The cocktail lounge is really nice. A great spot to hang out with friends. God drinks and fun table games. A little pricey but quality beverages. read more

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It's such a pain to get to, but it's awesome! delicious, laid back and creative. We were the only ones in the bar and the bar tender was making "trial drinks" and only us try them as he tweaked them. Great experience. read more

Beautiful space! Outdoor patio is spacious and sunny. Easy parking or CTA/Metra access. Try the espresso martini or see what's in the slushy machine that day. Cheers! read more

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Stopped by this place with old friends for drinks. They have a huge outdoor patio with extra seating available. Great place to meet up with a group of people. I was also surprised to see they had high-top highchairs. I had a variation of a moscow mule. It tasted good, but I didn't taste much alcohol. read more

This review is more for the product that Koval makes than the tour they offer. A close friend decided to have a "surprise" birthday tour at Kovel to kick off the festivities. I have passed this place many times as I sometimes take Ravenswood as a shortcut to avoid traffic on Foster. Like a lot of places, have always thought about stopping in, but didn't have the time. So glad C decided to do the celebration here. The space itself is cleaning and inviting. It has an old time feel to the place. There is a main entrance where you check in, then there is an open room where actual "tour" is held. Full disclosure, it is not a tour so much as a lecture and a tasting. There are representative pieces of the distilling equipment in the open room as well as chairs for sitting. The lecture itself was very interesting as I had no idea that Koval was the first distillery since the mid-1800s founded in Chicago. While I myself am not a follower of organic products, as a chemist and someone who has worked in the food and drug industry, I can respect the owners (Robert and Sonat Birnecker) decision to make organic spirits from scratch. With my science background, of course I was interested more in the equipment than that product. There was one still there from Germany, I believe, that was awesome in shape and its uniqueness in how it distilled. I had a lot of questions about their quality system, but unfortunately the tour guide could not answer them. No harm, no foul as I imagine most people come to taste the product, not worry about the QA processes :-) Nice thing to know is that their products are kosher for folks were that is a requirement. Feel free to drink my Jewish friends that follow the laws of kosher. The products themselves were most excellent and definitely had a clean finish to them. We had plenty to sample and the pours were nice...I would say about 1/3 of a shot glass for each. Don't remember what we sampled because the Cranberry Gin stole my heart. At the end we were allowed to sample some additional products and liquors...don't know what they were because all I saw was Cranberry Gin. My two additional requests were for that, which I got a full shot of (didn't toss it down, but sipped it real slow like). That stuff is great by itself, but in bubbles, it is the bomb diggity! The staff was very accommodating for our group size (about 30) and even helped us in letting G in so we could say "Surprise!". After the tour, on 9/6/19, The Doctor and I ran into a gentleman name Mitch, who worked in marketing and distribution for Koval. Had no idea that they were sponsoring a cocktail event there with Empirical beer. The Doctor and I had a lovely time with Mitch as he gave us even more information about the company, their plans to expand, the markets they are in. Mitch is definitely got the personality for his role and you could tell he really loves the product that he is selling. Didn't know about the classes until we left, so might try that out for fun. Also I need to go back so I can focus on the other products they have to offer. I was totally bias...once I had the Cranberry I did not have eyes or tongue for anything else. The tour was fun, but go for the gold and the Cranberry. Koval knows what it is doing when it comes to making whiskey and gin. Fun fact, my GF got a bottle of the Cranberry gin and brought it over the next day for drinks on the balcony. Six bottles of champagne, a bottle of Koval = a very fun Funday Sunday. No Koval was left behind....shalom. read more

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Koval was decent. I've had drinks both inside of the tasting room and outside on their blacktop and I will say the space is nice and comfy to hang in. I thought the drinks were perfectly fine. I will say that the next day I woke up with a headache and I hadn't even had much there. This happens with certain brands of liquor so I don't know if it is something that happens due to certain processing or what. But either way that may prevent from visiting regularly (disclaimer: based on my own personal preferences and knowing what brands of liquor that do not cause me to get a headache the day after). Side note: Koval has some of the clearest ice cubes I've ever seen. I was impressed because that's how cocktail ice is supposed to be, but I rarely actually get cubes this clear at a bar! read more

