Koval Distillery

When Dr. Robert Birnecker and Dr. Sonat Birnecker Hart opened Koval Distillery in 2008, they brought distilling back to Chicago for the first time since the mid-1800s. More than urban pioneers, they built one of the largest fully independent and woman-owned craft distilleries in America, blending Austrian family traditions with grain-to-bottle innovation that has earned over 100 international awards.

History & Heritage

The husband-and-wife team left careers in government and academia to establish Chicago's first distillery in more than a century. Robert brought centuries of Austrian distilling knowledge from his family lineage, while the distillery's name honors both their heritages: "Koval" means blacksmith in Eastern European languages and "forges ahead" in Yiddish, referencing Sonat's great-grandfather. Their pioneering work extended beyond production, advocating for Illinois legislative changes that opened doors for other craft distilleries.

The Whiskey

Koval's grain-to-bottle approach centers on organic grains sourced from Midwestern farms, milled and distilled on-site using their signature "heart cut" technique. This method captures only the purest portion of each distillate, creating remarkably clean and bright spirits. Their portfolio includes expressions built on unconventional grains: a bourbon featuring millet alongside corn, plus dedicated bottlings of 100% organic rye, four grain, oat, and millet whiskeys. Each single barrel expression can be traced to its specific barrel and originating organic farm.

Why It Matters

Koval represents the intellectual rigor and innovative spirit driving America's craft whiskey renaissance. Their commitment to organic certification, kosher standards, and uncommon grains like millet produces flavor profiles unavailable elsewhere. Recognition as Illinois Exporter and Small Business Persons of the Year reflects their influence beyond Chicago, having consulted on hundreds of distillery projects worldwide through Kothe Distilling Technologies.