Whilst not quite the first whisky makers from Finland, the team at the Kyrö Distillery Company were the first to produce a Finnish rye whisky.
Operating out of Isokyrö, Finland the “Malt Rye” release is Kyrö’s flagship release made from 100% malted wholegrain rye.
“Finnish rye whisky packed with bold flavours and wild ideas”
The whisky is double pot distilled and aged in new American white oak casks for a minimum of three years. The final product is captured at 47.2% ABV at its natural colour and without chill filtration.
At the time of writing, full sized (70cl) bottles of Kyrö Malt Rye whisky are around £50 GBP in the UK, though they also have 5cl, 10cl, and 50cl bottles also available for those looking to sample.
Nose
A real billow of festive fruit and spice. Sweet oranges, milk chocolate, and toasted seeded bread all meld together for a Christmassy combo.
Taste
The first sip sees all those initial fragrances amplify onto the tastebuds. The sweet orange now becomes rich orange oil. The milk chocolate is now dark chocolate. The toasted bread is now full-on spiced rye bread. A few more sips and there are tart berry flavours and it all becomes more earthy and spicy.
Finish
A fiery spice combo of clove, ginger, and black pepper close proceedings off.
Verdict
Despite its youth and alcoholic strength, this whisky maintains a soft delivery and then unpacks plenty of fruit and spices.
This is my first dalliance with a Finnish whisky and whilst it’s a rye whisky rather than my regular malted barley endeavour, it delivers. It stands up to the American rye whiskies that I’ve enjoyed to date too and definitely has a Scandinavian influence with the tart berries and rye bread spice flavours.
As with any “firsts” of its kind, it’s sure to build a good following, and I would have thought that any Finnish people would be proud to have their own stamp being made in the whisky world and to have this cool bottling representing them in the market. Not to forget the distillery’s commitment to recyclable packaging.
Looking at the price tag: yes, it may be a young whisky, but for its credentials and as an import, the price is pretty reasonable within the market right now. There are certainly others out there putting their 3-4 year old whiskies in the market for similar, if not higher prices. At this time of year, it may also just fall within a Black Friday or Christmas sale or two…
The malt rye spices do pack a decent punch but the alcohol strength does seem to stay well balanced and complements the soft oily texture. I’m not sure what the “wild ideas” from their product description are but the stealthy alcohol could creep up on you and get the chin wagging for sure.
M
Sample disclosure: This miniature was contained within the Master of Malt birthday gift set, very gratefully received from my colleagues. All notes are intended as an honest, fair, and independent review of the whisky itself, and not as a promotion. Please drink responsibly. Please drink wisely!
whisky unplugged 
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