KOVAL Distillery - The clearest ice cubes ever - Distilleries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Lovely addition to the neighborhood! Came in on a random Sunday afternoon and it was relatively packed, being that it was a Sunday afternoon. We sat inside on the comfy leather couches in the back. Atmosphere is very clean and contemporary on the inside. The drink menu is pretty expansive and covers a wide variety of flavor profiles. I was particularly fond of one that had cucumbers in it and was a bit on the spicy side. Can't remember what it was called, but it was so good that I had three of them. And I have to comment about the soap in the bathroom...whatever it is, I wanted to bathe in it. The scent was outrageous! Then I got to talking to JP, the bartender. He was fantastic! Made great drinks, great recommendations, and great conversation. I was plenty good after my three spicy drinks, but he assured me that I had to try his version of an Old Fashioned as that's my go-to. He wasn't lying, it was pretty amazing. They also have an outdoor patio for additional seating, weather dependent, which is always a great option. There were light bites on the menu, but I was going for a liquid lunch on this particular day; however, I did end up chatting with another local patron and staying until close. Incidentally, I should mention they are not a late-night bar. I believe they close at 8 on Sundays and 10 the rest of the week, so plan to go early and maybe you too will spend your entire Sunday Funday there. read more

We went here for Fathers day to try a flight. My husband enjoyed everything that he tried. The establishment was nicely decorated and the staff was very informative. Nice couches to sit on and even some outdoor seating. They even have a little gift shop and an area that educated you on the distillery process and their history. Lots of free street parking in the area! read more

Came by on a Sunday to the tasting room after I had stopped at some of the local brewery's. Had sampled the Whiskey over the years at varying events but first time I believe I've had the spirits in a cocktail. Went with an old Fashioned and a drink that had coffee liqueur. Both were tasty and enjoyable. It was a slightly chilly day even though it was spring. Felt comfortable and warm inside. read more

I came here for a birthday drink on a Friday night with a group of friends, and although they don't take reservations, I called in-advance, and they reserved a section for us. They can't do it all the time, but if they know you're coming and it's not an event night, they can try to accommodate. Anyway, overall great tasting room and friendly bar staff. Enjoyed drinking the mule and several friends had the old fashioned. It's off the beaten path. They close at 10pm, so last call around 930p. If you want to avoid children, just come at night, but on a day visit you should expect to see a few families. Overall recommend visiting Koval! read more

KOVAL Distillery - Koval Vodka Mule - Distilleries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Came for a pitstop before dinner with friends in town. The drinks were perfect and the vibes were everything we were looking for. The staff was friendly on explaining to you the different bourbons and drinks they had. read more

Service was good! Went when it was emptier but the ambiance is very open and artsy. Had cool furniture and art on the walls. I only had non alc drinks but they were tasty. The prices were a bit pricey but that is to be expected. I wouldn't choose to go there again but it's not bad. read more

Super cool bar with a nice patio. We really enjoyed the tour. Close to a lot of restaurants.

Loved this spot! Great Distillery tour with plenty of history and delicious spirits. Staff are friendly and I highly recommend their Cocktail Bar which has some really good cocktails. Cool vibe inside and reasonable prices. read more

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This review is for the Gilt City Holiday Cocktail Class that took place on Saturday, 12/22/18. Normally, a class like this would cost $30, but through Gilt, the class was only $15 and you can't pass up a deal like this! This class was so much more! For an hour and half, Phil shared his knowledge of cocktails and kept us entertained. We learned how to make 4 different cocktails: French 5121 (5121 is the address here), Gingerbread Old Fashioned, Koval Royale and 12 Days of Rye. Phil shared a lot with this class, but here are some fun facts: - Gin is basically flavored vodka (so don't be scurred) - When making simple syrup at home, put a bit of vodka in the simple syrup and it will keep longer. - You can use rose hips liqueur in place of vermouth. At the end of the class, we purchased the Cranberry Gin (you must get it, it is so good and not what you would expect) and Bourbon at a 15% discount. I highly recommend this class at Koval. And almost forgot, Koval products are organic, non-GMO and kosher. read more

