Kyrö Distillery Company
{{Short description|Finnish rye distillery company}}
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{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2022}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2018}}
{{Coord|62.983685|22.353671|region:FI-12_type:landmark|display=title}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Rye Rye Osakeyhtiö
| logo = Kyrö Distillery Company Logo.png
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| trade_name = Kyrö Distillery Company
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| native_name_lang = fi
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| type = Privately held company limited company
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| industry = Distilled beverages
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| founded = {{Start date and age|29 August 2012}} in Isokyrö, Finland
| founders = {{unbulleted list|Miika Lipiäinen|Mikko Koskinen|Kalle Valkonen| Miko Heinilä|Jouni Ritola}}
| defunct =
| hq_location = Oltermannintie 6
| hq_location_city = Isokyrö
| hq_location_country = Finland
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| products = {{flatlist|
- Kyrö Gin
- Kyrö Dark Gin
- Kyrö Pink Gin (rye gin)
- Kyrö Malt Rye Whisky
- Dairy Cream cream liqueur
- Juuri (rye whiskey)
- Long Kyrö (long drink)
- hand sanitizer
}}
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| revenue_year = 2019
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| website = {{URL|kyrodistillery.com/}}
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Kyrö Distillery Company is a Finnish rye distillery founded in a sauna in 2012.{{Cite web |last=Cheang |first=Michael |title=The story of Napue Gin began with 5 guys in a sauna |url=https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/food/2017/09/20/story-napue-gin-began-five-guys-sauna |website=The Star}} Kyrö uses 100 per cent Finnish rye to produce rye gin and rye whisky.{{Cite news |last=Rail |first=Evan |date=26 June 2020 |title=The Old World Turns to a New World Spirit: Rye |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/26/dining/drinks/european-rye-whiskey.html}} In 2015, Kyrö Napue Gin, formerly known as Napue, won the Best Gin for Gin & Tonic category in the International Wine and Spirit competition.{{Cite web |date=23 July 2015 |title=Finnish gin wins award at IWSC |url=https://www.helsinkitimes.fi/13463-finnish-gin-wins-award-at-iwsc.html}} In August 2020 Kyrö launched its rye whisky, Kyrö Malt.{{Cite web |title=Kyrö Malt Rye Whisky |url=https://kyrodistillery.com/shop/kyro-malt}} To support health care workers during COVID-19, Kyrö started producing hand sanitizer. Through the sales of hand sanitizer, the company managed to avoid layoffs, and they have continued in production.{{Cite web |title=Kyrö Distillery hand sanitizer launch – adapting at {{as written|it|s' [sic]}} finest |url=https://www.custobar.com/blog/kyro-distillery-hand-sanitizer-launch-adapting-at-its-finest/ |website=Custobar}}
Company
Kyrö Distillery Company was registered as {{Lang|fi|Rye Rye Osakeyhtiö}} by Miika Lipiäinen, Mikko Koskinen, Kalle Valkonen, Miko Heinilä, and Jouni Ritola on 29 August 2012, in Isokyrö, Finland .{{Cite web |title=Rye Rye Oy - Rekisteritiedot | Suomen Asiakastieto Oy |url=https://www.asiakastieto.fi/yritykset/fi/rye-rye-oy/25025095/rekisteritiedot}} The idea to establish the company came to the founders while they were sitting in a sauna drinking American rye whisky They wondered about the lack of whisky distilleries based on rye in Finland—an ingredient they considered vital to Finnish society.