Koval Anime Central Single Barrel Bourbon Bottled in Bond 750ML

Koval Anime Central Single Barrel Bourbon Bottled in Bond 750ML is a 100-proof (50% ABV), 750ml limited-collaboration bourbon from Chicago's Koval Distillery built on a rare corn-and-millet mashbill. The underlying Koval Bottled in Bond expression earned 92 points from Tastings.com and a Gold Medal at the Women's Wine & Spirit Awards, making this convention-exclusive label a genuine collector's piece backed by critically recognized liquid.

Quick Facts: ABV: 50% (100 proof)  |  Origin: Chicago, Illinois, USA  |  Bottled in Bond (minimum 4 years aged)  |  Distillery: Koval Distillery

Production & Heritage

Koval Distillery was founded in 2008 by Robert and Sonat Birnecker in Chicago's Ravenswood neighborhood—the first new distillery in the city since the mid-1800s. This bourbon uses a 51% corn and 49% millet mashbill, a dramatic departure from the wheat- or rye-heavy grain bills that dominate American whiskey. All grain is certified organic, and the spirit is aged in new, charred American oak barrels sourced from a bespoke cooperage in Minnesota. Because it carries the Bottled in Bond designation, the bourbon must be the product of a single distilling season, a single distillery, and a single distiller, then aged for a minimum of four years before being bottled at exactly 100 proof. The Anime Central collaboration adds limited-edition label artwork celebrating the long-running Chicago-area anime convention, while the liquid inside is Koval's established single-barrel bourbon expression.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Young, fresh-sawn oak leads the nose, joined by tart tropical fruit and a thread of ethanol that opens into sweet, spicy hard-candy notes—think cinnamon and teaberry. Underneath, there is subtle melted butter and a light peppery warmth.

Taste: The entry is juicy and sweet, with mango chutney and vanilla arriving immediately. At mid-palate, a nutty, almost hoppy character develops alongside dark chocolate and baking spice. The millet grain bill asserts itself here, giving a cereal richness and a distinctive spice-fruit interplay that bounces off the underlying oak.

Finish: Peppery caramel lingers at moderate-to-long length, with residual warmth and a faint nuttiness that slowly fades. The 100-proof backbone keeps the finish structured without turning hot.

How to Drink Koval Anime Central Bourbon

At 100 proof, this bourbon rewards a small splash of water or a single large ice cube, which opens the tropical fruit and tames the oak. Neat sipping showcases the full millet character for those who want the complete experience.

• Old Fashioned — The peppery caramel finish pairs naturally with Demerara syrup and aromatic bitters, letting the millet nuttiness shine through.
• Boulevardier — Its bold proof and spice-fruit profile stand up to sweet vermouth and Campari without disappearing.
• Whiskey Sour — The tropical fruit aromatics and vanilla sweetness complement fresh lemon juice and a touch of egg white.

Best For

• Anime and pop-culture collectors seeking a functional limited-edition bottle
• Bourbon drinkers exploring non-traditional mashbills beyond wheat and rye
• Gifting a whiskey enthusiast who values craft distillery provenance
• Tasting alongside standard bourbon to highlight how millet changes the grain profile

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Koval Anime Central Bourbon taste like? It opens with mango chutney and vanilla sweetness, transitions through nutty and chocolaty mid-palate notes, and finishes with peppery caramel. The high millet content gives it a cereal richness that distinguishes it from rye- or wheat-secondary bourbons.

How does Koval Anime Central Bourbon compare to Buffalo Trace? Both sit in a similar value tier, but Koval's 49% millet mashbill creates a distinctly nuttier, more tropical profile compared to Buffalo Trace's corn-rye-barley grain bill, which tends toward vanilla and stone fruit. The Bottled in Bond designation also guarantees Koval's minimum four-year age and 100-proof bottling strength, whereas Buffalo Trace is 90 proof with no stated age.

Is Koval Anime Central Bourbon good for sipping neat? Yes—its Bottled in Bond strength of 100 proof delivers full flavor without excessive heat, and the single-barrel selection ensures each bottle has a distinct personality suited to slow, attentive sipping.

Where is Koval Anime Central Bourbon made? It is distilled and bottled at Koval Distillery in the Ravenswood neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois, making it one of the few bourbons produced entirely within a major American city.

What foods pair well with Koval Anime Central Bourbon? Dark chocolate truffles accentuate the cocoa mid-palate notes; grilled pork belly mirrors the caramel finish; aged cheddar contrasts its tropical sweetness; spiced pecans echo the nutty millet character; and mango sticky rice reinforces the chutney-like fruit on the palate.

What sizes does Koval Anime Central Bourbon come in? The standard release is a 750ml bottle; Koval produces some expressions in 375ml and 200ml formats, though availability for this limited collaboration may vary.

Is Koval Anime Central Bourbon worth the price? It positions as a premium craft bourbon, and the Bottled in Bond guarantee of minimum four-year aging, single-barrel selection, organic grain sourcing, and limited-edition packaging support its price point within the upper tier of American craft whiskey.

Why Koval Anime Central Bourbon?

The 49% millet mashbill is Koval's calling card and remains exceptionally rare in American whiskey—most distillers never touch the grain. That alone sets this bourbon apart on a flavor level, delivering tropical fruit and cereal-rich complexity that conventional corn-rye or corn-wheat bourbons simply cannot replicate. The Bottled in Bond act guarantees transparency: at least four years of age, 100 proof, and single-distillery provenance, all verifiable by federal law. Combined with a limited Anime Central label and a 92-point score from Tastings.com for the core expression, this bottle appeals equally to the whiskey shelf and the collector's display case.