Koval Distillery products- Chicago

[SD1]

When in Chicago this past holiday season I bought some unique whiskeys and liquers from Koval Distilleries. (http://www.koval-distillery.com/)

I bought a bottle each of the oat and dark millet whiskeys.

The oat is surprisingly refreshing, on ice. I have also mixed it in a Boulevardier, with Koval's Rose Hip Liqueur taking the place of sweet vermouth. Very nice.

The dark millet has a more pronounced vanilla flavor, but I liked this one better neat.

 

[dopey]

I was at a fundraiser last night and Koval had a table there with their entire line. I went through most of their Lion line (that is their aged line, which is what you tried, as opposed to their rawer, white line, which I didn't get to taste). I was surprised and disappointed that I didn't like their dark rye, but I loved their millet and their regular rye (light is aged in toasted barrels, dark in charred). What I liked best is their blended whiskey, which is called something like Ward 47 - it is a mix of rye, millet and oat (I think). It is relatively new and the presenter mentioned that it has been cleaning up in awards competitions. Maybe a lesson there on why whiskeys have traditionally been blended rather than single grain.
I should have tried the oat but I had already gone through quite a bit.
Edit: It is called 47th Ward.

 

[SD1]

Thanks for the tip on 47th Ward.

If you get the chance to try the oat, I recommend it.