An outstanding rye based take on classic gin.
Review Kyro Gin
Made in: Isokyro, Finland by Kyro Distillery Company
Base: Rye
Method: Extraction still.
46.3% alcohol/92.6 proof
Botanicals 16: Juniper, Cranberries, Seabuckthorn, birch leaves, meadowsweet, coriander, lemon peel, angelica, cardamom, orris. more.
Style: London Dry /classic gin
This gin was formerly known as Napue gin - and that’s where it gained its fame - winning the inaugural IWSC (International Wine and Spirit Competition) Gin and Tonic award as the best gin in the world for a gin and tonic.
This bottle of gin was “lent” to me by my friend Henry who loves it and swore that it was the original gin used to create the Finnish Long Drink. Now if you don’t know what a Finnish Long Drink is, it’s basically gin mixed with grapefruit soda. It was created for the 1952 Summer Olympics when the country was looking for a inexpensive (or cheap) cocktail to serve at the Olympics for the crowds. And while Kyro gin does in fact mix well with Fresca, it’s a good 62 years younger than the gin served at those Olympics.
The gin itself is made from locally sourced Finnish rye and has an intrinsic spice from the base spirit itself as well as the four locally foraged botanicals, and the 12 traditional botanicals used to create this unique spirit.
Tasting notes
Neat this gin has a bit of a rough edge, but on the rocks, or with just a drop of ice water to open it up it becomes luscious, flavorful, and spicy. It’s nice sipping gin.
Scentwise you’ll find strong notes of juniper, with that piney nature, and hints of fruit and of a wild field of grass in the nose of this gin.
Flavorwise there are strong juniper tones followed by a nutty trace along with whispers of coriander, cardamom, cranberry, cinnamon and vanilla, along with hits of pepper and paprika along with some good heat
Mouthfeel is oily, viscous and with a long lingering sensation on the palate.
Mixability:
This gin won it’s fame as being awarded the world’s best gin for a gin and tonic so I definitely looked to try it that way. But how would it stand up in other drinks? That was the question.
I have to admit I really looked forward to trying this gin with tonic, and what I learned from it was that as good as this gin was, mating it with the right tonic was key. It didn’t work great with a cheap tonic, nor with the San Pellegrino Oakwood tonic. It worked best with Fever Tree’s Indian and Q’s traditional tonic waters. With those it was truly an excellent G & T. World’s Best maybe not, but it’s definitely a contender.
In a classic martini (much more so than in a dry one), this was an excellent martini. Notes of pine sap make the juniper seem so much deeper with the pepper and coriander adding to the overall flavor profile.
For something more complex my first thought was that this spice profile would sync well with a Bees Knees. Here the coriander and cardamom really popped and elevated this quite a bit. It does well in other citrus heavy cocktails too, especially the Southside, and Aviation and no doubt would do well in a Collins. This is a good mixing gin.
Overall
I really could have stolen the comments on the last gin I reviewed, Barr Hill for the overall section of this gin, but as copying myself seems a bit trite, I think that perhaps I should leave it as saying that this gin is a top shelf kind of gin. It mixes well, and has a solid juniper core which will satisfy even the true purists. While it’s a bit sharp neat it makes a great mixing gin too.
This is one you can substitute straight up for almost any classic London Dry and can be treated as a core gin by any bartender or mixologist.
And Henry.. I’m afraid I drank so much of it in this testing that I probably owe you a new bottle.
Flavor profile.
spice 3/5
herbal: 1/5
Juniper 4/5
Floral 1/5
Citrus 0/5
Heat 2/5
Rating (Sipping): 92 - those who like bold flavors and spice will certainly like this gin..
Rating (Mixing) 96 - While I disagree slightly about this being the best gin for a gin in a G & T it’s remarkably good, and it stands up very well as a mixing gin too. This is one which can be used interchangeably in almost any cocktail that calls for gin.
Overall rating: 94 - An excellent gin that will go well in classic cocktails and can be enjoyed on the rocks..
What you need to know about my reviews: All my reviews are my honest opinions based upon my own personal tasting. I am NOT a paid reviewer, and no compensation was given, or expected. I may from time to time choose to do a second review and amend my opinion of a product, should I feel like it and find my review criteria has evolved, or that I’ve found it different at a later date. That said, as I’m unlikely to repurchase anything I thought was less than very good to excellent, it would be by chance or at the request of a distiller who thought I rated them very unfairly - BUT even then, whatever you get will always be my honest opinion.