Koskenkorva Viina (also known simply asKoskenkorva orKossu) is a traditional clear spirit drink (38%) inFinland, produced byAnora Group at the Koskenkorva distillery inIlmajoki and bottled inRajamäki,Nurmijärvi.[1]
The grain (barley) alcohol is produced using 200-stepcontinuous distillation designed to produce high-purity industrialethanol. The drink is produced by diluting this alcohol with spring water and a very small amount ofsugar. Although commonly called avodka in English, in Finland it is not called a "vodka", butviina (seebrännvin), although the word "vodka" is found in the label due to EU regulations.Koskenkorva Vodka is the same beverage (but with 40% or 60% alcohol instead of the traditional 38%) without the added sugar, intended for foreign markets, but sold in Finland also.[2]
Besides the standard 38% near-unflavored there are several variants of Koskenkorva on the market, most notably the famousSalmiakki Koskenkorva, better known as Salmiakkikossu or Salmari, which issalmiakki-flavored. Another variant is the same Koskenkorva withrye instead of barley, marketed under the same concept as Koskenkorva Viina Ruis. There also exists avanilla variant calledVanilja Koskenkorva.Finlandia Vodka, a vodka classified as "imported premium", is the same as Koskenkorva 40%, except that sugar is not added. Altia sold this brand, intended for foreign markets, to the AmericanBrown-Forman Corporation, but remains the sole producer of Finlandia Vodka at least until 2017.
Koskenkorva is typically enjoyed cold, but can be also mixed withcola (commonly referred to asKossukola),carbonated water (Kossuvissy), orange juice ("screwdriver"), energy drink (Kossubattery), or certain (hard) salty liquorice candies. The latter is often made by mixing groundtyrkisk peber candies with the drink, though other similar candies are also used, and there exists a premade salmiakkimixer for this particular purpose.[3] A similar way of enjoyingkossu is by mixing groundFisherman's Friend lozenges to the drink; the resulting cocktail is known as "Fisu" (Helsinki slang for "fish").
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