{{Cite news |last=Cheang |first=Michael |date=26 September 2017 |title=Story of Finland's Napue Gin began with five guys in a sauna |language=en |work=The Straits Times |url=http://www.straitstimes.com/lifestyle/food/story-of-finlands-napue-gin-began-with-five-guys-in-a-sauna |url-status=live |access-date=6 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107095619/http://www.straitstimes.com/lifestyle/food/story-of-finlands-napue-gin-began-with-five-guys-in-a-sauna |archive-date=7 November 2017 |quote=The five founders of Kyrö Distillery Company – Miika Lipiainen, Mikko Koskinen, Kalle Valkonen, Miko Heinila, and Jouni Ritola – were drinking American rye whiskey together in the sauna, when someone raised this question: Why hadn't anyone made rye whiskey in Finland? After all, rye is Finland's No. 1 crop and it is a staple food for the Finns. }} The founders had no experience in the distilling industry and visited micro-distilleries and still makers around Europe to gather knowledge.{{Cite news |date=31 October 2015 |title=Napue |language=en-GB |work=Gin Foundry |url=http://www.ginfoundry.com/gin/napue-gin/ |url-status=live |access-date=11 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171212031706/http://www.ginfoundry.com/gin/napue-gin/ |archive-date=12 December 2017 }} The distillery itself was built next to the River Kyrö in a 1908-built cheese factory which used to produce the Finnish Oltermanni cheese.{{Cite news |date=5 April 2016 |title=This Tiny Finnish Distillery Makes Some of the World's Best Gin |language=en-us |work=Munchies |url=https://munchies.vice.com/en_us/article/kbkyez/this-tiny-finnish-distillery-makes-some-of-the-worlds-best-gin |url-status=live |access-date=6 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107005358/https://munchies.vice.com/en_us/article/kbkyez/this-tiny-finnish-distillery-makes-some-of-the-worlds-best-gin |archive-date=7 November 2017 }}{{Cite news |date=6 May 2014 |title=Brand Identity for Kyrö Distillery Company by Werklig |language=en-US |work=BP&O – Branding, Packaging and Opinion |url=http://bpando.org/2014/05/06/brand-identity-kyro-distillery-company/ |url-status=live |access-date=6 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170629033352/http://bpando.org/2014/05/06/brand-identity-kyro-distillery-company/ |archive-date=29 June 2017 }}
The Helsinki-based design agency Werklig created a visual identity for the company, including a custom typeface called Napue Sans based on memorial engravings of the 1714 Battle of Napue, which was fought close to the distillery's location during the Great Northern War. The typeface is used in all of Kyrö's products and media including its logo.{{Cite news |title=Kyrö Distillery Company |language=en-US |work=Werklig |url=http://www.werklig.com/works/kyro-distillery-company/ |url-status=live |access-date=6 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107005634/http://www.werklig.com/works/kyro-distillery-company/ |archive-date=7 November 2017 }}
In 2020 Kyrö Distillery Company GmbH was started.{{Cite web |title=Kyr Distillery Company Profile |url=https://www.dnb.com/business-directory/company-profiles.kyr%C3%B6_distillery_gmbh.0c4ccecc3ab6b372f49fa3f6edec0da4.html}} Kyrö operates a web shop through the German company, where products are available for purchase throughout Europe. Kyrö distributes their products globally to around 30 countries.{{Cite web |title=In rye we trust – Kyrö Distillery Company | Baltic Rim Economies |url=https://sites.utu.fi/bre/in-rye-we-trust-kyro-distillery-company/}}
Products
File:Kyrö Gin (formerly known as Napue gin).jpg File:Kyrö Dark Gin.jpg
The Kyrö Distillery distills whisky, gin, and other spirits from 100% Finnish whole-grain rye. At first, the goal was only the production of rye whisky, but the founders began the production of gin in the meantime, due to the minimum of three years that single malt whisky is to be aged under European Union regulations, thus enabling the company to generate revenue from gin while waiting for the whiskey to mature. For gin products, the rye spirit is used as a base with different herbs added to it. Due to the short summer in Finland, the staff distills individual botanical concentrates from locally foraged herbs in order to produce gin year-round.
