From brandy to grain
The founders spent the money meant for a house down payment on their first still.4,7 At first Koval made brandy, a nod to Robert Birnecker's Austrian roots, but it soon turned to grain spirits.
Peated
Robert Birnecker and Sonat Birnecker Hart opened Koval in Chicago's Ravenswood neighborhood in 2008, the first distillery within the city's limits since Prohibition.1,2,3 It distils its products itself, rather than buying ready-made spirit, and uses organic grains.1,2,3 Its whiskeys use grains that include oat and millet, and it keeps only the heart cut of each run.4,5,6
Latest distillery releases
- Anime Central 2025 Limited Edition2025 release50%