Tom of Finland Vodka Organic Vodka 50 cl 40%

Touko Laaksonen drew under the name Tom of Finland for decades in which his subject matter was illegal across most of Europe. Today his work hangs in museums, and it stands on a vodka bottle from his home country.

Expert description

Tom of Finland Vodka is a Finnish Vodka from Lignell & Piispanen in Kuopio, distilled five times from organic wheat and rye and bottled at 40%.

The grain is organic wheat and rye, a combination less common than it sounds. Wheat brings softness, rye brings spice, and together they land somewhere between the Polish rye style and the milder Scandinavian one. The water is arctic, and nothing at all is added, neither colour nor sugar.

Five distillations and a subsequent sheet filtration are what make it smooth enough that there is practically no burn. That is a technical point with a practical consequence: it can be drunk neat at room temperature without needing to hide behind cold.

The label is not decoration. Laaksonen drew his figures from the 1940s onwards, and they became iconic at a time when homosexuality was criminalised in Finland. A share of the profit from every bottle goes to the Tom of Finland Foundation, which works to preserve erotic art.

Tasting notes

Nose

Completely clean. A fine trace of rye bread crust and a hint of aniseed, with no sharp alcohol on the nose.

Palate

Silky with no burn. Vanilla and cream soda first, then a spiced rise with cracked black pepper and a touch of star anise.

Finish

Medium and mild. The spice fades slowly and leaves a soft, clean impression behind.

Specifications

Name: Tom of Finland Vodka
Distillery: Lignell & Piispanen
Region/Country: Kuopio, Finland
Type: Finnish Vodka
ABV: 40%
Size: 50 CL
Natural colour: Yes
Distillation method: Five times distilled from organic wheat and rye, sheet filtered, reduced with arctic water
EAN no.: 6430043095000
Serving suggestion: Neat and cool in a small glass, or in a Vodka Martini where the rye spice gets room.

Flavour profile

Organic · Silky · Rye-spiced · Black pepper

Did you know?

Drawings by Tom of Finland were printed on Finnish postage stamps in 2014, and the release became one of the most requested stamp designs the Finnish post has ever issued. The same artist now stands on the label.

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Frequently asked questions about Tom of Finland Vodka

Is it organic?

Yes. Both the wheat and the rye are organically grown, and there are no additives in the bottle. Neither colour nor sugar has been added, which does otherwise happen in a fair number of vodkas to round off the mouthfeel.

What is it made from?

Organic wheat and rye plus arctic water. The wheat provides the softness and the rye the spice, and that mixture is why it manages to be both mild and clearly peppery at the edge.

Why is it distilled five times?

To remove the sharp burn. Each distillation cleans the distillate further, and after five passes plus a sheet filtration there is almost no alcohol heat left. The grain spice, on the other hand, survives.

Who was Tom of Finland?

The working name of Touko Laaksonen, a Finnish artist born in 1920. His homoerotic drawings were made from the 1940s onwards, at a time when the subject was banned in Finland, and today they form a recognised part of twentieth-century art.

Does money go to the Tom of Finland Foundation?

Yes, a share of the profit from every bottle goes to the foundation. It works to preserve erotic art and to promote acceptance around sexuality, and it was established in 1984, three years before Laaksonen died.

How is it best drunk?

Neat and cool rather than ice cold. Because there is no burn to suppress, it does not need the freezer, and at slightly higher temperature both the vanilla and the rye pepper come forward. A Vodka Martini works well too.

Why is the bottle 50 CL?

That is the house format for this bottling. A half litre is easy to carry as a gift or to use across a single evening, and the format also makes it easier to find freezer space for, if you prefer it cold anyway.

Who are Lignell & Piispanen?

A Finnish distillery in Kuopio with roots back to 1852, when Gustav Ranin founded the business. The house also makes the Gustav range of vodka, gin and berry liqueurs. To see other houses, browse our Vodka brands.