Koval
KOVAL Distillery is a privately held, woman-owned craft spirits producer founded in Chicago in 2008, operating the city's first distillery since Prohibition. It makes USDA-certified organic whiskey, gin, liqueurs, and canned cocktails, distributed across US retail, major e-commerce platforms, and four international markets, supplemented by tours and private events at its Chicago facility.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2008
- HeadquartersChicago, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Koval does
KOVAL Distillery is a privately held craft spirits producer founded in 2008 in Chicago, Illinois, by Sonat Birnecker Hart and Robert Hart. The company operates the first distillery to open in Chicago since Prohibition and is one of the largest fully independent and woman-owned craft distilleries in the United States. KOVAL produces a portfolio of USDA-certified organic spirits — including bourbon, rye, four-grain whiskey, gin, barreled gin, liqueurs, and ready-to-drink canned cocktails — alongside a premium sub-brand, Thresh & Winnow (T&W), which features limited-edition aged expressions such as 10 Year Rye, Single Malt, and Millet Whiskey. Production is grain-to-bottle using a Kothe copper pot still, with non-GMO and certified-organic grains sourced from regional partners including Clarkson Grain Company and Allen Williams' 1,700-acre organic farm in Cerro Gordo, Illinois.
The business operates across three revenue streams: (1) bottled spirits sales through a distillery store and online catalog, with direct-to-consumer shipping fulfilled by Fulproof on tiered pricing (free shipping on orders of four or more bottles); (2) distribution through national US retailers (Total Wine & More, Whole Foods, Target, Binny's, K&L Wines), online platforms (Amazon, Drizly, Instacart, ReserveBar, Wine.com), and international distributors across Japan, Australia, Germany, and the UK; and (3) experiential services at the Chicago facility, including distillery tours, cocktail classes, and private event rentals. The customer base spans craft spirits enthusiasts, hospitality venues, and gift purchasers, with experiential marketing driven through brand ambassador tastings, blog content, social media, and earned media including a Wall Street Journal feature. The company is entirely founder-owned with no disclosed institutional investors, and operates with a headcount of 11–50 employees from its headquarters at 4241 N Ravenswood Avenue in Chicago.
Koval firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Koval
- Legal name
- KOVAL Distillery
- Website
- https://koval-distillery.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2008
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- KOVAL Distillery is a privately held, woman-owned craft spirits producer founded in Chicago in 2008, operating the city's first distillery since Prohibition. It makes USDA-certified organic whiskey, gin, liqueurs, and canned cocktails, distributed across US retail, major e-commerce platforms, and four international markets, supplemented by tours and private events at its Chicago facility.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Koval industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Craft Spirits
- NAICS
- Distilleries (312140), Distilleries (31214)
- SIC
- Beverages (2080)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Spirits Distilling & Brands (CRADAIAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Distilled Spirits Production & Distilling (AFAFAAAC), Liquor Stores (Off-Premise Spirits Retail) (CRANABAA), Spirits Distillery Tours & Tastings (Whiskey, Rum, Gin, Vodka) (THAJAGAF), Alcohol, Tobacco & Cannabis Inventory-led Online Retailers (CRAFADAO)
Keywords
Where Koval is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Chicago
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Koval business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Spirits Sales: Direct sales of whiskey, gin, and liqueur products through distillery store, online catalog, and retail partners. Includes standard products and limited edition releases.
- Tours and Events: Revenue from distillery tours, cocktail classes, and private event bookings at the Chicago facility.
- Direct Shipping: Direct-to-consumer shipping through Fulproof fulfillment with tiered pricing based on bottle count.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Direct shipping rates per order |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels5 records
Koval product offering
Product offeringCore offering
KOVAL Distillery crafts and sells USDA-certified organic spirits — including bourbon, rye, four-grain and aged whiskeys, dry and barreled gin, botanical liqueurs, and canned cocktails — using a grain-to-bottle production process at its Chicago facility. In addition to bottled spirits sold through its own store, online catalog, and retail/wholesale channels, the company generates revenue from on-site distillery tours, cocktail classes, and private events.
Product overview
KOVAL Distillery is a Chicago-based craft spirits producer offering a diverse portfolio of alcoholic beverages organized into four main categories: whiskeys (including Bourbon, Rye, Four Grain, and Limited Edition/Thresh and Winnow aged releases), gins (Dry Gin, Barreled Gin, and T&W specialty gins), liqueurs (Coffee, Ginger, Chrysanthemum & Honey, Rose Hip), and canned cocktails (Bourbon Highball, Cranberry Spritz). The distillery also operates experiential services including distillery tours, cocktail classes, and private event bookings. All products feature USDA-certified organic ingredients, with emphasis on innovative grain experimentation and grain-to-bottle production. Founded in 2008, KOVAL was the first distillery to open in Chicago since Prohibition.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Thresh & Winnow (T&W): Premium aged whiskey line featuring expressions like 10 Year Rye, Single Malt, Millet Whiskey, Brandy Cask Bourbon, and 12 Year Wheat.
Products and services
- KOVAL Bourbon Flagship bourbon whiskey made with corn and millet using USDA-certified organic ingredients, produced grain-to-bottle at KOVAL's Chicago distillery. Targeted at craft spirits enthusiasts and on-premise accounts.
