Story about distillates

The company’s origins trace back to the meeting of the head distiller Ari Kaura and the writer Christian Rönnbacka. Rönnbacka had just written a book on Finnish whisky, and the shared passion for spirits between these two friends sparked the idea of creating their own distillery.

Nowadays the distillery has fewer than ten founding members, but it has several renowned authors as small investors. The distinctive appearance of Authors’ Distillery products, resembling books, is a nod to their literary inspiration.

In 2019, Kaura pursued distillation studies in the Netherlands, at the same time, they decided to use modern I Still distillation equipment. Kaura explains, “We made a conscious choice. This way, we can produce a variety of alcoholic beverages and not limit ourselves to a single product line. We can build a commercial portfolio, so if one product doesn’t succeed, we always have something new to offer.”

The choice of Mäntsälä as the location for the distillery was no accident; Kaura wanted it to be close to his hometown. “I had previous experience with long commutes, and they were not enjoyable. When I decided to establish my own distillery, the location choice was clear: Mäntsälä,” he sums up.

Sales manager Joel Ristekallio, who primarily works in the Helsinki office, is also contented with the location. “I work mostly remotely and operate in the sales field in the area, but I aim to visit Mäntsälä a couple of times a week. I live in Helsinki, which is just 60km away, so the commute doesn’t take very long,” Joel says.

From Literary Inspiration to International Acclaim

The distillery’s journey to international acclaim began in the year 2021 with the world’s most prestigious alcohol competitions, The International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC), awarding Authors’ Distillery Readers’ Gin with a Gold Medal in the World’s Best Gin & Tonics and a Silver Medal in the Spirit category. In 2022, Authors’ Distillery’s first mainland Finnish rum received accolades at the IWSC. The following year, their gin won a Gold Medal at the Berlin International Spirits Competition with a score of 95 out of 100, and Authors’ Distillery was nominated as The Finland Gin Distillery of the Year.

Distillation is a patient process, with whisky production, for example, taking three years, which is a long time for a startup. Additionally, the necessary equipment is expensive. For these reasons, Authors’ Distillery initially started with gin production, which is quicker and allowed them to enter the market faster.

In 2023, Authors’ Distillery is launching three new products: 100% Finnish-made soju, a new rum, and a long drink produced in collaboration with Kurikan Lakkitehdas. Kaura states, “We want to offer people lower-alcohol alternatives as well.”

The company aims to continue providing customers with unique alcoholic beverages and enjoyable experiences. Their future plans include international expansion and the development of a franchising model.