Koval Single Barrel Rye Whiskey review

My first encounters with Chicago’s Koval distillery were Koval Single Barrel Organic Rye Whiskey and Koval White Rye Whiskey.

And what a start it was! White Rye is closer to the average side, being very young, though fresh and very funky. But The Single Barrel Rye felt very nice for a whiskey with no age statement, that has been aged in a new oak. Surprisingly smooth but with character.

Like the White Rye, this Single Barrel version is also very fresh and it offers a very versatile rye experience. The palate is rich and offers much more than the rye. Like a crossbreed of rye whisky and bourbon.

PLANES, TRAINS & AUTOMOBILES – anything to get me to Chicago!

Like Neal Page (played by Steve Martin) from the movie Planes, Trains & Automobiles, all I wanted to do, was to get to the next flight to Chicago. Straight to Koval distillery.

Colour: Pale amber

Nose: Mix of bourbon and rye. Very fruity, pear hue with strong cinnamon apples. Ordinary apples as well with fresh and grainy notes.

Taste: Bit bourbony, the rye isn’t as strong as it is in the finish. Sweet and fruity rye, though the fruity note is just a glimpse from the nose. Water makes it very peppery, ruins the taste a bit.

Finish: Bitter rye with a fresh touch. Spices hit you in the aftertaste.

Balance: Fresh and exciting, smooth, light, yet with great character.

Scoring

Nose:Taste:Finish:Balance:

Distillery: Koval Region: Chicago, Illinois, USA ABV: 40% Organic whiskey, 100% rye grain. Heart Cut.

Koval in a nutshell

Distillery in Chicago. Artisans of peculiar microdistilling. Koval makes alcohol from organic single grains of any kind: wheat, oats, millet, rye and spelt for example. They bottle their stuff without aging and with minimum barrel time.

Koval Single Barrel Rye on the right, photo by Koval distillery

Koval Single Barrel Rye Whiskey review