Koval Distillery

4241 N. Ravenswood Ave.(312) 878-7988

About

Started as a mom-and-pop distillery in a bare bones space next to Metropolitan Brewery, husband and wife team Robert and Sonat Birnecker took his Austrian distilling expertise and her finesse to create a lineup of spirits previously unthinkable. They boldly distilled not just rye and wheat, but oats, millet and spelt. Though they built a foundation with these single-grain unaged spirits and organic liqueurs (the Ginger is finally available in 750ml bottles!), they emerged anew in 2013 with cleaner branding and prettier labels that do better justice to the homegrown spirits within. The Rye still grabs attention for its spicy freshness despite its youth, and though the Four Grain and Bourbon usually steal the spotlight, the Millet and Spelt will always hold a soft spot in my whiskey-loving heart. With a first release gin on the shelves and significant growth in international distribution, let's hope Koval maintains its lil’ shop sensibilities. —Kristine Sherred, Chicagoist

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