Finnish rye whisky isn't something that crosses most drinkers' radar, but Kyrö has been quietly building a reputation for doing things differently — and this single cask bottling for The Whisky Exchange is a proper statement of intent. Kyrö Rye Whisky x Monbazillac Cask takes their 100% rye spirit and finishes it in casks that previously held Monbazillac, the rich dessert wine from southwest France. At 53% ABV and without an age statement, this is a whisky that leans hard into cask influence and doesn't apologise for it.
For those unfamiliar, Kyrö distills in Isokyrö, Finland, using whole grain rye — not the typical American approach where rye sits alongside corn and malted barley in a mashbill. That distinction matters. A 100% rye mash produces a spirit with serious backbone: drier, spicier, more herbaceous than what you'd find in a standard Kentucky rye. The grain does more of the talking, and the distillery's job is to let it.
Then there's the Monbazillac cask. Monbazillac is often called the poor man's Sauternes, but that's selling it short — it's a botrytised sweet wine with real depth and honeyed complexity. Using those casks for finishing is a smart move. You're layering that sticky, almost tropical sweetness onto a bone-dry rye base, and at cask strength, neither element gets diluted into the background.
Tasting Notes
I haven't broken this one down into formal nose, palate, and finish notes yet, but I can tell you what to expect from a whisky built this way. The 100% rye foundation will give you that characteristic dry spice and grainy bite — think rye bread, cracked black pepper, and a slight herbal edge. The Monbazillac influence should push things toward dried stone fruit, honey, and maybe a waxy, almost marmalade-like sweetness. At 53%, there'll be plenty of texture and heat, but cask-strength rye at this proof tends to carry its alcohol well. A few drops of water should open it up without flattening it.
The Verdict
At £64.95, this sits in a sweet spot for a single cask, cask-strength release from an independent bottler collaboration. You're not paying for a big name or a flashy age statement — you're paying for a genuinely interesting whisky that does something most bottles on the shelf don't even attempt. Finnish rye finished in French dessert wine casks is not a combination you'll find anywhere else, and The Whisky Exchange has a solid track record of picking casks that actually deliver. I'm giving this a 7.7 out of 10. It's a confident, well-constructed whisky that rewards curiosity, and the price is fair for what you're getting. If it had a few more years on it, or if the cask finish had a touch more integration, we'd be talking about something truly exceptional. As it stands, it's a very good bottle and a genuine conversation starter.
Best Served
Try this neat first, with a few drops of water to tame the 53% ABV and let the Monbazillac sweetness come forward. If you're feeling adventurous, it would make a stunning Manhattan — the dessert wine cask influence plays beautifully with sweet vermouth, and that rye spice will cut right through. Use a 2:1 ratio with a quality Italian vermouth like Cocchi di Torino, a couple of dashes of Angostura, and garnish with a brandied cherry. The sweetness from the cask finish means you can dial back the vermouth slightly if you prefer a drier drink.