KOVAL Distillery - Distilleries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

If you like gin, this place will not disappoint you. Upscale area to kick back and enjoy. We will be back. Excellent service. Try the Koval dry gin chips. read more

KOVAL Distillery - Bee's Knees and Lavender Gin Fizz - Distilleries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Snuck in a nice nightcap here after a work outing. Will have to go back for the tour. A great spot to get some nice whiskey cocktails and play games. read more

Atmosphere is great! Love the games and vibes! Drinks were delicious. I got one of the unique hot toddies and was very pleased. Definitely warmed me up on a colder winter night! The bartenders forgot/got confused with the other bartender about making one of our drinks on both times we went up to the bar but maybe it was just a busy night. Definitely plan to return! read more

I can't say I've been to that many distilleries so I'd count this as one of my first experiences. Koval really impressed me in a number of ways. The aesthetic of the interior was beautiful, they had ample seating both bar and surrounding tables. They even had a large outdoor patio that was well attended for the day I went. The cocktails available were expensive and a lot of things peaked my interest. Ultimately decided to go with a gin flight and even those that are apprehensive about gin I'd definitely recommend trying it. Overall will have to make an excuse to come back up here soon and try more of the available spirits read more

KOVAL Distillery - Distilleries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I am not a big whiskey person but this was a really great tour. I loved hearing the story of the family and how the name came about for the product. If you are not a whiskey person, I recommend the classic tour. There were a couple of gin liqueurs included as well as a bourbon. Its a great way to start off a date night for couples. I am kind of a lightweight so I recommend an Uber just to be same. Lots of places to eat nearby. There was a Latin restaurant right next door but there was a private party so we weren't able to try it. Tour guide was funny and informative. You could even see a couple people actually working during the tour. There is a tasting room across the way but the last thing I wanted to do was more drinking. If there had been some food I would have stayed but needed to get something in my belly to offset the liquor. I bought it using a Groupon but the tour is pretty reasonably priced without it. Excellent outing for out of town guests or a group of friends who want something beyond the usual brewery experience. read more

The remodeled Koval Distillery and tasting room is awesome! They have a great bar making fun and classic drinks with their craft spirits. The bar is a wonderfully done mid century modern vibe with a great out door area. They do tours but also have amazing fun events. Just this week they have magic show, dramatic book reading with an author, comedy show, and yoga! I will definitely be coming back. read more

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This was a fun tour. Got to taste quite a bit of bourbon. The presenter she knowledgeable and made the experience worthwhile.

I have wanted to try this place for quite some time as I enjoy their product whenever I have a chance to try it. Gilt City had a deal for an hour and a half bartending course, so I seized the opportunity to make my debut here on a snow filled, late December Friday evening. Once inside, was greeted by the girl at the door who took down everyones info and certificate from Gilt. After that I saw myself into the main room where the event was to take place. They had cookies as well as bread, ham and cheese laid out to snack on. There were a couple of groups and a couple of couples ready to pour up so I linked up with a nice couple that enjoyed making drinks as much as I do. Great convo and all, but once Regina (trainer) said its time to pour up the whole room got ready. Before we started, she took us to the creation room to show us how they make their goodies and gave us the history on Koval and its owners...definitely awesome Once back at our seats, we got to make 5 drinks: Moscow Mule Manhattan Rose Gin Tonic Old Fashioned Warm & Toasty All drinks came out pretty awesome and we all finished with a very nice buzz. Our table of 3 did the damn thing and made strong, but good drinks...The Manhattan was the best. After we made the drinks we were able to purchase all Koval products at a very nice discounted rate that I'm not even able to talk about. Regina was very awesome in taking care of a group of about 25. If you get a chance to check out Koval Distillery in any capacity, I suggest you try it read more

Great place, great ambience, strong drinks. We came for an event. Everyone was super friendly and they have some great bartenders. I really like Koval's offerings, and I have a few of their liquors. The drinks I had at the distillery were delicious and I think I will try to replicate it at home! read more

The vibe is clean, swanky, bustling, bright, and modern with a variety of lovely indoor and outdoor seating options. Service is friendly. Menu is slightly limited, with drinks highlighting the house made liquors. We had a Mr. Robinson, Let it Linger, Bees Knees, and gin flight and enjoyed all of it. read more

I visited with Mr. Yelp and another couple to attend a craft fair. The interior is beautiful and really big! Very open and welcoming, comfortable furniture in groupings and tables and stools at the bar. The drinks were fabulous and it was great to be able to try things without having to buy a whole bottle of something. Will go again. read more

Really delicious cocktails. Hard working bartender. Best mule I have ever had. Cool atmosphere.

