Koval Single Barrel Millet Whiskey

This is a quite intriguing bottle, one I probably would not have bought myself. I was given a membership to the Craft Whisky Club, and this bottle is a private cask selection from them, bottled at 110 proof. It's a distinctive 100% millet grain whisky aged in small 30L barrels. My bottle has been open for a couple of weeks, and I tasted this sample neat after letting the pour sit for a few minutes. The liquid is a cherrywood shade with good sheeting and numerous small legs descending into the glass. It's nicely viscous and offers a good mouthfeel. On the nose, there's a hint of ethanol, barrel wood, vanilla, and burnt sugar. It's a bit sharp, but not excessively so. Moderate complexity emerges after a few moments, revealing graham cracker, cracked pepper, and a sweet nuttiness. On the palate, this oily dram starts sweet with a deep flavor reminiscent of seeds in a seeded almond cracker. This is followed by a burst of black pepper, sweet caramel, burnt sugar, light bitter oak, and a touch of paprika. The finish is short, leaving a slightly sweet and sour sensation with a bit of ethanol heat on the roof of the mouth and the back of the throat. This is a truly interesting whisky. A drop of water reduces the pepper and brings out more sweetness, accompanied by a pleasant bitterness that contrasts with a touch of wildflower honey and that baked seed taste. There's moderate complexity with or without water. An ice cube mutes things even further. I enjoy this. I don't love it, but I like it, and it's unique and interesting. I haven't encountered much like it, but it's not so unconventional that a fan of rye or lowland scotch whisky would find it alien. It's not like a "traditional" American malt, whatever that might be. I wasn't sure what to anticipate and received something rather unique. I'm uncertain if I'd get another bottle, but this certainly makes me want to explore Koval's other creations. I like this; it will take a little more time for me to love it, but I'm definitely not dismissing it and will savor every drop. I suspect this might be excellent in an Old Fashioned, perhaps with a fig or date syrup? I'll be experimenting. My rating scale is based on a bell curve for competently produced products. Most whiskies should average around 2.5, with exceptional ones moving above 3.0 and outstanding ones above 4.0. This is better than average, with added credit for its uniqueness and execution.

Aroma: Not unpleasant ethanol Green Apple Shortbread Caramel Taste: Very malty, with intense oak on the tip of the tongue, then a sharp bitterness as it slides off the sides. It doesn't necessarily feel like tannin, though. The back of the tongue registers a sensation similar to having eaten very salty food. It has an oily, buttery mouthfeel. The finish on the top of the tongue is smooth and dry. Overall, this is a really interesting whiskey. I believe it could benefit from a little more sweetness, perhaps achieved through extended barrel aging. I'm unsure if I'd want to alter the peculiar, though not unpleasant, saltiness (it's not actually salty, but my tongue perceives it as such), which would likely mellow with more time in the barrel. I was initially hesitant about the low proof, but it works effectively. It feels and has an aroma somewhat like a pot still Irish whiskey.

The nose is perfumed, like nail polish. A subtle, mild honey flavor emerges, leading to a spicy kick. The finish has a bitter, artificial liqueur taste. I notice a slight coating residue, for better or worse. For the fun of it, a splash of water helps unify these elements, but doesn't necessarily improve it. In my experience, I find this quite original. It's not my preferred taste, but I don't dislike it either.

An intense, organic, and kosher Single Barrel Millet American Whiskey aged for 3 years in American oak barrels by Koval Distillery in Chicago, Illinois. It has a gentle beginning with aromas of old hay, apple, pear, peach, ginger, nuts, and caramel; while its sweet character adds hints of cedar, anise, cereal grain, and vanilla; leading to a long, oily finish with notes of apricot and oak. Bottled between August/December 2018 and November 2019.

The aroma is reminiscent of a new coat of paint. If that appeals to you, this is perfect. The taste is a bit odd. Not bad, just peculiar. Like eating a strawberry then licking paint. The finish has a slight burn and more paint. I'm uncertain about purchasing a bottle. Happy I only sampled it. Just strange. Truly strange. EDIT: I attempted to award this 'two stars', but it defaults to five. Perhaps a glitch?

Prominent clementine and orange on the nose, with a scent akin to pine resin. The taste is unexpectedly mellow, echoing the orange flavor. Botanical notes are present, along with a faint trace of what I imagine Pine-Sol would taste like. This leans heavily towards a Rock & Rye liqueur. Beyond being a mixer for an Old Fashioned or similar, I would certainly not purchase this.