First Impressions
Koval was founded in Chicago in 2008 as the first distillery in the city limits since Prohibition — a woman-owned operation that is certified organic by MOSA and kosher by the Orthodox Union. Their Barreled Gin takes the same 13-botanical recipe as their acclaimed Dry Gin and ages it for approximately six months in Koval's own charred whiskey barrels. Named Best Wood-Aged Gin of the Year at the 2023 Meininger's International Spirits Awards.
Tasting
Thirteen botanicals including juniper, angelica root, coriander, grains of paradise, and rosehip — all organic. The nose is caramelised: honeyed thyme, vanilla, juniper, rosehip tea, lavender florals, and oak depth. On the palate at 47%, vanilla and oak spice with caramel and butterscotch sweetness from the whiskey barrel. Juniper and pine remain present underneath — the botanicals maintain their identity through the ageing. The finish is oak warmth and vanilla with juniper reasserting.
The Bottom Line
Koval Barreled earns an 8 — exactly what you want from the genre, as Gin Foundry noted, and one of the true successes of the barrel-aged gin subcategory. Far more delicate than the barrel-aged pioneer Ransom, with the six months in Koval's own whiskey barrels adding complexity without overwhelming the botanicals. Best in a barrel-aged Negroni or a Martinez. At £47, a certified organic, kosher, award-winning barrel-aged gin from one of America's most respected craft distilleries.
