Skip to main content
Shedd Aquarium

KOVAL Distillery

5121 N. Ravenswood Ave., Chicago, IL 60640

Breweries

Tour and taste your way through Chicago's first craft distillery since the mid-1800s.

Learn about our unique company and approach to distilling handcrafted, organic spirits, while sampling nine of our award-winning whiskeys and liqueurs. Pre-register for tours online at koval-distillery.com. Established in 2008, KOVAL produces organic whiskey, liqueurs and speciality spirits in Chicago's first distillery since the mid-1800s. Founders Robert and Sonat Birnecker, chose to leave their academic careers to bring the distilling traditions of Robert's Austrian family to America.

In making this decision, they vowed to make organic spirits from scratch (avoiding the common industry practice of purchasing and bottling pre-made spirits) and to change the way people understand whiskey by creating a new, signature style - using only the 'heart' cut of the distillate - affording a brighter, cleaner take on whiskey. Embracing the grain-to-bottle mentality, each step of the spirit-making process is thoughtfully monitored: from contracting local farmers to grow the grain to on-site milling and mashing, to finally distilling, bottling, and packaging.

After numerous international awards and Robert at the helm of consulting for the burgeoning craft industry, KOVAL has grown to be one of America's leading small batch, independent spirit manufacturers.

What's happening nearby...

Garfield Park Conservatory Spring Flower Show

Garfield Park Conservatory •  Feb 12 – May 11 @ 10AM

The Garfield Park Conservatory’s Spring Flower Show returns!

Read more about Garfield Park Conservatory Spring Flower Show

Chicago Latino Film Festival

Apr 03 – Apr 14

The 41st annual Chicago Latino Film Festival represents the great diversity of themes and genres of Latino filmmaking from around the world.

Read more about Chicago Latino Film Festival

Dozin' with the Dinosaurs at the Field Museum

Apr 04

The lights dim as you explore the rituals of ancient Egyptian culture, guided by the light of your flashlight.

Read more about Dozin' with the Dinosaurs at the Field Museum

You might also be interested...

Revolution Brewing Tap Room

Chicago

Revolution Brewing Company is one of the biggest breweries in Illinois

Read more about Revolution Brewing Tap Room

All Rise Brewing Company

Chicago

Read more about All Rise Brewing Company

On Tour Brewing Company

Chicago

On Tour Brewing Company celebrates life’s understated, casually significant, yet fleeting moments.

Read more about On Tour Brewing Company

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get inspired by top travel stories, gain access to exclusive promotions and contests, and discover even more reasons to #EnjoyIllinois.