The Cultured Traveller - Fourth Anniversary Edition, September-November 2018 Issue 23

SEE LÖYLY When in Helsinki a sauna experience is essential to truly embrace Finnish culture, and Löyly does it with charisma and style. Situated on the edge of the Baltic Sea about 10 minutes’ drive from downtown, the building itself is a work of art: a free-form ‘cloak’ of heat-treated pine by Ville Hara and Anu Puustinen from Avanto architects provides privacy and reduces energy use, while making the most of the sea views. There are three types of wood sauna including a traditional smoke version, as well as a rooftop terrace and an outdoor deck from where you can swim in the sea (you can do a traditional ice plunge in winter if you’re stout of heart!). A spacious restaurant and bar, with an expansive outdoor terrace, serves organic cuisine and sustainably caught fish. The delicious, chunky salmon soup is a must. Co-founded by Finnish actor Jasper Pääkkönen (who you can see in Spike Lee’s latest film BlacKkKlansman), Löyly is both a tranquil place of well-being and a hang-out for Helsinki’s beautiful people. www.loylyhelsinki.fi THE HELSINKI DISTILLING COMPANY With some of the world’s most pristine water as a base ingredient and a commitment to a painstaking, hands-on production process, it is little wonder that The Helsinki Distilling Company is garnering quite an international reputation.

The first distillery to open in the city for over a century, the company is capitalising on the worldwide thirst for premium artisanal gin, whisky and other premium spirits. Its multi-award-winning Helsinki Dry Gin blends pure Finnish water with nine hand-picked botanicals including Arctic lingonberries, while its very popular Helsinki Long Drink combines the same gin with pink grapefruit. The brainchild of friends Mikko Mykkänen, Kai Kilpinen and Séamus Holohan, the distillery is based in the industrial-chic surrounds of a former power plant in Teurastamo.

Visitors can tour the steam punk-style production rooms downstairs before enjoying a tasting session upstairs at Tislaamo, its distillery bar. www.hdco.fi Sep-Nov 2018 The Cultured Traveller 95