Kyro Distillery
In this Q&A, Kyrö Distillery takes us behind the scenes of their whisky-making process, the story behind their unique Finnish rye, and what makes their spirits stand out
Kyrö Distillery started from an idea in a sauna—can you tell us more about how this unique beginning shaped the distillery’s vision?
In that Sauna, one of the co-founders had brought a bottle of rye whisky. As rye is the quintessentially Finnish grain, it felt irrational that no one was making rye whisky in Finland. We also talked about finding our own way of making whisky—there are not many places in the world where there is such a strong culinary tradition around rye. Not copying any existing whisky region but combining local tradition of rye and best of both rye and single malt whisky categories. If you look at our core range of whiskies now, 12 years later, we have done exactly that. The backbone is pot-distilled whisky from 100% rye malt and unique expressions: oloroso sherry finish, freshwater peat, and woodsmoked varieties on the smoky side.
Finnish rye is at the heart of your spirits. What makes it so special, and how does it influence the character of your whisky and gin?
Rye is smaller and hence tastier, but the magic lies in why we grow the rye—it is grown for food, not for feed, so we care how it tastes. We use rye malt in Finnish cuisine and brewing so we have an ingredient that allows us to contribute something unique in the world of whisky.
Rye gives the liquids a distinct spiciness and character. Finnish rye grows in tough nordic weather conditions, which you can taste in the liquid. To enhance the rich and spicy notes in whiskies, we use whole-grain rye and don’t chill-filter.
You produce both whisky and gin, which is quite rare for a distillery. How do you balance innovation while staying true to traditional distilling methods?
Our philosophy is unique: unpretentious enjoyment, much like Nordic design—well-crafted products with the consumer experience in mind. When it comes to whisky, we make our own rules, blending the best of Scottish and American traditions.
For our gin, we use fresh local botanicals to capture the essence of the Finnish summer. For our whisky, we distill with Scottish stills and malt-only, but add a twist with wood-smoked and freshwater-peated rye.
Sustainability is an important focus in modern distilling. What steps is Kyrö Distillery taking to reduce its environmental footprint?
Sustainability is a journey. Rye is a great grain to start with, as on average it has a smaller carbon footprint than barley. In production we use biogas to power our stills and the cooling system at the whisky distillery is operated with water from the nearby river without contamination or waste, and returned unharmed after the circulation process. Production excess, such as pot ale and ethanol, repurposed to the benefit of other industries.
We continuously work on our packaging to be more sustainable. As we speak, we are updating our bottles to a lighter recycled glass, and offer bag-in-box with refillable bottles for trade. Our visitor center holds a Green Key certificate.
Kyrö Distillery is known for its warm hospitality and immersive experiences. What can visitors expect when they tour the distillery?
Visitors to Kyrö Distillery can expect an unforgettable experience filled with warmth, stories, and of course, award-winning rye spirits. Our guided distillery tour offers an immersive journey into the heart of our production, where you’ll learn about our history, the unique process behind our rye whisky and gin, and the passion that drives everything we do. You’ll get to see behind the scenes of our working distillery, hear tales of how five friends turned a wild idea into an internationally recognized brand, and, most importantly, enjoy a tasting of our signature spirits.
After the tour, visitors can unwind at our Visitor Center restaurant, where our cocktail bar serves expertly crafted cocktails made with Kyrö spirits, alongside delicious seasonal dishes highlighting local ingredients.
For those looking to extend their stay, Visitor Center offers charming accommodation at Kyrö House, a beautifully restored house in our distillery yard. Whether you’re here for an afternoon or an overnight escape, our warm hospitality ensures a memorable visit filled with great flavors and even better stories. Before you leave, don’t forget to stop by the Kyrö Shop, where you’ll find a selection of Kyrö merchandise and other souvenirs to take home as a memory of your visit!
If you’d like to learn more about the Kyrö Distillery or are interested in purchasing one of their bottles, you can visit their website here