Blooms, Botanicals & Bourbon: Our Garden Tea at KOVAL Distillery

I'm still a little stunned by myself, honestly. I took a distillery patio and turned it into a beautiful tea room. Sold out. Wait-listed. And every single person who was there... they showed up fully. They made friends they'd never met before, exchanged numbers, smiled all afternoon. There were date nights, married couples, and even a guest who had traveled from England and pulled me aside to say I did a really great job. I am so proud of this one. This is our third curated experience as the Chicago Afternoon Tea Society, and Blooms, Botanicals & Bourbon at KOVAL Distillery was something I will not forget for a long time. Here's how the day went. The Distillery Tour

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Before we even got to the garden, KOVAL welcomed us inside for a tour of the distillery floor, and honestly it ended up being one of the highlights of the whole day. Standing next to those copper stills, learning about how they craft everything from grain to bottle, watching the team talk about their work with genuine pride... you could feel that this is a place built with intention. KOVAL is one of the largest independent, female-owned craft distilleries in the country, and that energy lives in every corner of that building. Our members were locked in. There were tastings, there were questions, real curiosity in the room. It set the tone for everything that followed. The Patio Setup

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Then we stepped outside... and it all came together. The patio was beautiful. White linens, botanical green and white china, gold flatware, blush napkins with little sprigs of eucalyptus. Fresh florals at every table, yellow roses, hydrangeas, red blooms spilling out of glass vases. The KOVAL umbrellas standing tall against that incredible ivy wall. We had mini fans at every place setting because it was July in Chicago and we thought ahead. The tea station was stocked with everything, floral teacups, silver tea tins, wooden spoons, honey, and the Literary Tea Collection by Plum Deluxe tucked right in. Guests could choose their own tea and build their own experience. The welcome sign said it best... "Settle in, sip slowly, and savor the afternoon with us. Today is about beautiful moments, good company, and the simple joy of gathering." That's exactly what happened. The Drinks Were Everything

The botanical cocktails... yes, we went there and we have zero regrets.

The KOVAL bar team was impressive. Watching them work was honestly part of the experience. Cranberry Gin Liqueur, Single Barrel Bourbon, Barrel Aged Pear Brandy. Delicious, carefully crafted, and flowing all afternoon.

The tea held its own right alongside them. Peach oolong, lavender, Summer Afternoon by Harney & Sons. And the energy kept going even after our event wrapped up. Me and Denisse who assisted from K. Carlton Inc. sat down together, had a drink, and just talked about how amazing the whole day was. That moment right there... that's the one I'll keep.

The Community Showed Up

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This is always the part that means the most to me. Our members came dressed and ready. Wide brimmed hats, summer dresses, bold prints. The patio looked stunning. But more than that, the energy was just right. Conversations were flowing, people were laughing, strangers were leaving as friends. Exchanging numbers. Making plans. Someone from England in attendance told me I did a great job, and I just... I needed that. This is what I'm building. Not just a pretty event. A real third space where people can come together, take a break from this heavy life we all live, meet somebody new, and just create community. That's the vision. And on July 11th, we lived it. The People Who Made It Possible None of this happens without the right people saying yes. JP and Joan... I have to say this clearly. They did an absolutely amazing job. From the day I dropped off the iced tea to the moment they helped me pack up the car and shut everything down, whatever we needed, they took care of it. Warm, attentive, and genuinely invested in making the day a success. I could not have asked for better partners on the ground. And Sonat... I am so grateful for her. She believed in this vision before I could even fully show her who I am. That yes came during our Derby Day event, when she looked at what we were building and said, I see your vision, I want to work with you. For her to then open her facility to us on a day that was already packed, a going away party, what I think was a wedding shower, energy and drinks flowing everywhere... and still make space for us? That is a blessing I do not take lightly. It is such a gift to meet people who believe in you early. She did that for us. Great things happen when people who care about community create space for community. That's exactly what KOVAL did for us. Final Thoughts

I am looking forward to so many more opportunities to share this vision with you all. Moments of intention, where you get to come together, sit with each other, take a breath from everything going on, meet somebody new, and just be. That is what the Chicago Afternoon Tea Society is here for. Blooms, Botanicals & Bourbon was our third curated event... and it went over so well. This is just the beginning.