The city was expecting a flood of visitors from around the world, and they needed a pre-mixed, easy-to-serve, refreshing drink to handle the crowds efficiently. With this method, you’ll create a drink so crisp and clean it will instantly become your go-to for warm days, backyard gatherings, or any time you need a genuinely refreshing escape. Lightly sparkling and refreshingly bitter-sweet, it’s a go-to drink for relaxed occasions. There is also a company called Lonkero Drinks in Norwich, UK, whose long drinks are sold in Norwich, Edinburgh, Brighton and London. After joining the EU the government was no longer allowed to control the production, and this led to the birth of several long drink brands by different companies.
- Lightly sparkling, crisp and refreshing.
- Fermented lonkero beverages are sold in ordinary grocery stores under various names like “gin lonkero” or “grapefruit lonkero”.
- You want the bitterness and effervescence of grapefruit, not the heavy sweetness of a soft drink.
- Long drinks in the Finnish style have been commercially produced and marketed in other nations, including Japan, China, Taiwan and the United States.
- Please note this product may only be purchased by people 18 years and over in the UK.
How Vinexposium plans to shape the drinks trade’s future
I’d heard whispers about this legendary “long drink,” but the canned versions I’d tried back home just tasted like generic, sugary soda. lonkero casino no deposit bonus Please note this product may only be purchased by people 18 years and over in the UK. The name lonkero comes from the English term long drink, per the similar pronunciation to the word long, but more adapted to the Finnish pronunciation, which prompted producers to use the word as part of their marketing. Long drinks in the Finnish style have been commercially produced and marketed in other nations, including Japan, China, Taiwan and the United States. Until Finland joined the European Union in 1995, the production of long drink was strictly controlled by the government.
Authentic Finnish Long Drink (Lonkero)
- The result was a simple, yet brilliant, combination of Finnish gin and grapefruit soda.
- With this method, you’ll create a drink so crisp and clean it will instantly become your go-to for warm days, backyard gatherings, or any time you need a genuinely refreshing escape.
- The city was expecting a flood of visitors from around the world, and they needed a pre-mixed, easy-to-serve, refreshing drink to handle the crowds efficiently.
- This one simple switch is the difference between a forgettable mixed drink and an authentic Lonkero that tastes like a Finnish summer.
- The ‘full-frontal Finnish experience’ is designed for festival-goers, summer garden parties, and those who want a ‘refreshing change from the norm’.
- The drink was designed to be temporary, just for the games, but the Finns fell in love with it.
An authentic Lonkero should be crisp, dry, and refreshing with a distinct juniper bite from the gin balanced by the slightly bitter, citrusy notes of grapefruit soda. The key is using a crisp, dry grapefruit soda, not a sweet juice or a sugary soft drink. The host country introduced a fast-to-serve gin-based drink with grapefruit and soda water to keep the visitors entertained.
Can I use a different type of gin for Lonkero?
They provide the necessary juniper-forward, botanical crispness that defines the drink. We’re not just mixing gin and soda; we’re crafting a perfectly balanced, invigorating cocktail that respects its heritage. It was crisp, subtly bitter, and unbelievably refreshing.
My Secrets to the Ultimate Finnish Long Drink
Lightly sparkling, crisp and refreshing. The demand for Finnish long drinks has recently increased among consumers and investors. The ‘full-frontal Finnish experience’ is designed for festival-goers, summer garden parties, and those who want a ‘refreshing change from the norm’. However, avoid heavily sweetened or strongly flavored gins as they will overpower the delicate balance. Over years of making and enjoying Lonkero, I’ve picked up a few techniques that elevate it from a simple mixed drink to a truly exceptional cocktail. Avoid overly floral or sweetened gins.
Hartwall Original Long Drink – Gin & Grapefruit 5.5% 330ml
These were the Gin Long Drink (gin with grapefruit) and the Brandy Long Drink (brandy with Pommac), then co-manufactured with Hartwall. Lonkero is available on the company’s website, with a six-pack retailing for £17.99 (US$23) and a 12-pack for £29.99 (US$39). Our team can’t wait to see the Lonkero word spread across the UK this summer.” “We spotted a gap in the market for consumers who seek a pint-sized, refreshing alternative to beer or cider. Described as ‘the national drink of Finland’, Lonkero translates to ‘long drink’ in Finnish.
The 2000s saw the reintroduction of the brandy long drink, now manufactured by Laitilan Wirvoitusjuomatehdas. As a compromise following the Finnish prohibition (1919–1932), the country was living with a strict state-controlled alcohol policy. In Finland, lonkero is available in stores and restaurants, where it can be on draught, bottle or can.
Fermented lonkero beverages are sold in ordinary grocery stores under various names like "gin lonkero" or "grapefruit lonkero". In the Finnish state retail monopoly alcohol store Alko, since 2007 Hartwall Original Long Drink has been the most popular product sold by the store, outselling Koskenkorva, one of the oldest Finnish spirits. The same composition can be achieved by diluting a 10% cider into 5% with water and gin and grapefruit flavors, and the 5.5% product can be sold in grocery stores. England-based startup Lonkero Drinks has launched a Finland-inspired long drink made with gin, grapefruit and botanicals. You want the bitterness and effervescence of grapefruit, not the heavy sweetness of a soft drink.
Please note that nutrition information is an estimate and can vary based on the specific ingredients used, especially the sugar content of your chosen grapefruit soda. For the grapefruit soda, seek out one that is more “soda” than “juice.” Look for brands like Q Mixers, Fever-Tree, or Ting. The result was a simple, yet brilliant, combination of Finnish gin and grapefruit soda.

