Kyro Peat Smoke Finnish Malt Rye Whisky 70 cl 47.2%

Five friends in a sauna in Isokyrö, a glass of rye whisky in hand, and one question nobody could shake: why does nobody make this in Finland? The answer turned out to be an old dairy, a smoking barn and a full day of Finnish peat smoke on every batch of rye malt.

Expert description

Kyrö Peat Smoke is a Finnish Malt Rye Whisky matured in new American oak casks and ex-Bourbon casks and bottled at 47.2%.

Kyrö Distillery Company sits in Isokyrö, near the Finnish west coast. The idea was born in a sauna in 2012, and the distillery now works from a former dairy on the Kyrönjoki river. Everything Kyrö makes is built on Finnish rye, and the whiskies are made from 100% malted rye rather than barley.

Peat Smoke is the earthiest of the distillery's core range. The malted rye spends 24 hours being smoked with Finnish freshwater peat in a riihi, a traditional Finnish smoking barn. It is the same barn used for Wood Smoke, where the smoke comes from alder wood instead. Finnish peat has none of the sea salt and iodine you find in island peat, so the smoke turns out resinous and herbal rather than medicinal.

After double distillation, the spirit is matured mostly in new American oak and ex-Bourbon casks, plus some ex-Bourbon casks that previously held Kyrö Malt. New oak adds vanilla and warm spice, while the Bourbon casks round things off. The mix of casks changes from batch to batch, and there is no age statement.

Whisky Advocate gave it 93 points in its Fall 2024 issue, and the box carries the badge of The World's Most Admired Whiskies 2022.

Tasting notes

Nose

Mossy peat comes first, like a forest floor after rain. Behind it sit half-cooked apples, a little honey and a faint breath of rye spice.

Palate

The sweetness of rye malt opens things up, with a hint of citrus. Then warm spice and wet smoke, smouldering more than sharp.

Finish

Beeswax settles in at the end, and the wet smoke lingers for a while.

Specifications

Name: Kyrö Peat Smoke Malt Rye Whisky Finland 47.2%
Distillery: Kyrö Distillery Company
Region/Country: Isokyrö, Finland
Type: Finnish Malt Rye Whisky
ABV: 47.2%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: New American oak casks and ex-Bourbon casks
Distillation method: Double distilled
EAN no.: 6430055042276

Flavour profile

Peated · Smoky · Rye spice · Honey · Apple

Did you know?

Finns once voted rye bread their national dish. It goes some way to explaining why five friends in a sauna could not understand why nobody was making whisky from rye.

See our full range of Kyrö

Listen to our podcast:

Frequently asked questions about Kyrö Peat Smoke

What does Kyrö Peat Smoke taste like?

It tastes of mossy peat, honey and half-cooked apples, with warm spice and wet smoke in the middle. The sweetness of the rye malt and a hint of citrus keep the smoke in check, and the finish is waxy with beeswax.

Is Kyrö Peat Smoke as smoky as an Islay Whisky?

No, it is milder and more forest-like. Finnish freshwater peat has no sea salt or iodine, so there is no medicinal or maritime edge. On the box's own taste profile it lands in the middle of the smoke scale. To see how peat shapes flavour, read our guide to peat and smoke in whisky.

What is the difference between Kyrö Peat Smoke and Kyrö Wood Smoke?

The source of the smoke. Peat Smoke is smoked with Finnish freshwater peat, Wood Smoke with alder wood, and both are smoked in the same barn. Wood Smoke gives campfire smoke, while Peat Smoke has a more earthy peat character.

How should you drink Kyrö Peat Smoke?

Neat in a tulip shaped glass, then try a single drop of water. At 47.2% it takes a little water well, which opens up the sweet apples and honey without drowning the smoke. Ice mutes both smoke and spice. Browse our whisky glasses.

What is a Malt Rye Whisky?

It is whisky made from malted rye instead of malted barley. At Kyrö it is 100% Finnish rye, and rye malt is otherwise rarely used for whisky. Rye tends to bring spice and pepper rather than grainy sweetness.

How old is Kyrö Peat Smoke?

There is no age statement on the bottle. The whisky is a blend of casks, mostly new American oak and ex-Bourbon, and the mix varies from batch to batch.

Where is Kyrö Distillery Company, and who is behind it?

The distillery is in Isokyrö in Finland and began with five friends in a sauna. It operates from a former dairy on the Kyrönjoki river, and everything it makes is based on Finnish rye. Read more in our blog post about Kyrö Distillery.