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...

Chinatown Summer Fair

Jul 28 @ 10AM

This iconic event is one of the most ethnically unique outdoor events in Chicago and the Midwest. Attracting more than 40,000 people from throughout the region.

Read more about Chinatown Summer Fair

Lollapalooza

Grant Park •  Aug 01 – Aug 04

Each year at Lollapalooza, some of the top names in alternative, hip hop, punk and pop join more than 170 bands and musicians in Grant Park…

Read more about Lollapalooza

Chicago Air and Water Show

Aug 10 – Aug 11

The Chicago Air and Water Show presented by the City of Chicago is the largest free show of its kind in the United States. The show…

Read more about Chicago Air and Water Show

You might also be interested...

Goose Island Brewpub - Wrigleyville

Chicago

Read more about Goose Island Brewpub - Wrigleyville

Piece Brewery & Pizzeria

Chicago

Opened in July of 2001, Piece has been producing small batches of handcrafted brews in their seven-barrel brew-house.

Read more about Piece Brewery & Pizzeria

Revolution Brewing

Chicago

Located in Logan Square, this brewpub is a bustling meeting place for beer enthusiasts from across Chicago and beyond.

Read more about Revolution Brewing

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

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