A new Master of Malt Exclusive

Kyrö Sauna Stories Whisky

The world's first whisky finished in a sauna!

A homage to Finnish culture and where Kyrö began

Kyrö Distillery was conceived in a sauna in 2012 by five friends drinking whisky. Now, a decade on from when spirit first ran from its stills, the Finnish distillery is changing the game by launching a historical new product: Sauna Stories No1 – the world's first whisky finished in a sauna.

Western saunas originated in Finland and have long been healing, communal sanctuaries as well as traditional havens for the preparation and conservation of food. Traditional malting, smoking meat, drying vegetables… even Sauna Diplomacy is practised in Finnish embassies. Now there is a new chapter to this tradition.

Kyrö Sauna Stories Release No. 1 is a 100% malted rye Finnish whisky aged in new American oak and Jamaican rum (bottled by Planteray Rum) casks, which were finished in a sauna. Usually, the highest maturing temperature for spirits is found in rum where the warehouse can reach up to 45 degrees Celsius in the tropical climate.

But by finishing the casks in a sauna, Kyrö achieved an internal temperature of 55 degrees Celsius. Excess steam from the distilling process was used to heat up the bespoke barrel sauna, which allows the barrels to “sweat”. Finished in the warm embrace of a real Finnish sauna, more volatile compounds left the whisky. A selected tasting panel confirmed the effect.

Kyrö Sauna Stories

Kyrö Sauna Stories (2024 Exclusive)

Kyrö Sauna Stories No.1 boasts a bold and beautiful flavour – think creamy vanilla and tropical fruits meet brown sugar and rye spice. This limited-edition whisky is currently exclusive to Master of Malt and there will only be 1908 bottles released globally – a reference to the founding year of the old dairy at the distillery. Of that, just 150 bottles are being released in the UK. Don’t miss out on this remarkable release.

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Tasting notes

Nose:

Tropical fruit, creamy vanilla, honeysuckle.

Palate

Ripe fruit sweetness, dark notes from the rum and rye.

Finish

White pepper.

See the full range from the Kyrö Distillery Company

Kyrö Malt Rye Whisky

Made entirely from 100% Finnish wholegrain rye, Kyrö is distinct in a world dominated by malt and corn-based whiskies. Kyrö Malt Rye Whisky boasts a bold, spicy character, with flavours that range from warm, peppery spice to rich, earthy sweetness. Seriously impressive stuff.

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Kyrö Oloroso Malt Rye Whisky

Crafted from 100% Finnish malted wholegrain rye, this expression showcases the harmonious blend of rye and oloroso sherry. Matured in oloroso sherry, new American oak, and bourbon barrels, the sherry cask imparts smooth layers of sweet dried fruits and candied nuts, complementing the peppery rye at its core.

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Kyrö Peat Smoke Malt Rye Whisky

A smoky delight from Finland’s Kyrö Distillery, this expression is crafted from 100% Finnish malted rye, smoked with local freshwater peat. The rye malt spends 24 hours peat-smoking in a barn, imbuing the spirit with gentle vegetal smoke that enhances its warming rye spice and waxy, citrusy core.

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Kyrö Wood Smoke Malt Rye Whisky

A boldly smoky rye whisky from Kyrö, the rye for this expression is smoked with alder wood, imparting hints of smoked ham and campfire smoke. Paired with the rye’s natural spice and creamy vanilla notes from ex-bourbon, French oak, and new American oak maturation, this is one spectacularly layered spirit.

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