sugar, roasted notes and gentle fruitiness from the brandy cask finish.; Finish: Clean finish with caramel sweetness and a faint fruit echo. | Limited | |
| Thresh & Winnow Millet Whiskey | Millet (Bottled in Bond) | 50 % | Minimum 4 years (Bottled in Bond) | American oak; single cask, Bottled-in-Bond aging | Bottled-in-Bond single-cask 100% organic millet whiskey. Minimum 4 years of aging and bottled at 100 proof as part of the Thresh & Winnow line. USDA Organic and OU Kosher certified.; Nose: Warm grain, cinnamon and light smoke/char notes.; Taste: Baked grain, melon, honey and a touch of ginger and nutmeg.; Finish: Gentle spicy finish with honeyed warmth. | Limited |
| Thresh & Winnow 8 Year American Single Malt | American Single Malt | 50 % | 8 Year | Charred new American oak, single cask | 100% malted barley American single malt, heart-cut distillation, 8 years old, single-cask and bottled at 100 proof. Part of the Thresh & Winnow ultra-premium line.; Nose: Roasted malt, acacia honey and dried fruits with orange zest and toffee.; Taste: Butter caramel, toffee, freshly ground pepper and vanilla; notes of pine and spice.; Finish: Long and warm with gentle oak and bakery-spice notes. | Limited |
| Thresh & Winnow Whiskey 12 Year Old 100% Wheat | Wheat (12 Year) | 50 % | 12 Year | American oak (12 years maturation), single cask | 100% organic wheat, 12-year single-cask edition from Thresh & Winnow. The product page lists it as discontinued / no longer available.; Nose: Vanilla cream, honeyed pastry and light floral notes.; Taste: Rich cream, caramel and soft roasted oak with a gentle grain character.; Finish: Clean and smooth finish with vanilla and warmth from the wood. | Discontinued |
The whiskies’ style and flavor profile
Across the lineup, a clear grain-forward style runs: Four Grain has a pronounced banana/tropical fruit character; the rye offerings carry evident bakery-spice notes like cinnamon and ginger; and several finish experiments add warm vanilla and coconut notes (e.g., Amburana finish) or butterscotch/maple-syrup sweetness. These three directions — tropical/banana, bakery-spice, and warm vanilla/finish tones — recur across the profiles.
Visiting the distillery
Visiting KOVAL takes place in Ravenswood, Chicago, where the distillery runs a tasting room, shop and guided tours. Tickets must be booked via the distillery’s booking page; two standard offerings are Classic Tour (45 minutes, guided tour + three tastings) and Whiskey Tour (45 minutes, focus on whiskey and includes a limited edition tasting). Tours typically cost $12, are non-refundable, require 21+ for tasting, accommodate up to 15 guests, and are primarily standing experiences with seating available on request.
See times and book a visit.
Philosophy and craft
KOVAL’s values rest on full control of the production chain (grain-to-bottle), the use of organic Midwestern grains, and a technical approach to distillation where the 'heart cut' ensures clean, aromatic distillates. The company combines traditional distilling craft with specially designed Kothe stills and certifications such as MOSA (organic) and OU (kosher) to ensure traceability and quality.
Sustainability
Sourcing of organic grains from Midwest farms and mention of millet as a tough, regenerative crop.
Use of local suppliers for barrels (Barrel Mill in Minnesota) and focus on certification through MOSA.
Prices and recognitions
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94 points (Gold, Exceptional) - Bottled in Bond Rye (2022, 94 pts, Gold (Exceptional), KOVAL Bottled in Bond (Rye))
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96/100 - KOVAL Four Grain (2017, 96/100, KOVAL Four Grain Whiskey)
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92 pts - Thresh & Winnow 10 Year Rye (2024, 92 pts, Gold (Exceptional), Thresh & Winnow 10 Year Rye)