Kyrö
Five friends with no distilling experience whatsoever – Miika Lipiäinen, Mikko Koskinen, Kalle Valkonen, Miko Heinilä, and Jouni Ritola – wondered, while enjoying an American rye whisky together in a sauna, why Finland, the land of rye, had not a single rye distillery of its own. In 2012, they founded Kyrö in the village of Isokyrö as a result.
Kyrö stands consistently for rye – the most demanding grain to distil, yet one that has been grown in Finland for over 2,000 years. The Kyrö Malt Rye Whisky is the current entry point into this young Finnish distillery's range in our selection.
Content: 0.5 Liter (€111.98 / 1 Liter)
Available, delivery time: 3-6 business business days
Content: 0.5 Liter (€79.98 / 1 Liter)
Available, delivery time: 3-6 business business days
Content: 0.5 Liter (€55.98 / 1 Liter)
Available, delivery time: 3-6 business business days
Content: 0.1 Liter (€89.90 / 1 Liter)
Available, delivery time: 3-6 business business days
Content: 0.04 Liter (€199.75 / 1 Liter)
Available, delivery time: 1-3 business days
How did a sauna conversation become a distillery?
On 29 August 2012, five Finnish friends with no experience whatsoever in the distilling industry registered their company, initially under the name "Rye Rye Osakeyhtiö". The idea had come to them while drinking American rye whisky together in a sauna: why did Finland, where rye has been cultivated for over two thousand years and is central to Finnish food culture, not have a single distillery specialising in rye? To learn the necessary craft, the founders travelled to numerous microdistilleries and still makers across Europe. Still in 2012, the distillery was built inside an old dairy in the village of Isokyrö.
Why is rye such a demanding grain for whisky?
Among distillers, rye is considered one of the most difficult grains to work with, as it becomes very sticky during mashing and puts considerable strain on equipment. Kyrö uses exclusively whole rye grain and pure spring water from Isokyrö – a deliberate contrast to the mostly barley-based whiskies of Scotland.
The most popular bottling
1. Kyrö Malt Rye Whisky
The distillery's core whisky, made from 100% rye.
Taste: Spicy and peppery with typical rye bite and an earthy depth.
Serving suggestion: For anyone wanting to experiment beyond malted barley.
Facts and figures
Location: Isokyrö, Finland. Founded: 29 August 2012. Founders: Miika Lipiäinen, Mikko Koskinen, Kalle Valkonen, Miko Heinilä, Jouni Ritola. Main ingredient: 100% whole rye grain.