Skip to main content

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 DistilleryChicago 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 AwardChicago 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 DistilleryChicago Reader (2012, 2014, 2019, 2020)
  • 100 Best Distilleries to Visit in the WorldWhisky Magazine
  • America’s Coolest DistilleriesTravel + Leisure
  • Top 10 Most Influential Craft Whiskey MakersWhisky Advocate
We use cookies

We use cookies on our website. Some of them are essential for the operation of the site, while others help us to improve this site and the user experience (tracking cookies). You can decide for yourself whether you want to allow cookies or not. Please note that if you reject them, you may not be able to use all the functionalities of the site.