Estonian Gin & Distilleries in Estonia
On This Page: Estonian Gin and Distillery directory, reviews and tasting notes, distillery tours in Estonia, interviews with Estonian distillers, and industry insights with Tarvo Jaansoo of Junimperium Distillery.
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Estonia has a long history of producing vodka and focuses mainly on rye. However, in recent years, we have started to see the growth of gin distilleries in the region. There seems to be a place for those that want to produce on a small, locally focused scale and those looking to get out into the global market. We are seeing emerging styles of rye bases and more Nordic styles that feature local botanicals, but time will tell what emerges as an 'Estonian style'.
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Estonian Gin Reviews - A to Z
- Junimperium Gin - Info & Review | Buy / Garnish: Juniper, Lemon and/or time
For more Estonian Gins try Crafter's Gin, Flavorwood Smoky Gin, Ösel Dry Gin, Saaremaa Gin, Tohi Gin.
ESTONIAN GIN FACT!
- The first recording of spirits being made in Estonia was back in 1485. That was the same year that Leonardo Da Vinchi designed the first aircraft, which has been likened to the helicopter. That said, the country mostly produced vodka and has only turned to gin in more recent years.
Distilleries & Tours in Estonia
Many distilleries in Estonia are open to visitors for tours and tastings which make for the ideal experience for gin lovers living in or visiting Estonia:
- Junimperium Distillery - Location
- Tohi Distillery - Location
Meet the Makers
Get to know some of Estonia's finest gin creators and distillers in our 'Meet the Maker' interviews. Find out what inspired them and how they created and launched their gin, how it's made, what botanicals are used, what you can experience if you visit their distilleries, how best to serve their gins and what they have planned for the future:
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The Inside Scoop
We caught up with Tarvo Jaansoo, Founder of Junimperium Distillery, in Tallinn to find out what makes Australian Gin special and how the industry has grown in recent years:
What is Estonia's history with spirits and distilling?
Tarvo: There is a lot of information to be found on Estonian Distilling on the Moe website. Moe is where we buy our rye base spirit. They have a fascinating timeline on their page that begins from 1485. It states on the timeline, "In Estonia. the first written record of alcohol goes back to 1485, when the Reval Great Guild of wine producers issued an order prohibiting the residents of suburban areas to sell spirits in town. This year officially marks the beginning of alcohol production in Estonia. Only members of the Great Guild, merchants, and their widows had the right to produce alcohol for sale." If you want to find out more about Estonian Distilling you can look at the Moe History page here.
How has the Estonian Gin industry developed in recent years?
Tarvo: The Estonian Gin industry has been developing quite nicely during the last 6-7 years. We have seen like everywhere else in the world, openings of new distilleries and new gins coming to the market. Liviko, Estonian oldest and biggest alcohol producer has launched their so called ‘’craft gin’’ into the market under the brand Crafters. Metsis and Lahhentagge gins are some of the first craft gin brands in Estonia. Junimperium Distillery opened the doors in spring 2019 and become a most awarded artisan gin distillery in Estonia within very short time. There are also some new gin brands in the market like TOHI, Suti Gin, Põhjaka Gin and more. Some of those are very local and sold only in very limited shops and some of them like TOHI is also looking for international recognition. Like everywhere, we see the growth of small distilleries but as the market is very saturated, it is very hard for new comers to put their name out into the market.
What makes Estonian Gin different / special?
Tarvo: It is very hard to find one particular characteristic that makes Estonian gins different. I think in todays gin world all the gins are taking something from their homeland and something from the gin history and original heritage. One thing which maybe a characteristic of Estonian gins, is that we use rye spirit as a base spirit. Estonia is traditionally a rye country and this is also a reason why the most used base spirit is made from rye. Of course there are brands who are concentrating to use only local botanicals and because of that they are kind of ‘’nordic’’ type of gins. We have lot of untouched nature from where you can find a lot of different botanicals. And then there are some brands who are using more international approach and using some local botanicals together with the herbs around the globe. I think the most important aspect, is that there are new gins what have a strong story, strong product and a potential to stay on the market. Those brands can have success. But from the other side, if you make your gin in old manor in a small distillery and your goal is to sell your product to your visitors, then this is also fine.
