Koval Bourbon Highball 4Pk

Koval Bourbon Highball 4Pk is a ready-to-drink canned cocktail combining Koval's organic grain-to-bottle bourbon with sparkling water at 7.5% ABV. Built on a distinctive 51% corn and 49% millet mashbill — a grain combination virtually no other bourbon producer uses — this highball delivers genuine whiskey character in a convenient, effervescent format.

Quick Facts: ABV: 7.5%  |  Origin: Chicago, Illinois, USA  |  Style: Canned Bourbon Highball  |  Distillery: Koval Distillery

Production & Heritage

Koval Distillery, founded in 2008, was the first distillery to open in Chicago since the mid-1800s. Located in the city's North End, Koval operates as a true grain-to-bottle producer, sourcing organic grains from Midwest family farms, milling them on-site, and distilling through copper pot stills using a heart-cut-only method that discards heads and tails entirely. The bourbon at the core of this highball is aged in 30-gallon new charred American oak barrels, then blended with sparkling water to create a sessionable canned cocktail that preserves the distillery's signature flavor profile. The use of millet as nearly half the mashbill — an ancient grain prized for its natural sweetness and creamy texture — sets this apart from standard bourbon-based RTDs that rely on conventional corn-and-rye recipes.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Light caramel sweetness rises first, followed by gentle toasted oak and a whisper of baking spice. The carbonation lifts the aromatics, giving the nose an airy, inviting quality.

Taste: The entry is clean and effervescent, with soft caramel and a creamy millet-driven sweetness across the mid-palate. Toasted oak and mild spice emerge as the bourbon character asserts itself through the carbonation, never heavy but clearly present.

Finish: Short and refreshing, with lingering notes of warm grain and light vanilla. The sparkling water keeps everything crisp and prevents any cloying sweetness from settling in.

How to Drink Koval Bourbon Highball

This is designed to drink straight from the can or poured over ice in a tall glass — no mixing required. A thin lemon peel or expressed orange twist can accent the caramel and oak notes without competing with the spirit. While already a complete cocktail, the cans also work as a foundation: float a dash of Angostura bitters on top for a quick riff on an Old Fashioned highball, add a splash of fresh ginger juice for an impromptu Kentucky Mule variation, or pour over ice with a lemon wheel and a sprig of mint for a lighter take on a Whiskey Smash.

Best For

• Summer cookouts and outdoor gatherings where glassware is impractical
• Introducing bourbon-curious drinkers to whiskey in an approachable format
• Stocking a home bar fridge with a quality RTD option for spontaneous entertaining
• Gifting to fans of craft spirits who appreciate organic and sustainable production

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Koval Bourbon Highball taste like? It delivers smooth caramel sweetness and toasted oak spice carried by lively carbonation, finishing clean and crisp with a subtle grain character from the millet-heavy mashbill.

How does the Koval Bourbon Highball compare to Flaviar HaiBall? The Koval Bourbon Highball comes in at 7.5% ABV versus HaiBall's 5.9% ABV, delivering noticeably more bourbon presence per can. Koval also uses a certified organic, grain-to-bottle bourbon with a distinctive millet mashbill, whereas HaiBall positions itself more in the hard seltzer space.

Is the Koval Bourbon Highball good for casual sipping? Absolutely — it is specifically designed as a ready-to-drink highball meant to be enjoyed straight from the can or over ice with no additional preparation.

Where is the Koval Bourbon Highball made? It is produced at Koval Distillery in Chicago's North End neighborhood, using organic grains sourced from Midwest family farms and distilled on-site through copper pot stills.

What foods pair well with the Koval Bourbon Highball? Grilled chicken or pork benefits from the caramel sweetness cutting through smoky char. Mild cheddar or gouda mirrors the creamy millet texture. Spiced nuts play off the oak and baking-spice notes. Peach cobbler or apple crumble aligns with the bourbon's warm grain character.

What sizes does the Koval Bourbon Highball come in? It is available as a 4-pack of cans, the standard retail format for this product.

Is the Koval Bourbon Highball worth the price? It positions as a premium RTD cocktail, justified by Koval's grain-to-bottle organic production, heart-cut-only distillation, and the use of specialty millet grain — a significant step above mass-market canned whiskey drinks in terms of ingredient quality and provenance.

Why Koval Bourbon Highball?

The canned RTD bourbon market is crowded with products built on anonymous sourced whiskey and artificial flavoring. Koval's version starts with a genuinely distinctive bourbon — one made from organic millet and corn, distilled through copper pot stills using only the heart cut, and aged in small 30-gallon barrels for accelerated wood contact. That level of transparency and craft in a ready-to-drink format is rare. For drinkers who want a real bourbon highball without the bartending, this 4-pack delivers honest whiskey character backed by one of American craft distilling's more innovative producers.