Love the atmosphere and the drinks were perfect after a long drive to Chicago. Very friendly staff. Made us feel like regulars. We didn't have time for a tour but would definitely go back next time we're in Chicago. read more

KOVAL Distillery - Distilleries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Pretty good place. The drinks are great as well as the tastings. The space is fun to get a drink. The service is hit or miss. Sometimes it's great, sometimes there is a very unfriendly guy working the bar. Nice outdoor space. Not really a place for kids. Definitely worth checking out. read more

This past weekend, my GF and I took her mom and sister's family to the Koval tour. While quite small, the tour is broken up into two segments in two different parts of the space. We enjoyed the history behind Koval and had a great tasting overall. We all enjoyed the licqours, coffee was amazing! Definitely took the advice of our guide and bought some white rye for Bloody Mary's. Great gift shop and you get a discount from the tour ticket! read more

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I bookmarked and decided to visit Koval before we looked at when tours were actually offered (which is on weekends and wednesdays). So, when we found ourselves in the neighborhood, with a desire to day-drink, we saw Koval was close by and decided to stop in. No-tour was ok with me....I live in Kentucky and have been to many bourbon and whiskey distilleries. I know tha basics....so unless they do something CRAZY....I get it :-p Just because you can't tour, doesn't mean you can't taste or find out about their goods! Katie was incredibly welcoming and told us that we could sample anything they had in-store, and for no cost. We got to taste many of the alcohols they have to offer. The rye whiskey, the peach brandy, and the jasmine, rose hip, orange blossom, walnut and ginger liquors. And just....wow! I ended up buying a bottle of the jasmine and the sampler of their whiskeys (bourbon, whiskey and rye) because that rye was goooood! The bottles are a bit expensive, but not having to pay for a tour or a tasting helped me make my decision to purchase the bottles I did. It was clean and organized insided, and again, Katie was wonderful, giving us suggestions, her favorites, and telling us about their goods. I am super glad I got to stop in and would recommend it to anyone else visiting or in Chicago! read more

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We went there for the "tour" and taste. First thing you notice is the style, really cool!. The labels of the bottles are great, with a clean and minimalist. Had a good first impression. The guy which was the only person there, was nice at every moment, he gave us our gift shooter glass and we waited. The tour itself is not a tour, is more like a "fun class" where he teach you about history and how they do their products. We tried around nine different stuff. The ginger one is really good!. The price, I won't say they're pricey but they are not cheap either. Good quality product though. The bad thing is, there was no enough room for everyone, they should keep the number of people accepted for the "tour" to at least half of what they accept now. It was a good and fun experience. I will definitely try the coffee liquor in the future. read more

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Koval is a hidden treasure! It's beautiful And the drinks and the snacks were Delicious! We enjoyed a presentation By a poet. Everyone had a comfortable Seat to enjoy the show. Afterwards we Bought gifts in the gift shop. read more

Koval makes some darn good liquor and everything is organic which is fabulous. That being said, the tour is A-OK but not something I'd really recommend to others. It's interesting if you're really into hard liquor and distilling but if you're not so much (like moi), you may not be overly interested. KOVAL has some parking right outside the distillery so that part of things is nice. My tour had about 30 people on it and with just one person working (reception / tour guide / I'm sure many other duties), when people came late, it meant she kept having to stop to let them in & check them in. The tour itself is quite informative, prob just 30-45 minutes long. I've been on a couple of distillery tours before and still picked up some new information. Throughout the tour, you get samples of each liquor available. The sample, mind you, is a quick pour, each pour equal to just about 1/8 of a shot. So when all is said and done, you've maybe had what equates to one shot though I think it's even less than that. One reviewer said they got as many samples as they liked at the end, not the case for our group. I loved the dessert liquors we sampled - orange blossom & rose hip - yum, yum, yum! Good liquor, not so good tour, stick to buying their boos to go. read more

