Napue Gin by Kyrö Distillery
Kyrö · Kyrö Distillery Company
Napue won the world's best gin for a gin and tonic at the International Wine and Spirit Competition and it's easy to understand why. The rye base provides a structure most London Drys can't match, and the Nordic botanicals — birch leaf, meadowsweet, cranberry — root this gin firmly in the Finnish landscape.
Nose
Crisp juniper — both green and herbaceous — arrives first, chased by meadowsweet and a bright lemon citrus note. A subtle grainy warmth from the rye base spirit gives the nose an unexpected depth, and dried chamomile flowers appear on the second pass.
Palate
The rye base delivers a peppery, almost creamy mouthfeel that sets Napue apart from neutral-grain gins. Juniper stays assertive throughout, flanked by coriander and a honeyed floral quality. The mid-palate shifts toward ginger root and birch-like herbal notes.
Finish
Medium-long and warming, with lingering juniper, meadowsweet, and a gentle peppery spice that fades gracefully.
- Style
- New Nordic Gin
- Botanicals
- Juniper, meadowsweet, birch leaf, sea buckthorn, cranberry, lemon peel, coriander, angelica root, chamomile, ginger
- Base Spirit
- Finnish whole-grain rye
- Distillation
- Pot distilled, botanicals vapor-infused and macerated
Cocktail Suggestion
Nordic G&T — 2 oz Napue Gin · 4 oz premium tonic water · Build in a copa glass over ice, garnish with a sprig of fresh cranberries and a grapefruit peel twist.
Food Pairing
Gravlax with mustard-dill sauce on Finnish rye bread
Built inside a repurposed cheese factory in the small Finnish town of Isokyrö, Kyrö Distillery Company started as five friends' sauna bet that they could make world-class gin from Finnish rye.
Be the first to comment.
Leave a comment
Old Forester Statesman Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Old Forester
Statesman is the overlooked sibling in the Old Forester range, but it may be the most complete expression they offer at this price. The extra proof carries deeper barrel influence without tipping into harshness. A bourbon built for contemplation, not cocktails — though it handles both admirably.
Midleton Very Rare 2023
Midleton
The 2023 vintage continues the Midleton Very Rare tradition of showcasing the distillery's remarkable range of pot still and grain whiskeys. Master Blender Kevin O'Gorman's selection emphasizes restraint over intensity, creating a whiskey where every element has space to breathe. It rewards those who approach it slowly.
Glendronach 12 Year Old Original
GlenDronach
GlenDronach 12 is a benchmark for sherry-matured Highland malt at this age and price. The distillery's commitment to genuine sherry cask maturation — no shortcuts, no finishes — is evident in the depth and cohesion of the palate. If you want to understand what patient sherry cask aging does to spirit, start here.
Don Julio Añejo
Don Julio
Don Julio Añejo remains one of the most reliable entry points into aged tequila. The 18-month maturation in American white oak strikes a balance between barrel influence and agave character that many longer-aged expressions lose. It's a study in how restraint in aging can produce a more honest result than ambition.
Hayman's London Dry Gin
Hayman's
Hayman's London Dry is a gin that trusts its botanicals rather than burying them. Fifth-generation distiller Christopher Hayman keeps the recipe honest — ten botanicals, no gimmicks, no barrel resting. It's the kind of gin that makes you wonder why anyone needs twenty botanicals when ten, chosen well, do the job this effectively.
Caledonia Spirits Barr Hill Reserve Tom Cat Gin
Barr Hill
Tom Cat proves that barrel-aged gin can be more than a novelty. The interplay between raw northern honey, juniper, and new American oak creates something genuinely distinctive — part gin, part whiskey-adjacent sipper, wholly itself. Vermont's cold winters slow the aging, building complexity without sacrificing botanical clarity.
Citadelle Jardin d'Été Gin
Citadelle
Citadelle's summer garden expression takes the 19-botanical base recipe and infuses it with lemon verbena, yuzu, and chamomile flowers. It works because the foundation is sound — the juniper and angelica core is strong enough to hold the floral additions in check. This is a gin that rewards a simple tonic serve where the botanicals can speak clearly.
Sipsmith Lemon Drizzle Gin
Sipsmith
Sipsmith's Lemon Drizzle avoids the trap many flavored gins fall into—it never sacrifices its identity as a gin. The lemon is vibrant and natural, and the juniper stays firmly in the driver's seat. A versatile bottle that excels in both G&Ts and cocktails.