Koval Single Barrel Millet Whiskey

This is a very interesting bottle that I likely never would have purchased on my own. I was gifted a membership into the Craft Whisky Club. This bottle is a private cask selection from the club and is offered at 110 proof. This is a unique, 100% millet grain whisky aged in small 30L casks. My bottle has been open for a couple weeks and this sample was tasted neat after resting the pour for a few minutes. The pour is a cherrywood color with good sheeting and many small tears running into the bowl of the glass. This is nicely viscous and has a good mouthfeel. On the nose this has a bit of ethanol, barrel wood, vanilla and burnt sugar. Its a bit sharp but not overly so. There's moderate complexity, with graham cracker, cracked pepper, and a sweet nuttiness emerging after a few moments. On the palate this oily dram hits sweet with a deep flavor of seeds as in a seeded almond cracker. This is followed by a flare of black pepper, sweet caramel, burnt sugar, light bitter oak and a touch of paprika. The finish is short and the dram leaves a slightly sweet and sour note with a bit of ethanol heat on the roof of the mouth and in the back of the throat. This is a really interesting whisky. A drop of water dials back the pepper and brings forward a bit more of the sweetness, accompanied by a pleasing bitterness that contrasts with a touch of wildflower honey and that baked seed flavor. There's moderate complexity both with and without a drop of water. An ice cube dials things back even more. I like this. I don't love it, but I like it and its unique and interesting. I haven't had much like it but its not so far off the beaten path that it would be a stranger to a rye or lowland scotch whisky fan. It's not like a "traditional" American malt, whatever that may be. I didn't know what to expect and I got something that's a bit unique. I'm not sure if I'd buy another bottle, but this sure makes me want to try the other expressions Koval has created. I like this, it will take a little more time for me to love it but I'm certainly not hating on it and I'm going to enjoy every drop. I have to think this might make a killer Old Fashioned. Maybe with something like a fig or date syrup? I'll be experimenting. I rate on a scale where a competently made product should map to a bell curve. The majority of whiskies should center at 2.5, with really good expressions heading above 3.0 and exceptional expressions above 4.0. This is above average with a additional merit for uniqueness and execution.

Nose: Not unpleasant ethanol Green Apple Shortbread Caramel Taste: Very barrely, intense oak on the tip of the tongue then sharp bitterness as it slides off the sides. Not necessarily tannin, though. Back of the tongue reacts as if just ate very salty food Oily, buttery mouthfeel Smooth, dry finish on top of tongue Overall a really interesting whiskey. I think it could do with a little more sweetness, which could maybe be achieved by more barrel time. I don't know if I would want to mess with the weird, not unpleasant saltiness (not that it's actually salty, but my tongue reacts like it's salty), though, which would probably mellow out if left in the barrel longer. I was initially uncertain about the low proof, but it works. Feels and sort of noses like a pot still Irish whiskey.

Perfumed nose, like nail polish. Subtle mild honey flavor that gives rise to a spicy bite. A bitter and synthetic liqueur flavoring on the finish. I feel a little coating residue, for better or for worse. For the hell of it, a splash of water helps tie all of these elements together, but doesn't necessarily make it any better. In my experience I find this rather original. Not my preferred taste, but I don't hate it either.

An intense, organic & kosher, Single Barrel Millet American Whiskey aged 3 years in American oak casks by the Koval Distillery in Chicago, Illinois. It has a gentle birth with notes of old hay, apple, pear, peach, ginger, nuts & caramel; while a sweet life adds hints of cedar, anise, cereal grain & vanilla; that leads to a long & oily death with notes of apricot & oak. August / December 2018 / November 2019

Nose is like a freshly painted room. If you're into,that, this is right up your alley. Taste is a bit weird. Not bad, just weird. As if you ate a strawberry and then licked paint. Finish is a bit of burn, and more paint. Not sure I'd buy a bottle of this. Glad I just had a sample. Just weird. Really weird. EDIT: I tried to give this 'two stars', but it forces a five stars. Distiller bug?

Lots of clementine and orange on the nose along with something like pine sap. The palate is surprisingly smooth but more of the same orange flavor. Floral notes and again just a tinge of what I would think Pinesol would taste like. This is a big step toward the Rock & Rye liqueur. other than for use as a mixer in an old fashioned or something like that, I'd definitely not buy this.