Our First Release
Kari Vodka is a premium craft potato vodka made from unloved potatoes sourced from local farmer cooperatives and Winnaz/Hollanda Fairfoods.
Named for Rwanda’s tallest peak, Kari’s smooth and distinctive flavor profile is perfect for sipping or in your favorite cocktail.
“Today’s approach to vodka production has taken a new turn. Producers really pay attention to ingredients and focus on how to retain the character of raw material in vodka. Year on year we see an increase in World Vodka Awards entries for varietal, botanical, and flavoured categories, which confirms that the future of vodka is leaning towards styles with a lot of character and flavour.”
– Veronika Karlova, chair of judges for the World Vodka Awards.
With women at the helm, Virunga Mountain Spirits is a world-class craft distillery that expresses and elevates the spirit of Rwanda.
Kari Vodka, a premium craft potato vodka, is our flagship product. Your experience at our field-to-bottle agro-tourism site will delight your senses and leave you with unforgettable moments.
Virunga Mountain Spirits sits at the foothills of the Virunga Mountains
At 6,800 ft, Africa's highest distillery — surrounded by volcanic peaks, the Twin Lakes of Burera and Ruhondo and the forests that shelter the mountain gorillas. Drop by or book your visit today!
Come for a tour and tasting, stay for a cocktail or a meal. Everything here is Made in Rwanda.
A multi-sensory guided journey through our demonstration farm and production facility — where every stop has a story. Along the way, you'll explore the history of women in alcohol production; Musanze's terroir and the agriculture it makes possible; the unique architecture of our lava-stone building and the craftspeople who built it; where we source our "unloved" potatoes and botanicals; the origin story behind Kari Spirits; and the full production process, from field to bottle. The tour concludes with a guided tasting — Taste the Spirits of Virunga.
Whether you're visiting the distillery or looking for a memorable meal in Musanze, Kinigi Table offers an inspired à la carte and set menu made from our own chef's garden and the area's freshest ingredients. Enjoy our signature craft cocktails. Come for lunch, dinner, or anything in between.
On a clear day the mountain is visible from our distillery site. The name has a famous history, too. In 1967, Dian Fossey established the Karisoke Research Center between Mt. Karisimbi and Mt. Bisoke. The center, called Kari, is where Fossey did most of her fieldwork with the mountain gorillas. The name honors her important legacy.