- KOVAL Rye Rye whiskey crafted from organic grains, part of KOVAL's grain-forward whiskey portfolio. Targeted at craft spirits enthusiasts.
- KOVAL Four Grain Innovative whiskey made from four different grains, showcasing KOVAL's experimental approach to grain recipes. Targeted at craft spirits enthusiasts seeking distinctive flavor profiles.
- Thresh & Winnow (T&W) Limited Editions Premium aged whiskey line featuring expressions such as T&W 10 Year Rye, T&W Single Malt, T&W Millet Whiskey, T&W Brandy Cask Bourbon, and T&W 12 Year Wheat. Targeted at collectors and craft spirits enthusiasts.
- KOVAL Dry Gin Artisan dry gin featuring botanical notes, one of KOVAL's award-winning core spirits. Targeted at craft spirits enthusiasts and on-premise cocktail programs.
- KOVAL Barreled Gin Gin aged in barrels, developing complex flavors from wood interaction. Targeted at craft spirits enthusiasts.
- Cranberry Gin Liqueur
Companies that use Koval
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Koval technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Koval partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Identity Drink BrandscoreUK distribution partner for KOVAL products. KOVAL announced arrival in the UK market with Identity Drink Brands, introducing the Savile Rye cocktail to celebrate the partnership.
- FulproofcoreFulfillment partner for direct-to-consumer shipping from the distillery to customers' doors. Handles order fulfillment and shipping logistics for online orders.
- Clarkson Grain CompanycoreOrganic grain supplier since 1974. Provides non-GMO, certified organic corn and grains for KOVAL's grain-to-bottle production. Conducts testing at their scale house and testing facility.
- Allen Williams (Organic Corn Farmer)minorOrganic corn farmer in Cerro Gordo, IL managing 1,700 acres including certified organic land since 1994. Supplies non-GMO grains for KOVAL's production.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Koval competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Corsair Distillery: Nashville-based craft distillery known for experimental grain usage (including quinoa, triticale, oats) and small-batch whiskey/gin releases; highly comparable to Koval's grain-experimentation approach and limited-edition product strategy.
- New Riff Distilling: Kentucky-based independent craft distillery producing bourbon, rye, and malt whiskies with a similar premiumization focus and barrel-aged product roadmap; comparable scale and channel mix.
- Balcones Distilling: Texas craft distiller producing distinctive single-malt and bourbon whiskeys using unconventional approaches (baby blue corn, etc.); comparable to Koval as an experimental, independent craft producer with premium limited releases.
- Tuthilltown Spirits (Hudson Whiskey): New York-based craft distillery and pioneer of farm-distilled American whiskey; comparable independent craft story with similar product range and tasting-room-led retail strategy.
- Wilderness Trail Distillery: Kentucky craft bourbon and rye producer with strong premium positioning and DTC focus; comparable independent craft profile to Koval in core whiskey categories.
- FEW Spirits: Chicago-based craft distillery producing whiskey, gin, and bourbon; directly comparable to Koval as another independent craft producer in the same metropolitan market with a similar product mix and on-site tasting/tour experience.
- Smooth Ambler: West Virginia craft distillery with a portfolio of bourbon, rye, and gin; comparable independent craft positioning, premium pricing, and national retail distribution.
- Catoctin Creek Distillery: Virginia-based craft distillery with a strong organic and kosher-certified rye whiskey portfolio; the closest peer to Koval on USDA-organic certification positioning and farm-to-bottle sourcing story.
Broad incumbents
- Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey: Larger, faster-scaling premium whiskey brand with strong storytelling and broader retail penetration; relevant comparable on premium craft whiskey positioning, but at significantly greater scale and distribution.
- Diageo (craft/specialty portfolio incl. Bulleit): Global spirits major with craft-adjacent bourbon brands (e.g., Bulleit) sold through similar retail and on-trade channels; relevant for understanding competitive dynamics, distribution leverage, and pricing pressure in Koval's channels.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Koval social profiles
Digital presenceKoval financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Koval leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Koval funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Koval M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Koval
What does Koval do?
KOVAL Distillery crafts and sells USDA-certified organic spirits — including bourbon, rye, four-grain and aged whiskeys, dry and barreled gin, botanical liqueurs, and canned cocktails — using a grain-to-bottle production process at its Chicago facility. In addition to bottled spirits sold through its own store, online catalog, and retail/wholesale channels, the company generates revenue from on-site distillery tours, cocktail classes, and private events.
Is Koval a public or private company?
Koval is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Koval founded?
Koval was founded in 2008. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Koval based?
Koval is headquartered in Chicago, United States, in the North America region.
How does Koval make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Spirits Sales are the primary driver. The others are tours and Events and direct Shipping.
Who are Koval's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Corsair Distillery, New Riff Distilling, Balcones Distilling, Tuthilltown Spirits (Hudson Whiskey), Wilderness Trail Distillery, FEW Spirits, Smooth Ambler and Catoctin Creek Distillery. Broad incumbents are Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey and Diageo (craft/specialty portfolio incl. Bulleit).
Does Koval have an API?
No public API is recorded for Koval.
What industry is Koval in?
Koval's product category is Craft Spirits. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRADAIAC, Spirits Distilling & Brands, with a secondary code of AFAFAAAC, Distilled Spirits Production & Distilling. Its NAICS code is 312140 and its SIC code is 2080.