KOVAL Awards & Recognition
KOVAL Distillery has been honored with over 100 awards for our exceptional spirits, including bourbon, rye, gin, and liqueurs. From prestigious international competitions like the Tokyo Whiskey & Spirits Competition and Jim Murray’s Whiskey Bible to design recognitions for innovative packaging, our products consistently receive top honors. Explore our award-winning lineup and discover why KOVAL is celebrated by both experts and enthusiasts around the globe.
Below is a complete list of KOVAL Distillery’s awards, organized by product and year. Each award includes recognition from top spirits competitions, industry accolades, and design honors.
2025
- Best in Show – Thresh & Winnow – Craft Spirits Packaging Awards
- Gold – Thresh & Winnow Citrine Gin – Beverage Testing Institute
- Gold – Thresh & Winnow Foret Gin – Beverage Testing Institute
- Silver – Thresh & Winnow 12 Year Wheat – Beverage Testing Institute
- Gold – Thresh & Winnow Millet – Beverage Testing Institute
- Silver – Thresh & Winnow Bourbon in Brandy Casks – Beverage Testing Institute
2024
- Liquid Gold Award – Bourbon – Jim Murray's Whiskey Bible
- Gold – Bourbon Bottled in Bond – Beverage Testing Institute
- Gold – Lion's Pride Bottled in Bond Bourbon – Beverage Testing Institute
- Gold – Lion's Pride Bourbon Rum Finished – Beverage Testing Institute
- Gold – Lion's Pride Bourbon Tequila Finished – Beverage Testing Institute
- Silver – Lion's Pride Single Barrel Bourbon – Beverage Testing Institute
- Double Gold – Thresh & Winnow Single Malt – Whiskies of the World
- Gold Best in Class – Thresh & Winnow Single Malt – Whiskies of the World
- Silver – Thresh & Winnow Single Malt – Beverage Testing Institute
- Bronze – Thresh & Winnow Foret – pr%f Awards
- Double Gold – Thresh & Winnow Foret – pr%f Awards
- Silver – Thresh & Winnow Citrine – pr%f Awards
- Double Gold – Thresh & Winnow Citrine – pr%f Awards
- Gold – Bourbon (Ken's Choice Selection) – Tokyo Whiskey & Spirits Competition
- Gold – Rye Bottled in Bond – Tokyo Whiskey & Spirits Competition
2023
- Best Wood-Aged Gin of the Year – Barreled Gin – Meininger’s International Spirits Awards
- Gold – Rye Bottled in Bond – Tokyo Whiskey & Spirits Competition
- Gold – Rye Bottled in Bond – Whiskey and Barrel Consumer Choice Awards
- Gold – Rye Bottled in Bond – Whiskies of the World
- Bronze – Rye Finished in Amburana – Whiskies of the World
- Silver – Rye Maple Syrup Cask – Whiskies of the World
2022
- Best World Whiskey – Bourbon – Roma Whiskey Festival
- Silver Medal – Bourbon – Jim Murray's Whiskey Bible
- Gold – Bourbon (Ken's Choice Selection) – Tokyo Whiskey & Spirits Competition
- Silver – Dry Gin – Tokyo Whiskey & Spirits Competition
- Bronze Medal – Rye – LA Spirit Awards
- Silver – Rye 2-4 years USA – Los Angeles International Spirits Competition
- Gold – Rye Bottled in Bond – Beverage Testing Institute
- Gold – Rye Maple Syrup Cask – Beverage Testing Institute
2021
- Silver Medal – Four Grain Whiskey – Tokyo Whisky & Spirits Competition
- Silver Medal – Dry Gin – Tokyo Whisky & Spirits Competition
- Silver Medal – Cranberry Gin Liqueur – London Spirits Competition
- Silver Medal – Millet Whiskey – London Spirits Competition
- Bronze Medal – Oat Whiskey – LA Spirits Awards
2020
- Gold Medal – Rye Whiskey – Whiskey and Barrel Consumer Choice Awards
- Gold Medal – Four Grain Whiskey – International Taste Awards
- Gold Medal – Bourbon Whiskey – Women’s Wine & Spirits Awards
- Double Gold Medal – Dry Gin – Women’s Wine & Spirits Awards
- Silver Medal – Barreled Gin – Tokyo Whisky & Spirits Competition
- Silver Medal – Rye Whiskey – San Francisco World Spirits Competition
- Silver Medal – Cranberry Gin Liqueur – International Taste Awards
- Silver Medal – Bourbon Whiskey – International Taste Awards
- Bronze Medal – Dry Gin – Tokyo Whisky & Spirits Competition
- Bronze Medal – Bourbon Whiskey – Tokyo Whisky & Spirits Competition
- Bronze Medal – Rye Whiskey – Tokyo Whisky & Spirits Competition
2019
- Best American Gin Liqueur – Cranberry Gin Liqueur – World Liqueur Awards
- Best Label Series – KOVAL Gin Line – International Review of Spirits Packaging Competition
