Koval Single Barrel Bourbon
Koval Single Barrel Bourbon is a 750mL bourbon bottled at 47% ABV (94 proof) by KOVAL Distillery in Chicago, Illinois, from an unconventional mash of 51% corn and 49% millet. Where most bourbons fill out the bill with rye or wheat, Koval pairs corn with millet — an ancient, naturally gluten-free grain long used in spirits in Nepal — and ages the spirit in new charred American oak, bottled barrel by barrel from the heart cut only. Certified organic and Kosher, it is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor.
- ABV: 47% (94 proof)
- Size: 750mL
- Mash: 51% corn, 49% millet
- Barrels: New charred American oak, 30-gallon barrels
- Format: Single barrel, heart cut only
- Certification: Certified organic and Kosher
- Origin: KOVAL Distillery, Chicago, Illinois
Chicago's Millet Bourbon
KOVAL was founded in 2008 by Robert and Sonat Birnecker — the first distillery in Chicago since Prohibition — and built its name on grain-to-bottle production from organic grain grown by Midwest family farms. The millet in this mash changes the bourbon's register: corn brings the sweetness, millet softens it with a vanilla whisper, and neither grain takes the lead. Because every bottling is a single barrel, each one is a snapshot of one 30-gallon cask rather than a house blend. The expression took a Gold Medal for Best Bourbon Whiskey at the 2014 International Whisky Competition, per the distillery's own sell sheet. See the rest of the distillery's work on the Koval vendor page and across our bourbon whiskey collection.
Tasting Notes
The distillery's own notes open with mango chutney, the millet rendering a soft whisper of vanilla throughout; apricot custard sweetness follows, and the finish turns to peppery caramel, diminuendo into a wisp of clove-spiked tobacco.
How to Enjoy
Neat or with a few drops of water, so the millet's softness stays audible; it also builds a distinctive Old Fashioned, where the peppery caramel finish stands in for part of the spice. More single barrels are in our whisky collection.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is millet doing in a bourbon?
Bourbon must be at least 51% corn; the remaining grain is the distiller's choice. Koval fills it entirely with millet — 49% — an ancient grain that lends soft vanilla and a smooth, rounded texture instead of rye's spice.
Is Koval Single Barrel Bourbon really a single barrel?
Yes — each bottling comes from one individual 30-gallon barrel of new charred American oak, drawn from the heart cut of the distillation, so flavour can vary subtly from barrel to barrel.
How strong is Koval Single Barrel Bourbon?
94 proof (47% ABV), at 750mL. Koval publishes no age statement for this expression, so none is claimed here.
A bourbon built on corn and millet, one barrel at a time — order Koval Single Barrel Bourbon online from Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.