Koval Four Grain Whiskey

The Koval Distillery, founded in Chicago in 2008 by a couple with Austrian roots, cals itself an organic distillery as al their grain comes from Midwest farms and is 100% biological. Everything from grain to bottle happens in one place. Next to other spirits like vodka, gin and brandy, they also have a couple of whiskies out there. This is their Four Grain, of which the mashbill consisted of malted barley, rye, wheat and oats. The whiskey matures in heavily charred barrels from Minnesota

Oh, my! This nose is something else. Very fruity and sweet on banana cake, chocolate, freshly polished leather and toast that has not yet been toasted (you know what I mean, right?). Surprisingly creamy but dry at the same time. A lot of woodsmoke and even some ashes. How lovely.

I would have loved a little more body, but taste-wise this is quite something. Gingerbread, cardamom, ginger, cinnamon and a good dose of nutmeg precede the citrus fruit. No trace of the banana on the palate, but all the more oranges. Some quinine. The wood starts to whisper.

The finish is very long and spicy, almost piquant.

For such a young distillery – who obviously only have young stuff to put out there – they certainly have some very nice products. Koval is one to keep an eye one.