- Special Prize, Best American Craft Gin – Barreled Gin – Tokyo Whisky & Spirits Competition
- Best World Whisky – Four Grain Whiskey – Roma Whisky Festival
- Gold Medal (Bottle Design) – Cranberry Gin Liqueur – SIP Awards
- Silver Medal – Cranberry Gin Liqueur – Los Angeles International Spirits Competition
- Silver Medal – Cranberry Gin Liqueur – SIP Awards
- Silver Medal – Cranberry Gin Liqueur – American Craft Spirits Association
- Silver Medal – Bourbon Whiskey – Tokyo Whisky & Spirits Competition
- Silver Medal – Dry Gin – Tokyo Whisky & Spirits Competition
- Silver Medal – Barreled Gin – Tokyo Whisky & Spirits Competition
- Bronze Medal – Cranberry Gin Liqueur – London Spirits Competition
- Bronze Medal – Dry Gin – Class Magazine Bartender’s Choice Awards
- Bronze Medal – Bourbon Whiskey – Class Magazine Bartender’s Choice Awards
- Bronze Medal (Design) – Cranberry Gin Liqueur – World Liqueur Awards
- Bronze Medal – Bourbon Whiskey – American Craft Spirits Association
- Bronze Medal – Four Grain Whiskey – Tokyo Whisky & Spirits Competition
2018
- Gold Medal (Bottle Design) – Cranberry Gin Liqueur – Beverage Tasting Institute, New & Innovative Spirit Awards
- Platinum Medal (Packaging) – Susan for President Prune Brandy – International Review of Spirits Packaging Awards
2017
- Top Spirits of the Year – Four Grain Whiskey – Wine Enthusiast
- US Micro Whisky of the Year (Finalist) – Four Grain Whiskey – Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible
- Best Standard and Best Duty Free – Barreled Gin – World Drinks Awards
- Gold Medal (Packaging) – Susan for President Peach Barreled Brandy – GDUSA American Graphic Design Awards
- Bronze Medal – Susan for President Peach Barreled Brandy – Berlin International Spirits Competition, USA Peach Brandy of the Year
2016
- Regional Design Annual – Vodka – Print
- American Graphic Design Award – Dry Gin – GDUSA
- Gold Medal – Barreled Gin – New York World Wine & Spirits Competition
- Gold Medal – Barreled Gin – Los Angeles International Spirits Competition
- Gold Medal – Barreled Gin – Spirits International Prestige Awards
2015
- Best of Show – Dry Gin – Los Angeles International Spirits Competition
- Double Gold Medal – Dry Gin – San Francisco World Spirits Competition
- Gold Medal – Dry Gin – Spirits International Prestige Awards
2014
- Best of – Millet Whiskey – Flaviar Spirits Community Award
- Gold Medal – Bourbon Whiskey – International Whisky Competition
- Bronze Medal – Four Grain Whiskey – International Wine & Spirit Competition
2013
- InterWhisky Competition – KOVAL Whiskey
- Gold Medal (Series Package Design) – KOVAL Liqueur – SIP Awards
- Bronze Medal (Series Package Design) – KOVAL Whiskey – SIP Awards
- Los Angeles International Spirits Award – Asian Pear Liqueur
- Los Angeles International Spirits Award – Ginger Liqueur
- Los Angeles International Spirits Award – Orange Blossom Liqueur
2012
- Best Local Spirit – KOVAL Whiskey – Chicago Reader
- Best Local Distillery – Chicago Reader
- Silver Medal – Four Grain Whiskey – American Distilling Institute
- Silver Medal – White Oat Whiskey – International Whisky Competition
- Bronze Medal – White Rye Whiskey – International Whisky Competition
2011
- Best Distillery – Best of Green Award – Treehugger
- Good Eating Award – Chicago Tribune
- Gold Medal – Ginger Liqueur – Spirits International Prestige Awards
- Gold Medal – White Oat Whiskey – American Distilling Institute
- Silver Medal – Millet Whiskey – American Distilling Institute
2010
- Gold Medal – White Rye Whiskey – American Distilling Institute
- Silver Medal – White Oat Whiskey – Destillata
- Silver Medal – White Rye Whiskey – Destillata
- Bronze Medal – Chrysanthemum & Honey Liqueur – Destillata
- Bronze Medal – Ginger Liqueur – Destillata
- Bronze Medal – White Wheat Whiskey – Destillata
- Bronze Medal – White Millet Whiskey – Destillata
Distillery Recognition
- Best Local Distillery – Chicago Reader (2012, 2014, 2019, 2020)
- 100 Best Distilleries to Visit in the World – Whisky Magazine
- America’s Coolest Distilleries – Travel + Leisure
- Top 10 Most Influential Craft Whiskey Makers – Whisky Advocate