🥃 Minttu
Finnish peppermint liqueur developed by Chymos on an Alko idea; made in Turku; Pernod Ricard announced the sale of the brand to Hartwall in 2024.
Minttu is a Finnish liqueur with a peppery mint flavour, which people in Finland mostly drink as a shot. The brand was developed by the company Chymos on an idea from Alko, the state monopoly, and was then run by Pernod Ricard. In October 2024 the sale of the liqueur to Hartwall was announced. It is a liqueur, not a bitters.
History. According to reference data, in 1986 Alko saw a sample of an American mint liqueur at a fair in Italy and asked Chymos to make a version for the Finnish taste. The strength was first 50%, and in the early 1990s Alko lowered it to 40% for Finland. Production moved to Pernod Ricard in 2009. On 17 October 2024 the company announced the sale of Minttu and of northern local brands made in Turku to Oy Hartwall Ab, an affiliate of Royal Unibrew. Closing was planned no later than the end of June 2025; check the current ownership.
How it is made. The base is spirit, sugar and peppermint flavouring. Production is located in Turku.
Range. Besides the classic Peppermint, there are versions with chocolate, peach and salty liquorice (Black) flavours, and a Twist series with lower alcohol and a brighter taste; the line-up changes over time.
Why this matters to you. Strength depends on the version and market: the Alko catalogue gives 35%, while industry reports say 40%. Read the label. This is a sweet liqueur (EU category 33), not a bitters. WHO reminds us that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption.
Facts
| Year founded | after 1986 (Alko idea, Chymos development); sources give different launch dates |
|---|---|
| Legal basis | Reg. (EU) 2019/787, Annex I: liqueur (cat. 33) |
| EU category | 33 — liqueur |
| Raw material | spirit, sugar, peppermint flavouring |
| Alcohol (% vol.) | 35–40% ABV depending on version and source |
How it connects to Spirits
🥃 Minttu → similar → 🌿 Bitters and bitter spirits → kind of → 🥃 Spirits
Links
- What it contains
- 🧪 Water, 🍷 Ethanol
- What it affects
- 🍷 Alcohol and health, 🍷 Drunk driving
- Part of
- 🍸 Liqueurs
- Related to
- 🌍 Northern Europe
- Similar and different
- 🌿 Bitters and bitter spirits, 🥃 Finlandia, 🥃 Jägermeister, 🥃 Jägermeister, 🥃 Cherry Heering, 🥃 Cherry Heering
Frequently asked questions
Is Minttu a bitters?
No. It is a mint liqueur: sweet, at least 15% ABV under EU rules. Bitters are usually bitter drinks.
What is the strength of Minttu?
It depends on the version and market: the Alko catalogue lists 35%, and industry reports say 40%. Early versions had 50%.
Who owns Minttu?
Pernod Ricard announced in October 2024 the sale of the brand to Oy Hartwall Ab (Royal Unibrew); closing was planned by the end of June 2025. Check current data.
Where did the idea for Minttu come from?
In 1986 Alko saw a sample of an American mint liqueur and asked Chymos to make a Finnish version.
Where is Minttu made?
In Turku, in south-western Finland.
What to read next
- 🍷 Alcohol and health — Alcohol in any drink is harmful in large amounts, and the risks grow with the quantity.
- 🍷 Ethanol — The alcohol formed during fermentation that makes you drunk.
- 🧪 Water — ~87% of milk.
- 🌿 Bitters and bitter spirits — Bitter spirits: bitters from 15% vol.; gentian is a distillate of gentian root; bitter liqueurs are sweeter.
- 🥃 Jägermeister — German herbal liqueur from Wolfenbüttel: 56 herbs, flowers, roots and fruits are steeped in alcohol, and the base then ages for about a year in oak casks.
Similar
🥃 Pisang Ambon · 🥃 Killepitsch · 🥃 Cherry Heering · 🥃 Goldschläger · 🥃 Passoã · 🥃 Glayva
⚠️ Spirit drinks contain alcohol and are for adults only. Alcohol harms health. Do not drink during pregnancy or before driving; check the label for ingredients and possible allergens.
Sources
- Pernod Ricard: Pernod Ricard to sell Minttu and local Nordic brands to Hartwall Oy Ab, an affiliate of Royal Unibrew Group (17.10.2024; Turku production; closing by end of June 2025)
- Drinks Intel: Pernod Ricard divests Minttu to Royal Unibrew's Hartwall (peppermint-flavoured liqueur, 40 % ABV, shot category in Finland)
- Regulation (EU) 2019/787 on spirit drinks (OJ L 130, 17.5.2019), Annex I
- WHO/Europe: No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health (04.01.2023)