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We used a groupon to get a delightful 1 hour information and tasting session, as well as a Koval shot glass for each of the 4 of us. The normal tour price is $10 (and with no shot glass), and the groupon got us this package for 4 for $29. Emily was our entertaining and engaging guide and provided us with 11 separate tastings, which totaled to maybe 1.5 shots or so. It was a nice way to spend an hour in this part of town, and enjoy their bourbon, rye whiskey, gin, distilled beer, and a couple of liquors. They don't manufacture at this particular location, but it is more of a showroom and information and sales/gift center for their products. I've had their bourbon before this tour, and it's a quality premium bourbon, and also their best seller by far. read more

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brewery tours check, wine tours check, distillery tour check! thank you koval! really enjoyed it! our tour guide was awesome, made learning your history fun and engaging. to quote our guide: "not all hangovers are created equal" & "when you think of our rye think of chai" tour is $10 for about an hour, for at least 10 small tasters. worried of getting too much or not enough in your flights? not to worry... a pipette is use for every pour information: Every Wednesday at 7pm, Saturday at 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5pm, and Sunday at 2, 3 and 4pm http://www.koval-distillery.com/newsite/classes-tours/tours reservations not required but recommended, small tasting room and depending, it could filled up. def. will be keeping out for koval next time while shopping. so one thing that stuck to my mind... you can trace your bottle down to the barrel and they have members do that, thats pretty awesome! thanks again for the awesome fun engaging tour Koval! read more

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Tasting room was great. Staff was super welcoming. Finn was kind, friendly, and knowledgeable. We really enjoyed talking with him and getting to try the various spirits and cocktails we had! Thanks for a great visit. read more

Overall: A humble and informative tour experience, great for any Koval fan. The good: The staff for the tour is extremely friendly and knowledgeable, it was one of the more informative tours that I've been on lately. They offer 11 samples of a variety of different whiskeys, ryes, gins, and liqueurs. The coffee one was so good, we walked away with a bottle. The entire experience was humble and overall a good time. The not-so-good: Some of the tastings were offputting. Not terrible by any means, but between the 11 of them there were some misses. The lack of seating throughout the hour was also not ideal, and the area as a whole could use some "fun" to it. Atmosphere: 8/10 Service: 8.5/10 Drinks: 7/10 read more

As a holiday gift (2014) I received a ticket for a tour of the KOVAL distillery with my son. We went on a Sunday afternoon in January. As far as distilleries go, Chicago has lacked them since prohibition. KOVAL claims to have started the return of the Chicago distillery and several others have followed. They have this location, where they do make some spirits, store barrels as they age, and have a liquor store/gift shop. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable about the distilling processes and their products. During the tour, he explains the mechanics of the distillation process. All throughout, you sample a variety of items including whiskeys made with several different grains, rye, bourbon, vodka and gin, as well as a few liqueurs. I have to say, I did enjoy the tasting immensely. When done, if there was anything they didn't have for sampling in the tour, they would pour for you. We walked out of there with a T-Shirt, a bottle of Bourbon and a bottle of Vodka. This was a great experience, and one I would really recommend that people try. If you are a drinker, at least occasionally, or have ever wondered how spirits are made, they do an amazing job of showing you and keeping you entertained at the same time. If you do go, plan to eat afterwards. They serve you the samples in a shot glass and only fill it a little but, but you probably go through at least 10 of these throughout the one hours tour. Before you hop into a car, it's a good idea to let the alcohol work through your system. read more

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Koval is such a neat Chicago based brand! I gifted my groomsmen each a bottle of their Four Grain whiskey, and the staff was so incredibly helpful to work with coordinating this for me, even offering a complimentary gift. Their new space is beautiful, with a gift shop that shows you the history of the company and distilling in Chicago, and it sounds like they're opening a bar next door that I'm excited to check out very soon! Definitely stop by if you're in Ravenswood! read more

KOVAL Distillery - Four Grain Whiskey - Distilleries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois