These two words don’t usually go together – rye and gin, but in Finland they are a match made in heaven, or should I say sauna? We are in Finland after all – the home of the Kyrö Gin and the Kyrö Distillery!
The idea of making gin from Finnish Rye did actually come from a conversation that a group of friends had in a sauna. The famous five were sipping American rye whiskey when one of them queried why no one was distilling Finnish Rye. They dried off and the next day, Kyrö was born! This was the first time anyone had thought to create a Rye Distillery in Finland.
How are Kyrö Spirits made
Rye is invariably one of the hardest grains to distill, but that didn’t stop the five. They found an old dairy, started fermenting, bought a still, and the awards started rolling in.
(Don’t be confused – their first expression was called Napue Gin and won World’s Best Gin for the Gin & Tonic category in the International Wine and Spirits competition.)
The Kyrö Distillery first spirit was made with rye grain with traditional gin botanicals, aka juniper berries, lemon peel, angelica and cardamom, as well as myriad of the finest botanicals found in Finland, such as birch leaves, sea buckthorn and meadowsweet. Meadowsweet is a perennial herb and is found all over the country. Its flowers are in bloom during summer and the essential oils of meadowsweet have been used to flavor alcoholic beverages for centuries.
After the success of their first expression, they knew they were on to something and know have six spirits in their roster:
- Kyrö Gin
- Kyrö Dark Gin
- Kyrö Pink Gin
- Kyrö Malt Rye Whisky
- Kyrö Wood Smoke Rye Whisky
- Kyrö Dairy Cream
How do Kyrö Spirits taste
There are marked differences between the six spirits. I received the Kyrö Tasting Set with one 50ml bottle of each Kyrö Gin: the Gin, the Dark Gin, and the Pink Gin, and one of the Malt Rye Whisky, so I can only report back on those.
The Kyrö Tasting Set comes in a sweet little box (perfect for tastings!) with tasting notes on the back. It’s a great introduction to the Kyrö Rye range! Also the whole thing is made from recycled plastic!
They are meant to be sipped, so sit back and enjoy exploring them yourself!
- Kyrö Gin
- Color: Clear
- Nose: Definitely the juniper and birch
- Taste: The peppery notes of the rye punch through, combines with a gentle citrus twang and menthol notes
- Finish: slight notes of pepper but super smooth
- Alcohol: 46.3%
- Kyrö Dark Gin
- Color: Light honey yellow
- Nose: Slight oak on the nose with a hint of orange citrus
- Taste: Honey and oak come through immediately with a subtle pepper punch
- Finish: A combo of pepper and honey stays to finish it up
- Alcohol: 42.6% ABV
- Kyrö Pink Gin
- Color: Slight pink
- Nose: Sweet rhubarb and strawberry candy
- Taste: Berries galore with a slight hint of jumpier
- Finish: Not so sweet Haribo strawberries – a delight!
- Alcohol: 38.2%
- Kyrö Malt Rye Whisky
- Color: Light amber
- Nose: Sweet dried fruits with a hint of caramel
- Taste: You can’t miss the spiciness of the rye, then add in the bitterness of walnuts and a touch of vanilla sweetness
- Finish: A combination of vanilla and oaky spiciness with a hint of ginger
- Alcohol: 47.2% ABV
- Kyrö Wood Smoke and Kyrö Dairy Cream TBD!
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Where you can buy Kyrö Gin & other spirits
UK: You can find Kyrö spirits at Whisky Exchange
USA: You can find them at Saucey.
If you are looking for the Tasting Set, you can find it at Master of Malt!
Why Lush Life loves it
I loved the Kyrö Spirits Tasting Set – it’s a great intro to the range. Each of the spirits has such a unique flavor and I can’t wait to try the Dairy Cream!
After sipping, you might want to try one of these Kyrö cocktails
Although the ideal serve is the Kyrö Gin and Fever Tree Indian Tonic with plenty of ice, then fresh cranberries and a sprig of rosemary as a garnish. It’s a great gin and super in so many classic cocktails! Gin fans will adore it!
Try one of these:
More Lush Guides to Liquor!
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- Lush Guide to Starward Left-Field Whisky – Australia’s whisky that is fantastic in cocktails
- Lush Guide to Jägermeister – more than just J-bombs!
- Lush Guide to Tanqueray Blackcurrant Royale Gin – Tanqueray makes all sorts of different gins – this one is a blackberry lover’s dream
- Lush Guide to Italicus – Rosolio di Bergamatto – the wunderkind spirit that takes the humble bergamot and makes magic
- Lush Guide to Coole Swan Irish Cream Liqueur – a wonderful addition to the Irish Cream category
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