Origin: Chicago, IL (USA)
Type: American Bourbon Whiskey
Strength: 47%ABV
Ageing cask: New toasted oak
Chillfiltered: No
Added coloring: No
Owner: Koval Distillery
Average price: € 55.00
Official website: www.koval-distillery.com
After a long absence, I go back to this organic distillery from Chicago, which has been producing different qualities of American whiskey (as well as other spirits) since 2008, with a very careful approach to raw materials and their provenance, from locally milled grains from local producers.
Here I find myself with their bourbon, whose mashbill has a decidedly rare composition, 51% corn and 49% millet, with the latter present as the main ingredient in another bottling. Zero malted barley, another atypical element, to leave the aromas pure.
Half-litre bottles from a single cask, obviously new and toasted, with a label that to call it minimal is an understatement. No indication of cask or batch number, but they are less sensitive about that in the US than in Scotland.
Tasting Notes
Accompanied by abundant nutmeg and cinnamon, the first aromas to emerge from the glass are fruity and full-bodied, a fruit salad of apricots, peaches, plums and ripe apples, pineapple in syrup with orange peel. In the background, brown sugar, caramel, Catalan cream, sweet liquorice and a slight roughness in the background, between leather and wood, which tends to disappear along the length, leaving room for coffee candy and fondant. Inviting.
The palate has a nice oily texture, the spicy compartment remains defined but not overpowering with the contribution of black pepper and ginger punctuating notes tending towards coffee and fondant, with the fruit turning towards darker colours of dates and carobs. More liquorice, brown sugar, caramel (also salted), chestnut honey and a slight bitter inflection between rhubarb and cinchona.
The finish is quite long and spicy, with a slightly salty hint, with ripe dark fruit, caramel, liquorice, chestnut honey, coffee.
The mashbill composition leads to a balanced darm, a bourbon whose sweet tones are smoothed by bitter notes (but not too much) and an overall very pleasant drinkability. It just lacks depth, but could be called the bourbon to be tasted by those who do not like bourbons.
Vote: 84/100