Koval
Koval Distillery was founded in 2008 and is the first distillery in Chicago in more than 100 years. In addition to Whiskey, Gin and other spirits are also distilled.
| Information about the Distillery | |
|---|---|
| USA, Illinois | |
| -87.674195 41.975061 | |
| Active | |
| 2008 | |
| http://www.koval-distillery.com/ |
| Average tasting notes Tasting notes |
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Nosing
Sweet:
Sweet:
Vanilla:
Vanilla:
Caramel:
Caramel:
Malt:
Oak:
Oak:
Wheat:
Wheat:
Malt:
Fruit:
Barley:
Barley:
Spices:
Banana:
Banana:
Fruit:
Spices:
Honey:
Zitrus:
Honey:
Herbs:
Herbs:
Rye:
Nuts:
Rye:
Peat Smoke:
Heather:
Heather:
Alcohol:
Walnut:
Tropical Fruit:
Walnut:
Tropical Fruit:
Alcohol:
Nutmeg:
Sherry:
Cake:
Herb:
Oil:
Dried Fruit:
Oil:
Nutmeg:
Cake:
Herb:
Sherry:
Dried Fruit:
Coconut:
Peat Smoke:
Coconut:
Tasting
Sweet:
Sweet:
Spices:
Fruit:
Caramel:
Caramel:
Spices:
Vanilla:
Vanilla:
Banana:
Banana:
Malt:
Sherry:
Date:
Date:
Malt:
Wheat:
Oak:
Wheat:
Oak:
Herbs:
Herbs:
Cinnamon:
Honey:
Zitrus:
Pepper:
Zitrus:
Pepper:
Nuts:
Honey:
Cinnamon:
Orange:
Oil:
Heather:
Rye:
Rye:
Oil:
Heather:
Orange:
Barley:
Barley:
Fruit:
Peat Smoke:
Alcohol:
Chocolate:
Cake:
Floral:
Floral:
Herb:
Fig:
Cake:
Alcohol:
Herb:
Chocolate:
Fig:
Pineapple:
Tropical Fruit:
Berries:
Berries:
Chili:
Pineapple:
Peach:
Tropical Fruit:
Grapefruit:
Peach:
Peat Smoke:
Chili:
Hazelnut:
Grapefruit:
Hazelnut:
Finish
Spices:
Sweet:
Sweet:
Spices:
Caramel:
Caramel:
Herb:
Herb:
Clove:
Clove:
Tobacco:
Tobacco:
Oak:
Oak:
Nuts:
Oil:
Vanilla:
Fruit:
Pepper:
Pepper:
Vanilla:
Oil:
Herbs:
Herbs:
Peat Smoke:
Fruit:
Wheat:
Heather:
Wheat:
Malt:
Peat Smoke:
Heather:
Orange:
Banana:
Date:
Nutmeg:
Cherry:
Cake:
Honey:
Blackberry:
Cinnamon:
Tropical Fruit:
Cake:
Dried Fruit:
Sherry:
Zitrus:
Dark Chocolate:
Leather:
Tropical Fruit:
Cinnamon:
Zitrus:
Honey:
Cherry:
Sherry:
Dried Fruit:
Nutmeg:
Nuts:
Date:
Rye:
Banana:
Orange:
Blackberry:
Dark Chocolate:
Leather:
Rye:
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The Whiskey
Certified both organic and kosher, Koval always adheres to the highest standards of purity and craftsmanship. Spirits are distilled in small batches from 100% organic grain grown in the Midwest. Koval thus avoids the common practice of buying in pre-made, neutral grain spirits or Whiskey.
The distillery's distillates are aged in 30-gallon (113.55-liter) barrels and bottled as single barrels. This allows the heart distillate to develop its pure and fruity body in the best possible way. The term "single barrel" is created because all barrels are bottled as single barrels and declared on the bottle.
The Gin
Soon after its founding in 2008, Gin production began. Here, too, special emphasis is placed on the use of organic grains, artisanal production and small batches. In Koval Barreled Gin, in addition to juniper, wildflowers, grasses, citrus and white pepper are found. The gin is stored in Koval Whiskey barrels.
The Production
KOVAL controls the entire production chain, from contracts with local farmers to new American oak barrels from Minnesota forests. The distillery sources its high-quality grain from local organic farmers, which also supports the local economy and sustainable grain farming. Each bottle can be traced back to the field where the grain was grown. Every step of production is logged at the Chicago distillery, none of the processes are outsourced, and no neutral alcohol is purchased. Following the 'grain to bottle' principle, KOVAL Whiskeys are not chill-filtered and have no additives.
The difference between each Whiskey is only the grain composition. The mashing process, fermentation, distillation and storage are the same. Only part of the distillate, the middle run, which carries the pure grain flavor, goes into the barrels.
The Mashing
After the grain has been tested for quality, it is ground into fine whole grain flour in hammer mills to make the grain's aroma compounds available - just like grinding coffee before brewing it. Now the grain flour is mashed and the starch is converted by enzymes into fermentable sugars. KOVAL uses only unmalted grain for their Whiskeys, except for Four Grain.
The Fermentation
Fresh dry yeast is always used for fermentation, which ferments the Whiskey at 32 degrees. To achieve consistent quality, the distillery does not add sour mash to the mash and fermentation takes place in closed, refrigerated fermentation tanks. After the main fermentation of five days, the mash is distilled.
The Distillation
KOVAL's Whiskey is distilled on a pot-hybrid still in one run, the fore-run and after-run are generously separated and the middle run is stored separately. This happens fully automatically in order to always obtain the same distillation process and thus constant quality.
The Storage
All Whiskeys are stored in new 113 liter (30 gallon) white American oak barrels with Char 3 (out of 7), so the barrels are medium burned out. The storage time is about four years, which is sufficient for KOVAL, as their focus is on the flavor of the grain.
The History
KOVAL is Chicago's first distillery since the mid-1800s. Although KOVAL is the largest organic craft distillery in the world, it remains independent, strives for innovation, and is conscious of its social responsibility.
Company founders Robert and Sonat Birnecker gave up their academic careers to bring the distilling tradition and techniques of Robert's Austrian grandfather to America.
The name Koval is Yiddish for 'blacksmith,' but it can also mean 'black sheep' or denote someone who pushes something forward or accomplishes extraordinary things. Sonat's great-grandfather was nicknamed Koval when, at the age of 17, he surprised his family and emigrated from Vienna to Chicago in the early 1900s. Coincidentally, the name is Schmid's from Robert's grandfather (at whose side Robert learned the art of distilling). Sonat and Robert chose the name Koval to honor both men. It is also meant as a reflection of their own extraordinary decision to leave secure jobs to move to Chicago and build a family business from the ground up. Today, KOVAL is the largest independent family-owned distillery based in the United States. It is also one with the most awards.
Visitors Center
KOVAL currently offers tours of the distillery on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Tickets can be booked online at: www.koval-distillery.com/newsite/classes-tours/tours
Koval Distillery
5121 North Ravenswood Ave
Chicago
60640
USA
Tel: +1(312) 878-7988
User Notes about the Distillery
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