Koval releasing a new blended whiskey

[Jono]

47th Ward Blend Whiskey

Unlike their single grain whiskeys (Lions Pride etc), this is a grain mash blend of four grains (malted barley, rye, oat and wheat) that was aged in new American white oak (how long?) and bottled at 94 proof.

http://www.koval-distillery.com/

If they can get some to age for 7+ years that would be a welcome offering.

This brings up the issue of northern climate aging vs KY. Not sure how much difference there is between Chicago and KY but it probably splits the middle when comparing KY to Canadian aging.

[Jono]

Oddly, Illinois had to pass a new law that allowed micro / craft distillers to serve their product on premises. The bill was finally signed in July 2010:

http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/publicacts/fulltext.asp?Name=096-1367

Public Act 096-1367

The underlined portions in the above bill address the craft distiller...specifically:

" Class 9. A craft distiller license shall allow the

manufacture of up to 5,000 gallons of spirits by distillation

per year and the storage of such spirits. If a craft distiller

licensee is not affiliated with any other manufacturer, then

the craft distiller licensee may sell such spirits to

distributors in this State and non-licensees to the extent

permitted by any exemption approved by the Commission pursuant

to Section 6-4 of this Act.

Any craft distiller licensed under this Act who on the

effective date of this amendatory Act of the 96th General

Assembly was licensed as a distiller and manufactured no more

spirits than permitted by this Section shall not be required to

pay the initial licensing fee."

"A person licensed as a craft distiller not affiliated with

any other person manufacturing spirits may be permitted to

receive one retailer's license for the premises in which he or

she actually conducts business permitting only the retail sale

of spirits manufactured at such premises. Such sales shall be

limited to on-premises, in-person sales only, for lawful

consumption on or off premises. A craft distiller licensed for

retail sale shall secure liquor liability insurance coverage in

an amount at least equal to the maximum liability amounts set

forth in subsection (a) of Section 6-21 of this Act."

Until this was passed, only "virgin" tastings could be offered.

The license fee:

Class 9. Craft Distiller........................ 1,800

I wonder how this compares to other states?

It still seems limiting based on the volume:

http://www.centersquarejournal.com/news/state-bill-could-help-pave-the-way-for-a-new-tasting-room-at-koval-distillery

"5,000 gallons of spirits.....We're probably going to have to change it next year"

A nice review of their products as of May 2010:

http://www.drinkingmadeeasy.com/2011/01/field-trip-koval-distillery-chicago.html

Field Trip! Koval Distillery, Chicago

Posted in Spirits on January 13 2011 | 0 comments

[Jono]

http://www.koval-distillery.com/newsletter/past-newsletters/143-september-newsletter

Interview with the distiller Robert Birnecker re whiskey grains, aging etc.

One question of several:

"We all want to know....do you have plans to age your whiskeys longer?

This is a question we get quite often. To be honest, I like the spirits the way they are - otherwise I wouldn't make them. Nevertheless, we always experiment and try to come up with new and interesting things and aging some barrels longer might just be one of those things."

[shoshani]

47th Ward Blend Whiskey

Unlike their single grain whiskeys (Lions Pride etc), this is a grain mash blend of four grains (malted barley, rye, oat and wheat) that was aged in new American white oak (how long?) and bottled at 94 proof.

Hm. I haven't visited their site yet, but it sounds to me like this isn't a blended whiskey as we know it (ie, small percentage of whiskey, large percentage of grain neutral spirits, plus color and flavor additives) but rather a straight whiskey that happens to be mashed from barley, rye, oat, and wheat.

I'm guessing that it can't be called anything but 'whiskey' since it does not fall into any of the recognized styles defined by law; it most certainly cannot be bourbon, because it doesn't have a drop of corn. Having the word 'blend' in its name may work against it, though, if it's what it sounds like (ie, not a blend at all but a straight whiskey mash that doesn't fall into any legal definitions).

This sounds like a very interesting dram!

[Jono]

Hm. I haven't visited their site yet, but it sounds to me like this isn't a blended whiskey as we know it (ie, small percentage of whiskey, large percentage of grain neutral spirits, plus color and flavor additives) but rather a straight whiskey that happens to be mashed from barley, rye, oat, and wheat.

I'm guessing that it can't be called anything but 'whiskey' since it does not fall into any of the recognized styles defined by law; it most certainly cannot be bourbon, because it doesn't have a drop of corn. Having the word 'blend' in its name may work against it, though, if it's what it sounds like (ie, not a blend at all but a straight whiskey mash that doesn't fall into any legal definitions).

This sounds like a very interesting dram!

I just added the info to an existing link re Koval, not meaning to suggest it was a blended whiskey.