= Kyrö Malt Rye Whisky =
Eight years after the idea of the Kyrö Distillery was conceived in a sauna, Kyrö released their Kyrö Malt Rye Whisky.{{Cite web |title=Finland's Kyroe Distillery Unveils First Malt Rye Whisky |url=https://imbibe.com/news/finland-s-kyroe-distillery-unveils-first-malt-rye-whisky |access-date=21 September 2020 |archive-date=24 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201024231933/https://imbibe.com/news/finland-s-kyroe-distillery-unveils-first-malt-rye-whisky/ |url-status=dead }} It is 100% made of Finnish wholegrain rye. It is produced in pot stills and aged in American oak barrels between three and five years.{{Cite web |title=Distillery – Finwhisky |url=https://finwhisky.juhis.org/category/distillery/feed}} In 2020, Kyrö Malt was awarded 98/100 points and an outstanding medal from International Wine and Spirits Competition.{{Cite web |title=The best rye whiskies from around the world |url=https://cluboenologique.com/story/upturn-in-quality-and-popularity-is-cause-for-a-rye-smile}}
= Kyrö Gin (Napue) =
File:Kyrö Malt Rye Whisky bottle and package.jpg
Kyrö is best known for its Kyrö Gin, formerly known as Napue. Gin and tonic made with Napue gin won the Best Gin for the Gin & Tonic category at the International Wine and Spirit Competition (IWSC) in 2015.{{Cite news |last=Teivainen |first=Aleksi |date=23 July 2015 |title=Finnish gin wins award at IWSC |language=en-gb |work=Helsinki Times |url=http://www.helsinkitimes.fi/finland/finland-news/domestic/13463-finnish-gin-wins-award-at-iwsc.html |url-status=live |access-date=6 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107012323/http://www.helsinkitimes.fi/finland/finland-news/domestic/13463-finnish-gin-wins-award-at-iwsc.html |archive-date=7 November 2017 }} Following the award, Napue's production increased from the previously planned 23,000 bottles to 100,000 bottles in 2015.{{Cite news |date=18 July 2016 |title=Alcohol leads Finnish food exports |language=en |work=Yle Uutiset |url=https://yle.fi/uutiset/osasto/news/alcohol_leads_finnish_food_exports/9033719 |url-status=live |access-date=6 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107061128/https://yle.fi/uutiset/osasto/news/alcohol_leads_finnish_food_exports/9033719 |archive-date=7 November 2017 }}
Sixteen different herbs are used to make Kyrö Gin, including juniper, lemon peel, angelica and cardamom as well as locally foraged meadowsweet, cranberries, birch, and sea buckthorn. Four of the herbs are individually distilled and mixed in with the other twelve to ensure a consistent outcome.{{Cite news |last=Allen |first=Max |date=21 November 2016 |title=Stirrings from the spirit world |work=The Australian |url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/life/food-wine/stirrings-from-the-world-of-craft-spirits/news-story/eaefaf78e4f00e21e27b51d9d174bd17?nk=4b5cff81590e67a48edfffce38e488f1-1509997213 |access-date=6 November 2017}}
In 2019 the name was changed from Napue to Kyrö Gin.{{Cite web |date=14 April 2020 |title=Napue – when a Name Causes Confusion |url=https://talesfromthebraziersgrotto.wordpress.com/2020/04/14/napue-when-a-name-causes-confusion/}} Kyrö Gin & Tonic remains a classic cocktail served with rosemary and cranberries.{{Cite web |title=Napue Gin & Tonic {{!}} NATEX |url=https://natex.de/recipe/napue-gin-tonic |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201130135927/https://natex.de/recipe/napue-gin-tonic/ |archive-date=30 November 2020 |website=natex.de}}
= Kyrö Dark Gin (Koskue) =
Kyrö Dark Gin was formerly known as Koskue. It is a rye gin that combines Finnish rye with 17 spices and botanicals, including black pepper and orange peel. The Dark Gin is aged for three months in American oak barrels. Kyrö Dark Gin can be mixed with apple juice and served hot or cold.{{Cite web |title=Kyrö Dark Gin - Ginopedia Gin information from the Gin Guild |url=https://www.theginguild.com/ginopedia/gin-brands/kyro-koskue-aged-rye-gin}}
