Koval Single Barrel Millet Whiskey 750ML

Koval Single Barrel Millet Whiskey 750ML is a 40% ABV American grain whiskey distilled from 100% organic millet in a 750ml bottle. As the first distillery in the United States to produce whiskey from millet, Koval carved out an entirely new subcategory in American craft spirits — an achievement recognized with a Silver Medal at the 2015 Spirits Prestige International (SIP) Awards.

Quick Facts: ABV: 40% (80 Proof)  |  Origin: Chicago, Illinois, USA  |  Aged 3 Years in American Oak  |  Distillery: Koval Distillery

Production & Heritage

Koval Distillery was founded in 2008 in Chicago's Ravenswood neighborhood, becoming the city's first legal distillery since the mid-1800s. The Millet expression uses a 100% organic millet grain bill — no corn, wheat, or barley blended in — making it a true single-grain whiskey. Koval employs a heart cut only distillation method, discarding both the heads and tails to capture only the purest center fraction of the spirit run, which is then aged for three years in American oak casks before being bottled from individual barrels.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with sweet grain and vanilla, then moves into star anise and licorice with a faint smokiness. Underneath, lighter notes of grassy hay and banana bread add complexity, along with traces of young oak.

Taste: The entry is distinctly sweet, with wood sugars and vegetal honey giving way to vanilla and caramel at mid-palate. As it develops, rye-like spice notes emerge — clove, cinnamon, and allspice — alongside floral tones and a persistent anise character. Pine resin and eucalyptus add an unexpected herbal dimension that distinguishes this from conventional American whiskeys.

Finish: Clean and bright, with lingering licorice and millet grain sweetness. The spice recedes gradually, leaving a dry, lightly tannic close marked by black tea and lemon peel.

How to Drink Koval Millet

Neat or with a few drops of water rewards the most exploration of the unusual grain character; the lower 80-proof strength means it rarely needs much dilution. For cocktails, the anise-and-spice profile opens creative possibilities:

• Old Fashioned — The vanilla and caramel backbone holds up beautifully against bitters and a sugar cube, while the anise adds an unexpected twist.
• Whiskey Sour — Bright citrus amplifies the lemon peel and floral notes already present in the spirit.
• Sazerac riff — The natural licorice and anise tones echo the absinthe rinse, creating a seamless, harmonious build.

Best For

• Whiskey collectors seeking rare single-grain American expressions
• Gifting an adventurous spirits enthusiast who already owns the classics
• Blind tasting events where unusual grain bills spark conversation
• Home bartenders experimenting with herbaceous, spice-forward cocktail builds

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Koval Millet taste like? Koval Millet leads with vanilla, honey, and caramel sweetness, then pivots to prominent anise, clove, and cinnamon spice with an herbal finish of pine resin and black tea. It drinks closer to a young rye than a typical bourbon or corn whiskey.

How does Koval Millet compare to young rye whiskey? Multiple reviewers note that the millet grain bill produces a spice-forward, slightly floral character strikingly similar to young rye, though Koval Millet replaces rye's peppery bite with a sweeter, more herbaceous anise quality. The organic millet also contributes a distinct vegetal honey note not typically found in rye whiskeys.

Is Koval Millet good for sipping neat? At 40% ABV it is approachable neat, and its unusual flavor profile — anise, eucalyptus, vanilla — rewards slow, attentive sipping. A few drops of water can open up the floral and grain notes further.

Where is Koval Millet made? Koval Millet is distilled and aged at Koval Distillery in Chicago, Illinois — the first legal distillery to operate in the city since the mid-1800s. All production, from milling to bottling, takes place at their Ravenswood facility.

What foods pair well with Koval Millet? Grilled lamb chops complement the anise and clove spice. Aged Gouda or Gruyère mirror the caramel and nutty sweetness. Dark chocolate with sea salt highlights the vanilla notes. Thai basil dishes echo the herbal, slightly floral character. Roasted root vegetables like parsnips and carrots match the grain sweetness.

What sizes does Koval Millet come in? The standard release is a 750ml bottle, and Koval also offers a 375ml half-bottle format for several expressions in their lineup.

Is Koval Millet worth the price? Koval Millet positions as a craft-premium expression, priced above mass-market bourbons but in line with other artisan single-barrel American whiskeys. Its value lies in the rarity of the grain bill — no other widely distributed American whiskey uses 100% millet — and the heart-cut-only distillation method that prioritizes quality over yield.

Why Koval Millet?

No other American distillery brought millet whiskey to market before Koval, and the grain remains exceptionally uncommon in the category. The heart cut only distillation — where both heads and tails are discarded — sacrifices volume for purity, and the three-year aging in American oak brings enough structure without burying the grain's natural character. The result is a whiskey that genuinely tastes like nothing else on the shelf, offering a licorice-and-spice personality that has drawn comparisons to young rye but belongs to a category of its own. For drinkers who have explored the standard bourbon, rye, and wheat whiskey spectrum and want something fundamentally different, this single barrel millet expression delivers that without gimmick.