What's next for the gin industry in Estonia?
Tarvo: For sure we will see some new distilleries and brands coming to the market. I have recognised that many distilleries have started to do a distillery tours after we started with tours in 2019. To use the growing interest to the local spirits can help brand to become stronger and more popular. I hope that more and more the brands and distilleries are concentrating on the quality of the liquid and not so much just making it. I believe that existing brands will enlarge their product portfolio. Like we have plans to start producing barrel aged gins or to bring a low ABV liquid to the market. And, in longer term I want to believe that we will have some Estonian gins which will be known internationally and available over the globe as a perfect examples of gins ‘’Made in Estonia’'.
What is Estonia's history with spirits and distilling?
Tarvo: There is a lot of information to be found on Estonian Distilling on the Moe website. Moe is where we buy our rye base spirit. They have a fascinating timeline on their page that begins from 1485. It states on the timeline, "In Estonia. the first written record of alcohol goes back to 1485, when the Reval Great Guild of wine producers issued an order prohibiting the residents of suburban areas to sell spirits in town. This year officially marks the beginning of alcohol production in Estonia. Only members of the Great Guild, merchants, and their widows had the right to produce alcohol for sale." If you want to find out more about Estonian Distilling you can look at the Moe History page here.
How has the Estonian Gin industry developed in recent years?
Tarvo: The Estonian Gin industry has been developing quite nicely during the last 6-7 years. We have seen like everywhere else in the world, openings of new distilleries and new gins coming to the market. Liviko, Estonian oldest and biggest alcohol producer has launched their so called ‘’craft gin’’ into the market under the brand Crafters. Metsis and Lahhentagge gins are some of the first craft gin brands in Estonia. Junimperium Distillery opened the doors in spring 2019 and become a most awarded artisan gin distillery in Estonia within very short time. There are also some new gin brands in the market like TOHI, Suti Gin, Põhjaka Gin and more. Some of those are very local and sold only in very limited shops and some of them like TOHI is also looking for international recognition. Like everywhere, we see the growth of small distilleries but as the market is very saturated, it is very hard for new comers to put their name out into the market.
What makes Estonian Gin different / special?
Tarvo: It is very hard to find one particular characteristic that makes Estonian gins different. I think in todays gin world all the gins are taking something from their homeland and something from the gin history and original heritage. One thing which maybe a characteristic of Estonian gins, is that we use rye spirit as a base spirit. Estonia is traditionally a rye country and this is also a reason why the most used base spirit is made from rye. Of course there are brands who are concentrating to use only local botanicals and because of that they are kind of ‘’nordic’’ type of gins. We have lot of untouched nature from where you can find a lot of different botanicals. And then there are some brands who are using more international approach and using some local botanicals together with the herbs around the globe. I think the most important aspect, is that there are new gins what have a strong story, strong product and a potential to stay on the market. Those brands can have success. But from the other side, if you make your gin in old manor in a small distillery and your goal is to sell your product to your visitors, then this is also fine.
What's next for the gin industry in Estonia?
Tarvo: For sure we will see some new distilleries and brands coming to the market. I have recognised that many distilleries have started to do a distillery tours after we started with tours in 2019. To use the growing interest to the local spirits can help brand to become stronger and more popular. I hope that more and more the brands and distilleries are concentrating on the quality of the liquid and not so much just making it. I believe that existing brands will enlarge their product portfolio. Like we have plans to start producing barrel aged gins or to bring a low ABV liquid to the market. And, in longer term I want to believe that we will have some Estonian gins which will be known internationally and available over the globe as a perfect examples of gins ‘’Made in Estonia’'.
