With booming careers in academia and politics, respectively, Sonat and Robert Birnecker certainly didn’t seem likely to become proprietors of the first boutique distillery in the town where Al Capone once roamed. A native of Chicago, Sonat moved back to her hometown with Austrian-born husband Robert, the grandson of a distiller back in his home country. The two now pursue their passion full-time with a 10-month-old son in tow, who could be heard playing in the background when we recently spoke to Sonat by phone.
Certified organic and kosher, Koval Distillery produces a host of alcoholic beverages, ranging from rye vodka to several different types of brandy, flavored liqueurs, and grain spirits. The couple is still in experimentation mode, with a passion for spirits that embrace natural flavors rather than avoid them. Flavored brandies are an early favorite. Explained Birnecker, “We’d prefer to focus away from vodka, and potentially produce one-to-two brandies per year, in addition to other liqueurs.” Koval is also a supporter of the slow food movement, obtaining many ingredients from local farms in Illinois. “During the winter months we may buy our fruit elsewhere, but our grains are always sourced from the Midwest,” she added.
So far the response has been strong. With recent press from outlets ranging from the Chicago Sun-Times to Daily Candy, feedback from consumers has been overwhelmingly positive. Even perceived weaknesses have turned into strengths. “Our distributor was initially concerned about sediment in the bottom of some of our bottled spirits,” explained Birnecker. “Consumers actually found it reinforcing of the fact that the product is naturally made.”