= Dairy Cream =
Since the Kyrö Distillery operates in an old dairy, they brought cream back to production with Dairy Cream cream liqueur. It is a lactose-free cream liqueur that uses locally produced cream and Finnish rye whisky.{{Cite web |title=Kyrö Dairy Cream Liqueur |url=https://www.masterofmalt.com/liqueurs/kyro/kyro-dairy-cream-liqueur/}}
= Juuri & Smoke & Rye =
Juuri ("root") is a new make. Juuri means the origin and in this case, it is the origin of Kyrö Malt, before the rye spirit comes in contact with any barrels.{{Cite web |date=7 August 2018 |title=Pure Spirits: Kyrö Juuri New Make Rye & Juuri wants to drink a Sunflower |url=https://galumbi.com/blog/2018/08/07/pure-spirits-kyro-juuri-new-make-rye-juuri-wants-to-drink-a-sunflower}}
Additionally, Kyrö produces small-batch experiments developed by external beverage experts under the Kyrö Study label, such as the Smoke & Rye spirit.{{Cite news |last=Carruthers |first=Nicola |date=31 January 2017 |title=Kyrö Distillery launches experimental project |language=en-US |work=The Spirit Business |url=https://www.thespiritsbusiness.com/2017/01/kyro-distillery-launches-experimental-project/ |url-status=live |access-date=6 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107112244/https://www.thespiritsbusiness.com/2017/01/kyro-distillery-launches-experimental-project/ |archive-date=7 November 2017 }}
= Kyrö Cranberry =
Since 2016, Kyrö has produced a craft long drink together with Finnish brewery Laitilan Wirvoitusjuomatehdas. The cranberry long drink, called Kyrö Cranberry, uses Kyrö Gin as its base.{{Cite news |date=1 April 2016 |title=Kyrö ja Laitila yhdistivät voimansa: Uusi lonkero perustuu maailmalla palkittuun giniin – yllättävä kasvo mainoskampanjalle |language=fi-FI |work=Ilta-Sanomat |url=https://www.is.fi/ruokala/ajankohtaista/art-2000001149668.html |url-status=live |access-date=6 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107060516/https://www.is.fi/ruokala/ajankohtaista/art-2000001149668.html |archive-date=7 November 2017 }}
= Other Products =
Kyrö has also done collaborative products with other distilleries. Teeling Distillery aged their Irish whiskey in Kyrö's gin casks (which they use for Kyrö Dark gin) while Kyrö aged some of their gin in Teeling's whiskey casks. Together with the Japanese Kyoto Distillery, Kyrö produced a botanical exchange that celebrated the 100th year of Finnish‐Japanese diplomatic relations. Both distilleries used botanicals from the other to make a special batch of gin.{{Cite web |date=24 January 2020 |title=A drink with... Miika Lipiäinen, Kyrö Distillery Company |url=https://www.thespiritsbusiness.com/2020/01/a-drink-with-miika-lipiainen-kyro-distillery-company}}
Besides the collaborative products, Kyrö makes Pink Gin. The gin gets its flavours from strawberries, lingonberries, and rhubarb and it stands for equality.{{Cite web |title=Kyrö Pink Gin |url=https://www.masterofmalt.com/gin/kyro-distillery-company/kyro-pink-gin}}
= Hand Sanitizer =
To fight the COVID-19 pandemic, Kyrö began producing hand sanitizers in March 2020. First, their product was used by institutions critical to society (i.e. hospitals). Later on, they began selling hand sanitizer to consumers. However, the company doesn't turn a profit on this, instead selling it for a reasonable price. Because of the hand sanitizer production and sales, the company managed to avoid layoffs.
Awards
- In 2015, gin and tonic made with Napue rye gin was awarded Best Gin for the Gin and Tonic category in the International Wine and Spirit Competition.
