The heat of the Finnish sauna inspired five strong men, ready for new beginnings, with an interesting, original, and unique idea. While sitting and sweating in the sauna, sipping rye whiskey, they wondered to themselves why no one in Finland had ever produced rye whiskey before. They decided to do it themselves. After extensive searches, they found a suitable location—an old, neglected dairy—and set up their distillery there.
There, in the village of Isokyrö, near the city of Vaasa, by the Bay of Bothnia in western Finland, the five founders created their first whiskey in 2014. Over the years, the business grew, gained a reputation, and earned global recognition in the craft whiskey market. It is the only distillery in Finland producing locally sourced whole grain rye whiskey, using a complex and unique production process known only to them. In 2020, the distillery won a gold medal at the prestigious International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC), a highly regarded international competition for wines and spirits.
The whiskey: Kyrö Malt Rye Whisky. It is made from full Finnish rye grain, which the distillery owners grow themselves. The whiskey carries the aroma of sauna wood. It has a very light mahogany hue, a solid body, and a rich bouquet of delicate yet defined flavors and aromas: a subtle sweetness, spices, fresh oak, baked bread, and a hint of sweetness once again. It’s not the alcohol strength (47.2%), but the composition of aromas and flavors that makes the difference. This whiskey is aged in new oak barrels for an unspecified period, long enough for the drink to absorb its characteristics but not too long for the wood to dominate. Average price: 67 euros (for 500 ml).
