Korvauspiirit
Korvauspiirit, or "compensation spirits," refer to a category of Finnish alcoholic beverages that emerged in the early 20th century as a response to the national prohibition on alcohol, known as the *suurlaki* (Great Ban). During the prohibition era (1919–1932), the production, sale, and consumption of traditional spirits like vodka and whiskey were illegal. In its place, a variety of homemade or industrially produced substitutes were developed, often using alternative ingredients or methods to evade detection.
These beverages were typically weaker in alcohol content than their prohibited counterparts, ranging from about 15%
After the repeal of prohibition in 1932, the production of Korvauspiirit declined as legal spirits became widely
Examples of Korvauspiirit include *herkku* (a sweet, often berry-flavored spirit), *karpalo* (cranberry-based drinks), and *kastanja* (chestnut-flavored