Mikko Mykkänen distills whiskey for work, but many recognize him from Aki Kaurismäki’s films

It is hot and a sunny day after the last winter’s spring, but Mikko Mykkänen wants to present a cool and dark basement.

“There are about 100,000 liters of whiskey here, a little less.”

Mykkänen founded the Helsinki Distilling Company with his friends in 2013. It happened at the same time when, like the rest of the world, Finland was getting excited about small-brewery beers and strong alcoholic drinks from new artisanal distilleries.

However, whiskey takes years to mature, so both the master distiller Mykkänen and his company, as well as the Kyrö Distillery Company from Isokyrö, first entered the market as gin producers.

And in a rush they did come. Finnish gin made room for itself on the glass shelves of bars in Finland and selectively elsewhere.

Success in various competitions brought attention, and now about 20 employees work with master distiller Mykkänen in the Teurastamo area of ​​Helsinki.

Before Mykkänen started as a distillery entrepreneur, he literally turned off the lights at his previous workplace: he was the last manager in the office building called the “DDR colossus” of the employment and economic office service center on Helsinki’s Haapanimenkatu.

“There was such a moment that it was good to do other things if you want to have another career.”

After studying At the University of Helsinki and in Estonia and Scotland, Mykkänen was, according to his words, “qualified for everything and nothing” as a master of philosophy. He applied for a job at the Malmi employment office, and in the interview he was asked where he sees himself “in the medium term, within 3-5 years”.

“I replied that I run an office and have tripled my salary. Three years passed, and this had come true.”

Mykkänen says that he found customer work especially important in employment and business offices. If turning alcohol from a hobby into a job hadn’t appealed, he might have stayed to continue his advanced career in Helsinki and Vantaa. Admittedly, serving customers had been allowed to take a backseat, when most of my own work was “budget planning” and personnel management.

“I had a position. I would be there now as a service director or in another similar position. So to speak, I could have eaten a lifetime’s worth of cake there if I wanted.”

INTERESTING side path in Mykkänen’s life are acting jobs. Not enough to support the father of three children, but the small supporting roles have become a fun hobby. Seven years ago, Mykkänen was seen Aki Kaurismäki in the movie I hope beyondand since then he has been in seven other TV series or movies.

“It’s a nice escape to be under the command of others, realizing someone else’s vision.”

The roles are mostly “sorry villains”, Mykkänen describes. Aki Kaurismäki in last fall’s successful film Dead leaves Mykkänen played a shop security guard who informs Alma Pöystin presented by Ansa stealing throwaway food.

According to the Los Angeles Times it was in the role of Mykkänen that Kaurismäki’s ability to direct actors culminated, whose gaze directions and presence in precisely constructed images are the trademark of all the director’s films.

“So Aki was praised, not me. His films also feature remarkably few takes. Much less than for example Dome Karukoski way to take.”

TRANSITION from an official career to become a whiskey entrepreneur was when Mykkänen turned 40. Crisis or not, it became a turning point in his life.

And we are at a turning point again. Mykkänen is starting a new project.

“The research plan is ready. I’m going to do a doctoral dissertation.”

Gradu was born from Estonian straw roofs. Now Mykkänen is drawing from a familiar barrel: in the next few years, the University of Helsinki’s Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry will receive a dissertation on the use of domestic raw materials in the production of alcoholic beverages to review.

As a distillery entrepreneur, Mykkänen is not about to quit, on the contrary, he talks about the company as “his own child”.

“At the same time, I know that I won’t be running this company in 20 years. The dissertation is also related to the idea that at some point I can pass on my own expertise both in educational institutions and in the company,” he says.

“I have received a lot from society in the form of subsidies and education. It’s probably reasonable, if someone benefits from my little knowledge, I share it with others.”

In addition, Mykkänen has one dream, an acting career. He has a German agent, to whom Mykkänen has instructed to look for a role in a German police series.

“Any role will do.”