Kyrö Oloroso Sherry at 47.2% is their rye whisky matured in classic oloroso sherry casks. The colour has a soft reddish hue, and the nose reveals clear sherry notes along with hints of summer berries, sweetness, plums and nuts. On the palate the sherry influence returns with a light dryness and touches of vanilla. The finish is long, with plenty of sweetness and a gentle spiciness toward the end.
Kyrö Wood Smoke, 47.2%, is a rye whisky matured in bourbon casks using smoked rye. On the nose, there are clear notes of gentle smoke combined with caramel and a hint of citrus. On the palate, the smoky character intensifies, offering a moderate campfire smoke alongside lightly spiced and sweet rye. Additional notes of oak appear and linger into the finish together with the pleasant smoky flavour.
Overall, these are very enjoyable rye whiskies that the sauna‑loving Finns can certainly be proud of. It will definitely not be the last time my glass is filled with whisky from Kyrö Distillery, and I look forward to seeing what the future holds for this young distillery.
About the distillery:
Five naked men sit in a Finnish sauna in 2012. They enjoy a foreign rye whisky and discuss why no one distils spirits from rye in Finland, despite rye’s popularity in the region. Soon they decide to take matters into their own hands. A few months later, these men have founded Kyrö Distillery Company by the Kyrö River in Isokyrö, a small town of 5,000 inhabitants in the Ostrobothnia region of western Finland.
Isokyrö is a fascinating place; archaeologists have found skeletons in the local Leväluhta spring, where the water turns red every spring. In this scenic setting, the founders discover the perfect location for their rye‑based dream: a beautiful old cheese factory, once known for producing Oltermanni, a famous Finnish cheese often enjoyed on rye bread. Today, the buildings house the world’s only distillery working exclusively with rye.
The distillery begins production in 2014, driven by Finnish sisu, high ambitions and a unique approach to creating products that reflect Finland. The breakthrough comes in February 2015, when Kyrö Distillery’s Napue Gin competes in the prestigious International Wine and Spirit Competition (IWSC). Napue Gin wins the award for Best Gin for Gin & Tonic in a blind tasting against 150 other distilleries. In addition, Kyrö’s barrel‑aged Koskue Gin wins gold in the same competition. This is the equivalent of winning two world championships in the world of wine and spirits.
So now the naked Finns can practically walk on water, even without ice. It will be exciting to follow Kyrö Distillery and see whether they can repeat their success when their first rye whisky is launched in 2017.
Kyrö Distillery Company, located in Isokyrö in western Finland, is known as the world’s only distillery working exclusively with rye. The distillery’s whisky production is a tribute to the role of rye in Finnish culture and agriculture. Here are some key points about their whisky production:
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Use of 100% rye — Kyrö Distillery uses only Finnish rye for its whisky production. Rye thrives in the Finnish climate and is known for its distinctive flavour, giving their whisky a unique and complex profile.
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Traditional and modern methods — The distillery combines traditional whisky‑making techniques with modern innovation, including slow fermentation and double distillation in copper pot stills.
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Maturation — After distillation, the whisky matures in selected casks previously used for bourbon, sherry or other spirits. The cold Finnish climate influences the ageing process and the final flavour.
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Flavour profile — Kyrö’s rye whisky is known for its spicy and fruity character with notes of pepper, caramel and dark chocolate.
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Innovation and quality — The distillery experiments with cask types and ageing times to create new expressions, earning international recognition.
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Sustainability — Kyrö focuses on sustainable production through energy‑efficient processes and locally grown raw materials.