- In 2015, Kyrö won second place in the Spirits category of the Dieline Awards for package design and was shortlisted for the Cannes Lions' Premium Packaging category.{{Cite news |last=Freeman |first=Elizabeth |date=4 May 2015 |title=The Dieline Awards 2015: 2nd Place Spirits – Kyrö Distillery Company |language=en-US |work=The Dieline |url=http://www.thedieline.com/blog/2015/4/27/2nd-place-spirits-kyr-distillery-company |url-status=live |access-date=6 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107060730/http://www.thedieline.com/blog/2015/4/27/2nd-place-spirits-kyr-distillery-company |archive-date=7 November 2017 }}{{Cite book |last=Iivanainen |first=Riikka |url=https://aaltodoc.aalto.fi/handle/123456789/26322 |title=Branding through visual design: A case study of a company's visual identity guided by brand values and story |publisher=Aalto University |year=2017 |location=Helsinki |pages=10, 34–35 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107055908/https://aaltodoc.aalto.fi/handle/123456789/26322 |archive-date=7 November 2017 |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |last=Moster |first=Helen |date=7 December 2015 |title=Instant classic – Elegant package and label with a timeless design |language=en-US |work=UPM Biofore |url=https://www.upmbiofore.com/raflatac/instant-classic-elegant-package-and-label-with-a-timeless-design/ |url-status=live |access-date=6 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107112046/https://www.upmbiofore.com/raflatac/instant-classic-elegant-package-and-label-with-a-timeless-design/ |archive-date=7 November 2017 }}
- In 2016, Napue rye gin was given a gold medal in the San Francisco World Spirits Competition's premium gin series.{{Cite web |title=2016 Results by Class |url=http://sfspiritscomp.com/pdf/s16_ResultsByClass.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107014805/http://sfspiritscomp.com/pdf/s16_ResultsByClass.pdf |archive-date=7 November 2017 |access-date=6 November 2017 |website=San Francisco World Spirits Competition }}
- In 2016, The Spirits Business magazine awarded the company with a "Master medal" in the Digital & Social Media category in its Distillery Masters competition, and gave the company gold medals in Distillery Facilities, Consumer Experience, and Distillery Innovation.{{Cite news |last=Sherry |first=Kristiane |date=5 January 2017 |title=The Distillery Masters Results 2017 |language=en-US |work=The Spirits Business |url=https://www.thespiritsbusiness.com/2017/01/the-distillery-masters-results-2017/ |url-status=live |access-date=6 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107021713/https://www.thespiritsbusiness.com/2017/01/the-distillery-masters-results-2017/ |archive-date=7 November 2017 }}
- In 2016, Juuri unaged rye whisky won a gold medal in the Whisky category of the International Spirit Awards (IWSC).{{Cite news |date=12 May 2016 |title=Finnish rye spirit takes gold at international competition |language=en-US |work=Good News from Finland |url=http://www.goodnewsfinland.com/finnish-rye-spirit-takes-gold-international-competition/ |url-status=live |access-date=6 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107060912/http://www.goodnewsfinland.com/finnish-rye-spirit-takes-gold-international-competition/ |archive-date=7 November 2017 }}{{Cite web |date=27 April 2016 |title=Kyrö Juuri Rye Spirit |url=https://www.meininger.de/en/spirit/kyroe-juuri-rye-spirit |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107140140/https://www.meininger.de/en/spirit/kyroe-juuri-rye-spirit |archive-date=7 November 2017 |access-date=6 November 2017 |website=Meininger Verlag |language=en }}
- In 2017, Koskue rye gin won a gold medal in the San Francisco World Spirit Competition.{{Cite web |date=15 May 2017 |title=Kyrö Distilleryn Koskuelle kultaa San Franciscossa |trans-title=Gold for Kyrö Distillery's Koskue at San Francisco |url=http://www.pohjankyro-lehti.fi/neo/neoproxy.dll?app=NeoDirect&com=6/4/453009/034c91357b |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107010607/http://www.pohjankyro-lehti.fi/neo/neoproxy.dll?app=NeoDirect&com=6%2F4%2F453009%2F034c91357b |archive-date=7 November 2017 |access-date=6 November 2017 |website=Pohjankyrö |language=fi }}
- In 2018 Kyrö Dark Rye Bitter won silver and an outstanding medal in the IWSC
- In 2018 Kyrö Pale Rye Bitter won bronze in the IWSC
- In 2018 Kyrö Napue Gin won bronze in the IWSC
- In 2018 Kyrö Koskue Dark Gin won silver in the IWSC
- In 2019 Dairy Cream won the highly commended design award in the IWSC
- In 2019 Kyrö Malt #6 won gold in the IWSC
- In 2019 Kyrö Koskue Dark Gin won silver in the IWSC
- In 2019 Kyrö Napue Gin won silver in the IWSC
- In 2020, Kyrö Pink Gin won bronze in the IWSC
- In 2020, Kyrö Malt won gold and an outstanding medal in the IWSC
See also
{{div col}}
- Agriculture in Finland
- Industry in Finland
- Finnish rye bread
- Finnish whisky
- Sahti
- Scandinavian design
{{div col end}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category|Kyrö Distillery Company}}
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YM7dGuGd404 Tour of the destillery], Ian McCollum in 2021
{{Authority control}}{{Portal bar|Finland|Liquor|Drink|Companies}}
Category:Drink companies of Finland
Category:Distilleries in Finland
Category:Finnish companies established in 2012