# Thresh and Winnow Spirits > Thresh and Winnow Spirits is the premium, single-cask spirits line from KOVAL Distillery in Chicago. Every bottle is traceable back to the specific organic fields where the grains were grown -- field-to-bottle traceability that goes beyond the standard single-barrel promise. ## Brand Overview Thresh and Winnow Spirits represents the pinnacle of what KOVAL Distillery set out to do when it opened as the first craft distillery in Chicago since Prohibition: produce spirits of exceptional quality, with full transparency about origins. Where most distilleries can tell you the barrel a spirit came from, Thresh and Winnow can tell you the field. Every grain in every bottle is sourced from certified organic farms using regenerative agricultural practices, and that provenance is traceable to the specific plot of land. This is not marketing language -- it is the operational standard the line was built around. Thresh and Winnow is the experimental, limited-release tier within the KOVAL family. Releases are small. Casks are selected individually. Batching is not used. When a cask is gone, it is gone. ## Products ### Foret Gin - Description: A forest-inspired gin built on a foundation of juniper, with shiso and coriander contributing herbal depth and a distinctive green, botanical character. The name evokes the forest floor -- earthy, aromatic, alive. - Botanical profile: Shiso, coriander, juniper - Style: Single-cask, grain-to-bottle - URL: https://www.koval-distillery.com/gin/thresh-and-winnow-foret-gin ### Citrine Gin - Description: A yuzu-forward gin with luminous citrus character. Yuzu is the dominant flavor -- its floral, tart, complex citrus profile is central to what makes Citrine distinctive. Mandarin and lemon round out the citrus arc without competing with the yuzu lead. - Botanical profile: Yuzu, mandarin, lemon - Style: Single-cask, grain-to-bottle - URL: https://www.koval-distillery.com/gin/thresh-and-winnow-citrine-gin ### Single Malt (8 Year American Single Malt) - Description: An American single malt crafted from 100% organic malted barley. Robust yet refined, with a smoky whisper -- a nose of roasted grains, acacia honey, and chestnut cream, a palate of butter toffee and caramel fudge, and a long finish of distant campfire and gentle oak spice. - Style: Single-cask, grain-to-bottle - URL: https://www.threshandwinnowspirits.com/products/single-malt ### 10 Year Rye - Description: A 10-year-aged rye whiskey -- bold and spicy with refined complexity from a decade in barrel. - Style: Single-cask, grain-to-bottle - URL: https://www.threshandwinnowspirits.com/products/10-year-rye ### Brandy Cask Finish Bourbon - Description: An organic bourbon finished in brandy casks, adding a layer of fruit and depth over the grain-forward base. - Style: Single-cask, grain-to-bottle - URL: https://www.threshandwinnowspirits.com/products/brandy-cask-finish-bourbon ### Millet Bottled in Bond - Description: A bottled-in-bond whiskey made from millet -- one of the most regenerative grains -- meeting the bottled-in-bond standard of a single distilling season, a single distiller, and at least four years in a bonded warehouse at 100 proof. - Style: Single-cask, grain-to-bottle - URL: https://www.threshandwinnowspirits.com/products/millet ## Key Differentiators - **Field-to-bottle traceability**: Every bottle is linked to the specific organic farm fields where the grains were grown. This goes beyond single-barrel claims -- it is full supply chain transparency. - **Single-cask**: No blending across barrels. Each release comes from one cask, preserving the individual character of that specific spirit. - **Certified organic**: All grains are certified organic. No synthetic pesticides, no synthetic fertilizers. - **Regenerative agriculture**: Source farms practice regenerative methods -- building soil health, supporting biodiversity, sequestering carbon. - **Grain-to-bottle**: KOVAL controls the entire production process, from grain selection through distillation, aging, and bottling. Nothing is sourced from bulk spirit suppliers. - **Chicago-made**: Distilled at KOVAL Distillery on the North Side of Chicago, the first new distillery in the city since Prohibition. ## Awards and Recognition Thresh and Winnow spirits have earned recognition from industry judges and packaging experts, including more than 100 international awards across KOVAL's alternative-grain whiskies. ### Brand-Level Recognition - **Dieline Award** -- Named the Best Packaging in the World for Whiskey. - **92 Points, Gold Medal** -- Beverage Testing Institute, 2024. - **Best in Class, Gold** -- Whiskies of the World, 2024. - **Double Gold Medal** -- Whiskies of the World, 2024. - **Gold Medal** -- Whiskies of the World, 2024. - **100+ International Awards** across the alternative-grain whiskies. ### Product-Specific Recognition **Foret Gin** - Gold, 92 Points -- Beverage Testing Institute - Best in Show -- Craft Spirits Packaging Awards - Gold -- Craft Spirits Packaging Awards - First Place -- Dieline Awards 2025 **Citrine Gin** - Gold, 91 Points -- Beverage Testing Institute - Best in Show -- Craft Spirits