🥃 Koskenkorva
Finnish barley vodka from the village of Koskenkorva (Ilmajoki); brand since 1953; 40% ABV; made by Altia, now part of the Anora group.
Koskenkorva is a Finnish barley vodka, named after a village in Ilmajoki, in western Finland. The brand has been produced since 1953, and the classic version is bottled at 40% ABV. It is made by Altia, which after merging with Arcus is part of the Anora group. It is one of the best-known vodkas in Northern Europe.
History. The distillery in Koskenkorva was founded in 1944; a new state-owned one was built in 1971–1973 and modernised in 1987. The vodka reached the market in 1953. Until the 2016 redesign, the label carried the number 013, the original product number in the Finnish state monopoly Alko.
How it is made. The raw material is barley grown only in Finland; Difford's Guide calls it six-row barley, and Anora calls it the 'most northern barley'. The spirit is obtained by continuous multi-column distillation in seven steel columns about 25 metres tall. The producer describes near-zero-waste production: waste goes to animal feed, and the CO2 from fermentation is sold to industry. The water, according to Anora's description, is unfiltered groundwater.
Range. Besides the Original, there are flavoured versions such as Salmiakki Koskenkorva with sweet liquorice. Their strength and taste differ from the Original, which is labelled 40% ABV in most countries.
Why it matters to you. Vodka and flavoured drinks with the same name are different products, so read the full name. The same plant supplies spirit for Finlandia, but that is a separate brand. The WHO reminds us that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption.
Facts
| Year founded | distillery 1944; vodka brand 1953 (Koskenkorva, Ilmajoki) |
|---|---|
| Legal basis | Reg. (EU) 2019/787, Annex I, category 15 (vodka) |
| EU category | 15 — vodka |
| Raw material | Finnish barley (six-row per Difford's); groundwater |
| Distillation method | continuous multi-column distillation, 7 steel columns about 25 m tall |
| Alcohol (% vol.) | 40% ABV (Original) |
How it connects to Spirits
🥃 Koskenkorva → kind of → 🌾 Vodka and grain spirits → kind of → 🥃 Spirits
Links
- What is made from it
- 🥃 Salmiakki Koskenkorva
- What it contains
- 🧪 Water, 🍷 Ethanol
- What it affects
- 🍷 Alcohol and health, 🍷 Drunk driving
- Part of
- 🍸 Vodka, 🌾 Vodka and grain spirits
- Similar and different
- 🥃 Finlandia, 🥃 Finlandia Cranberry, 🥃 Finlandia Grapefruit Fusion, 🥃 Finlandia Platinum, 🥃 Finlandia Classic, 🥃 Absolut, 🥃 Absolut, 🥃 Wyborowa, 🥃 Wyborowa
Frequently asked questions
Is Koskenkorva made from potatoes or from barley?
It is made from barley grown in Finland, not from potatoes.
What ABV and proof is Koskenkorva Original?
40% ABV, which is 80 proof in the US; flavoured versions differ.
Are Koskenkorva and Finlandia the same vodka on a UK or US shelf?
They are related: Finlandia is made from barley spirit that comes from Koskenkorva, but it is a separate brand owned by Brown-Forman.
What did the number 013 on old Koskenkorva labels mean?
It was the original product number of the vodka in the Finnish state monopoly Alko, and it stayed on the label until the 2016 redesign.
What do you eat with neat vodka?
Cold, salty or smoked food such as smoked fish; serve it chilled in a small shot glass.
What to read next
- 🍷 Alcohol and health — Alcohol in any drink is harmful in large amounts, and the risks grow with the quantity.
- 🍷 Ethanol — The alcohol formed during fermentation that makes you drunk.
- 🥃 Wyborowa — Wyborowa is a Polish rye vodka brand from Poznań; history from 1823; 40% ABV (80 proof); first vodka with a registered international trademark (1927); owned by Pernod Ricard.
- 🥃 Finlandia Cranberry — The first flavoured Finlandia: a Finnish cranberry vodka from autumn 1994, 37.5% ABV (75 proof); red at first, colourless since 2002.
- 🍷 Drunk driving — Never drive after drinking wine: alcohol slows your reactions.
Similar
🥃 Eristoff · 🥃 Danzka · 🥃 Luksusowa · 🥃 Starka · 🥃 Khortytsa · 🥃 Ketel One
⚠️ Spirit drinks contain alcohol and are for adults only. Alcohol harms health. Do not drink during pregnancy or before driving; check the label for ingredients and possible allergens.
Sources
- Difford's Guide: Koskenkorva Original Vodka (Finnish barley, spring water, 40 %, launched 1953, label number 013 until 2016, Altia)
- Difford's Guide: Rajamäki Distillery (Koskenkorva distillery est. 1944, new distillery 1971-73, seven columns, continuous multi-pressure distillation, six-row barley)
- Anora Group: Koskenkorva Vodka (northernmost barley, unfiltered groundwater, distilled in Koskenkorva since 1953)
- Regulation (EU) 2019/787 on spirit drinks (OJ L 130, 17.5.2019), Annex I, category 15 (vodka: min. 37.5 % ABV)
- WHO/Europe: No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health (04.01.2023)