About Koval Dry Gin
Koval started its life as a craft distillery, founded in Chicago in 2008, as the first distillery in Chicago’s city limits since Prohibition. Founders Robert and Sonat Birnecker left their professional lives in academia to found Koval. They have been crafting certified organic whiskeys, brandies, liqueurs and specialty spirits from scratch, ever since. Being the first distillery within city limits since the mid-1800s, Koval brings Austrian distilling traditions to America.
Koval is named after founder Sonat's great-grandfather, who earned Koval the nickname Koval, when, at the very early age of 17 he emigrated from Vienna to Chicago at the start of the 1900s, to start a business. Robert was bequeathed a treasure trove of distilling knowledge and expertise from his grandfather, Robert Schimd.
In the Gin industry, the commonplace practice is to purchase ready made bottled spirits to produce a distillate. At Koval they do things differently, making all of they’re gins from scratch, using pure organic ingredients. Their innovative signature style uses only the heart of the distillate, which is believed to offer a brighter, cleaner spirit. Koval is a grain to glass operation, each step of their organic production process is meticulously monitored.
First Koval contracts local farmers to grow grain that is to be milled and mashed on-site. Next the resultant liquid is distilled, bottled and packaged on-site. Koval, meaning “blacksmith,” in numerous European languages, or “black sheep” in Yiddish, is one of America’s premier small batch, independent spirit manufacturers.
This special gin is comprised of unique woodland spices. Juniper, and wildflower are very prominent on the nose. On the palate are dry and vibrant notes of clean fresh cut grass, citrus, and white pepper, with a round, floral body. It won a Double Gold Medal at the 2015 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, Best in Show at the 2015 Los Angeles International Spirits Competition, and a Gold Medal at the 2015 Spirits Prestige International (SIP) Awards.
Pick up a bottle of this organic dry gin today!
About Koval
"Being a craft distiller allows us to be flexible and bring a new approach to the market," says Sonat Birnecker, the founder of Koval Distillery. "Craft can be different. Different in business model. Different in product. Craft is a way to be creative." Together with her husband, Robert, Birnecker founded Koval Distillery — Chicago's first distillery since Prohibition — in 2008.
Koval Distillery, which is situated just a few feet away from Hollywood Beach in Chicago's North End, is dominated by a custom-made, 2,000 gallon, Kothe Destillationstechnik copper-pot still imported from Germany. "I come from a family that's been distilling for over a hundred years in Austria,"explains Robert, who has been distilling spirits himself since he was a child. "My grandfather had a distillery in Austria and I would help him to make different eau de vies and brandies when I was growing up. He taught me the importance of having the right equipment and using fresh, organic ingredients."
About Gin
According to Winston Churchill, "The gin and tonic has saved more Englishmen's lives and minds than all the doctors in the Empire," referring to the British officers using it to treat malaria in India.
Initially made for medicinal purposes, gin gets most of its flavor from the juniper berries added after the distillation process. It sure has come a long way from the Middle Ages, with the introduction of new botanicals, fruits, and spices, bringing it closer to people of all flavor varieties.
Check out our impressive selection of gins, find your new favorite in the Top 10 gins, or explore the Best gins under $50.
