Distillery tours
Distillery Tours in Finland
Plan a distillery tour in Finland: 4 distilleries to visit, with tastings and experiences you can book directly. Expect Gin, Craft Spirits, Single Malt and more. Highlights include Kyrö Distillery, Teerenpeli Distillery, Nagu Distillery.
4distilleries
About distillery tours in Finland
Finland's craft distilling scene is young, confident and unmistakably rooted in place. While the country has only a handful of significant producers, each has carved out a clear identity built on Finnish ingredients, forests and grain. Rye sits at the heart of the story: Kyro, famously founded in a sauna in 2012, built its reputation on spirits made entirely from Finnish rye, winning international acclaim for its gin before launching a rye whisky and helping put Finland firmly on the global spirits map. Teerenpeli, in Lahti, holds a special place as the country's pioneering commercial single malt producer, having grown from a restaurant and brewery into a serious whisky-maker with help from Scottish expertise. In the capital, The Helsinki Distilling Company has brought urban craft energy to the scene, producing rye and single malt whisky alongside gin since the mid-2010s. The archipelago adds further character through Nagu Distillery, set among the islands of Finland's southwest coast. Together these producers reflect a national approach defined by pure water, native botanicals foraged from the forest, and an embrace of rye that distinguishes Finnish spirits from their Nordic neighbours. For visitors, it is a compact but rewarding circuit, full of personality and pristine landscapes.
Top regions to explore
Finland's distilleries are spread thinly but purposefully. The Ostrobothnia region in the west is home to Kyro, based in the village of Isokyro, where the surrounding rye fields are central to the distillery's identity and make for an evocative setting. The Lahti region, north of Helsinki, anchors the south with Teerenpeli, the country's first commercial single malt producer, conveniently close to the capital and well established as a visitor destination. Helsinki itself hosts The Helsinki Distilling Company, offering an accessible, city-centre introduction to Finnish rye and single malt for travellers short on time. To the southwest, the Turku archipelago provides a striking contrast with Nagu Distillery, set amid the islands and waterways that define this part of the country. With producers concentrated in the south and west, a Finnish distilling trip naturally pairs urban culture in Helsinki with rural and coastal excursions to the heartland of Finnish rye.
Planning a distillery trip
Because Finland has relatively few distilleries, a focused itinerary works best, often built around Helsinki as a base. The Helsinki Distilling Company is the easiest starting point, while Teerenpeli near Lahti is a comfortable day trip and Kyro merits a longer westward journey into rye country. As with much of the Nordic region, it is wise to check opening times and book tours in advance, since visitor hours can be seasonal and some experiences run on set schedules. Finnish distilling leans heavily on native ingredients, so expect tours to highlight rye, pure water and foraged botanicals such as those used in Kyro's gin. The summer months bring long daylight hours and the most reliable opening times, making them ideal for combining distillery visits with the lakes, forests and archipelago that give Finland its distinctive atmosphere.
Getting around
Finland's railways and intercity coaches connect Helsinki efficiently with Lahti and other southern hubs, making producers like Teerenpeli and The Helsinki Distilling Company achievable without a car. Reaching Kyro in Ostrobothnia or Nagu in the Turku archipelago, however, is considerably easier with your own vehicle, which also lets you take in the rural landscapes and island roads that are part of the experience. Distances in Finland can be long, so allow generous travel time when heading west or to the coast. If you plan to taste the full-strength rye whiskies and gins on offer, arrange a designated driver or rely on trains and local transport for the city-based distilleries. In summer, the archipelago around Nagu can also be explored by ferry, adding a memorable dimension to the trip.
Frequently asked
- What makes Finnish spirits distinctive?
- Rye is the defining ingredient. Producers like Kyro and The Helsinki Distilling Company build their spirits around 100 percent Finnish rye, while pure water and foraged native botanicals such as meadowsweet and sea buckthorn give Finnish gin and whisky a character all their own.
- Does Finland make whisky?
- Yes. Teerenpeli in Lahti was the country's first commercial single malt producer, and others including Kyro and The Helsinki Distilling Company now make rye and single malt whisky, marking Finland as a small but rising whisky nation.
- Which distillery is easiest to visit from Helsinki?
- The Helsinki Distilling Company, located in the capital, is the most convenient. Teerenpeli near Lahti also makes a comfortable day trip by train, while Kyro in the west requires a longer journey into rye-farming country.
- Is Kyro really founded in a sauna?
- Famously, yes. Kyro Distillery Company was established in 2012 by a group of friends in a sauna in Isokyro, and went on to win international acclaim for its rye gin before launching a rye whisky.
- When is the best time for a Finnish distillery trip?
- Summer is ideal, with long daylight hours, the most reliable opening times and easy access to the lakes, forests and archipelago. Always check tour schedules and book ahead, as visitor hours can be seasonal.
- Can I reach the distilleries without a car?
- The city and southern producers like The Helsinki Distilling Company and Teerenpeli are accessible by train and coach. Reaching Kyro in Ostrobothnia or Nagu in the archipelago is far easier with a car, and ferries serve the islands in summer.