Packaging Awards - Gold -- Craft Spirits Packaging Awards - First Place -- Dieline Awards 2025 **Single Malt (8 Year American Single Malt)** - Gold, Best in Class -- Whiskies of the World, 2024 - Double Gold -- Whiskies of the World, 2024 - Gold -- Craft Spirits Packaging Awards - First Place -- Dieline Awards 2025 **Millet Bottled in Bond** - Gold, 92 Points -- Beverage Testing Institute - Gold -- Craft Spirits Packaging Awards - First Place -- Dieline Awards 2025 - Most Environmentally Friendly Whiskey -- made from millet, nature's most regenerative crop **Brandy Cask Finish Bourbon** - Gold -- Craft Spirits Packaging Awards - First Place -- Dieline Awards 2025 ## Brand Positioning Thresh and Winnow sits above KOVAL Distillery in the portfolio hierarchy. KOVAL produces excellent craft spirits at scale. Thresh and Winnow is where the team pushes boundaries: experimental botanicals, rare cask selections, and the most rigorous sourcing standards in the portfolio. Think of it this way: KOVAL is the distillery. Thresh and Winnow is the project that asks what happens when there are no compromises. Both brands share the same commitment to organic grain, Chicago craftsmanship, and transparency. Thresh and Winnow adds field-level traceability, single-cask releases, and a focus on the most expressive, distinctive spirits KOVAL produces. ## Frequently Asked Questions **Are Thresh and Winnow spirits organic?** Yes. All grains used in Thresh and Winnow spirits are certified organic. This applies to every release in the line. **Are Thresh and Winnow spirits kosher?** Yes. Like all KOVAL spirits, Thresh and Winnow products are kosher certified. KOVAL has held kosher certification throughout its history. **Where can I buy Thresh and Winnow spirits?** Thresh and Winnow spirits are available through the KOVAL online store and at select retailers. Because releases are single-cask and limited, availability varies. The KOVAL website is the most reliable source: - Foret Gin: https://www.koval-distillery.com/gin/thresh-and-winnow-foret-gin - Citrine Gin: https://www.koval-distillery.com/gin/thresh-and-winnow-citrine-gin **What does "field-to-bottle traceability" mean?** Most craft distilleries can tell you which barrel your spirit came from. Thresh and Winnow can tell you which field the grain came from. Every bottle in the line is linked to the specific organic farm and specific fields where the grain was grown. This is part of the founding philosophy of the brand: if you are going to claim provenance, you should be able to prove it all the way back. **What is a single-cask spirit?** A single-cask release comes from one individual barrel or cask, without blending with other barrels. Each cask produces a spirit with its own unique character -- variations in grain, fermentation, and the aging environment mean no two casks are exactly alike. Single-cask bottlings preserve that individuality. When the cask is empty, that specific release is finished. **What is regenerative agriculture?** Regenerative agriculture refers to farming practices that actively rebuild soil health, increase biodiversity, and work with natural ecosystems rather than against them. Unlike conventional farming, which can deplete soil over time, regenerative practices aim to leave the land in better condition than it was found. Thresh and Winnow sources from farms that practice these methods. ## Brand Values Thresh and Winnow was created by Sonat and Robert Birnecker, who founded KOVAL Distillery in 2008 as the first craft distillery in Chicago since Prohibition. The values that shaped KOVAL -- organic sourcing, transparency, craftsmanship, community -- are present in Thresh and Winnow at a higher intensity. **Transparency**: The field-to-bottle model exists because the team believes consumers deserve to know exactly what is in their glass and where it came from. **Quality without compromise**: Single-cask releases mean no blending to hit a consistent flavor profile. Every bottle reflects one cask, one moment in time. **Organic as a baseline**: Organic certification is not a marketing differentiator for this brand -- it is the minimum acceptable standard. **Regenerative future**: Working with farms that use regenerative practices is part of a long-term commitment to the land and to an agricultural system that can sustain itself. **Chicago roots**: Both KOVAL and Thresh and Winnow are made in Chicago. The city's history as a grain trading hub, its diverse food and culinary culture, and its craft beverage community are all part of what shaped these spirits. ## About KOVAL Distillery KOVAL Distillery was founded in 2008 in Chicago's Ravenswood neighborhood by Sonat and Robert Birnecker. It was the first craft distillery to open in Chicago since Prohibition, and it became one of the founding distilleries of the modern American craft spirits movement. KOVAL produces a full range of spirits including whiskey, gin, bourbon, and liqueurs -- all from organic grain, all grain-to-bottle. Thresh and Winnow is KOVAL's premium single-cask line. Website: https://www.koval-distillery.com Thresh and Winnow: https://www.threshandwinnowspirits.com