Koval

KOVAL began in 2008 as Chicago's first distillery since the mid-1800s and has grown into one of the largest independent, woman-owned craft distilleries in the US. Founded by Dr. Robert Birnecker and Dr. Sonat Birnecker Hart, KOVAL makes whiskey, gin and liqueurs grain to bottle in Chicago. Every product is certified organic (MOSA) and kosher (OU). KOVAL distills on copper pot stills built by Kothe in Germany and keeps only the "heart cut" of the distillate, a European fruit brandy technique Robert brought from his Austrian distilling heritage. Whiskeys age in American oak barrels from The Barrel Mill in Minnesota, each used only once. KOVAL was the first distillery in the US to make millet whiskey, and its single barrel range also includes Bourbon (Jim Murray's Whiskey Bible Liquid Gold Award, 2024), Rye, Oat and Four Grain. KOVAL Dry Gin is a certified organic gin made on an organic rye base with 13 botanicals. Over 100 international awards.