Koval Offerings???

[Richnimrod]

I ran across a few offerings from Koval which I have not seen in my area before.

Has anybody had any tastes of their stuff??

I know they are into drams made from 'unique' grains, and that interests me... IF they're tasty.

[brettckeen]

Although a bit young for my taste/ price, the bourbon is good and very different using Millet as a flavor grain adds a 2nd level of sweetness. I'm proud to serve it as a local offering. The Millet and Spelt whiskeys are good too, but are again young. The distillates are clean tasting but thin maybe due to the use of enzymes.

[Kpiz]

Koval is making some innovative products. However, I can't recommend any of the "light" whiskeys. They show very little age or flavor, and almost tasted like white dog to me. Fine for making certain cocktails, but not for sipping neat (IMHO), which I generally prefer. I like intense favors so maybe the subtleties in these were just lost on me. The "dark" whiskeys are a little more flavorful but still not enough to get me to purchase a whole bottle of one. Out of all, the dark rye was my favorite. Haven't tried their bourbon.

[MyOldKyDram]

These showed up in KY this week. Interested to try one.

[theglobalguy]

Saw a Liquor Barn selection of the four grain today. Too pricey to pull the trigger on at $45.

[brettckeen]

Saw a Liquor Barn selection of the four grain today. Too pricey to pull the trigger on at $45.

The 4 Grain may be my favorite. Worth trying if you see on a back bar.

[White Dog]

While I find it intellectually interesting to try all the white whiskeys for grain distinction, I think all their aged stuff sucks, to put it mildly.

[Richnimrod]

Thanx for the opinions, guys/gals.

This is just what I was looking for.

Not many seem to be overly fond of their stuff, so I guess, at the prices asked; I'll be passing, too.

[benpearson]

While not aged long I enjoy the light oat. I don't enjoy the dark.

[Richnimrod]

While not aged long I enjoy the light oat. I don't enjoy the dark.

OK, maybe I'll try and get a 'sample taste' of the light oat. Thanx. That was one that sounded interesting to me anyway.

[T Comp]

I tasted through some of their offerings including the bourbon at the Indie Spirits Expo last week. As to impressions I will just politely say they had a couple of very personable and quite attractive woman working their booth.

[tanstaafl2]

While not aged long I enjoy the light oat. I don't enjoy the dark.

[omgmarclol]

I'm a fan off their offerings. Dark oat being my favorite of their line

[fishnbowljoe]

I tasted through some of their offerings including the bourbon at the Indie Spirits Expo last week. As to impressions I will just politely say they had a couple of very personable and quite attractive woman working their booth.

The place Gary and I have been going to for spirits/beer tastings on Monday nights, will be serving offerings from Koval next Monday. Maybe those same two gals will be there. :cool:

[HighHorse]

Finding them really unsuitable for cooking or cleaning, I will happily offer mine up to anyone.

[smokinjoe]

Finding them really unsuitable for cooking or cleaning, I will happily offer mine up to anyone.

[JDSmith619]

I got a bottle of the Oat for being a groomsmen.... its decent but nothing to write home about.

I'd take $50 it cost and go grab 2x ETL.

[Ravensfire]

Not all is lost, however...State of Georgia has found it works on the Kudzu!

[HighHorse]

Count it as my contribution to the big chicken kudzu patrol. Will bring to next Tallahassee Atlanta meet up!

[fishnbowljoe]

I went to the Koval tasting with Gary tonight. Truth be told, I was expecting the worst. I was actually a little surprised, in a good way. Nothing super great to say, but at the same time, nothing really bad to say either. All their offerings were different and interesting. Drinkable, and not offensive. Not too bad at all.

Joe

[HighHorse]

I went to the Koval tasting with Gary tonight. Truth be told, I was expecting the worst. I was actually a little surprised, in a good way. Nothing super great to say, but at the same time, nothing really bad to say either. All their offerings were different and interesting. Drinkable, and not offensive. Not too bad at all.

Joe

[sob0728]

I had 4 of their offerings at a tasting not too long ago. They were....not for me. Each one had the same "funk" to it that I did not enjoy. I could taste it for a day or so afterward too. Unpleasant.

[Kwats7]

(Caveat: some of this might be slightly inaccurate, as I'm recalling it from memory)

Last December I attended a 3 day craft distillers workshop that they hosted on site, it was a pretty great class. The couple that own Koval (Robert and Sonat?) are great people and know their stuff. They played a large part in pushing legislation to make it easier to start up a craft distillery in Illinois, which is pretty sweet.

That being said, I'm not a huge fan of their whiskies. There's nothing wrong with them, but the taste is very unique and tend to taste young/immature/a bit too much like white dog to my palate, at least compared to other bourbons on the market. Robert is Austrian, learned distilling from his grandfather, and likes to make "clean" tasting spirits (all hearts, no tails?). I think they tend to use smoked/lightly charred 30 gal barrels as well. I've tasted their distillates side by side, they've got a ton of variations (four grain, spelt, bourbon, oat, millet, maybe a couple others); they're pretty great and it's interesting to taste the differences between them. With a heavier char, longer aging, and standard barrels I think I'd love the finished product. Unfortunately it's not really financially feasible for craft producers to use standard barrels and age them longer.

They've definitely differentiated themselves from the rest of the market and carved out a niche, though.

[squire]

With a heavier char, longer aging, and standard barrels I think I'd love the finished product. Unfortunately it's not really financially feasible for craft producers to use standard barrels and age them longer.

I don't follow this line of reasoning. Small barrels don't age whisky faster they just color it faster by accelerating tannic extraction which will in fact make the whisky too bitter to drink before it reaches maturity. Wherever made whisky is a liquor that requires aging and if they cannot afford to do that then why bother with whisky in the first place. Surely there's a market for well crafted Austrian style unaged white goods such as Eau de Vie.

[jmj_203]

The mostly full line is lingering forever on our state site at absurd prices for what they are. Id try some but NOT at $60 per bottle. Anything imported is ridiculously priced in Pa, just see Scotch as an example. I love it as a different dram to bourbon but why our stupid state system has higher prices for imported booze versus other states in the US makes me buy outside of state and is bs to state residents. Import duties are the same for the country aren't they? That being the case I won't try Koval offerings at their normal prices, definitely a Hell No from Pa stores. And my scotch I just have family bring me bottles when they visit for holidays.