My Finnish friend is about to spring a white rye from Finland on me, made by the Helsinki Distilling Company. I’m looking forward to trying it.

Belgrove’s white rye … my first… about a year ago at the 2013 Whisky Fair at the Oak Barrel when I became a convert. It’s still my favourite, not least because Belgrove is Australia’s only rye distillery (Tasmania), but I also have a crush on their sexy self-sufficient production.

Koval, the ‘mericans (Chicago), I tried theirs too (and so much more) at the 2014 Whisky Fair which is when I decided I really did definitely want to drink more of this aromatic and rye-ish, clean-finishing, potently boozy liquor.

They both do attractive bottles too, in my somewhat biased opinion. Koval’s generously round cylinders look like they belong on the shelf of a chemistry lab (this is a compliment: I am a science geek). Belgrove’s, tall and square with handwritten details on its linear black and white label, looks almost medicinal – to be seen in an apothecary maybe, or in the surgically steady hands of an excellent bartender.

Basically, it’s moonshine. Just you and the grain, swimming together in a distillery vat.*

Author Max Watman describes it more delicately: “you’ve got nothing but the distiller’s craft and the agriculture behind it.”

MORE pls!

*technical descriptions will improve, in time, if we’re lucky.

February 2014 update – Sydney is about to get its very own! Archie Rose is going to be making and selling this, and more, at their handsome distillery slash bar, opening just as you realise that summer is pretty much over so you may as well drink more whisky.