Cocktail Guides
What Is Lonkero? The Finnish Long Drink Explained
Discover what Lonkero is, why the Finnish Long Drink was created for the 1952 Helsinki Olympics, what it contains and how it differs from beer, cider and Gin & Tonic.
Lonkero is Finland’s famous ready-to-drink long drink, best known as a refreshing mix of gin and grapefruit. What started as a practical solution for the 1952 Helsinki Olympics became one of Finland’s most recognisable drinks and eventually gave its name to an entire category of Finnish ready-mixed beverages.
Today, Lonkero is available in many flavours and styles, but the original gin-and-grapefruit version remains the reference point. If you have ever wondered what Lonkero actually is, where it came from or how it differs from beer, cider and other canned cocktails, this guide explains the essentials.
What Is Lonkero?
Lonkero is the Finnish name commonly used for a long drink: a pre-mixed alcoholic beverage that is ready to drink straight from the can or bottle.
The classic version combines gin and grapefruit soda. Hartwall Original Long Drink, the best-known Finnish example, is still produced according to the original recipe developed in 1952.
Over time, the word “lonkero” became a general Finnish term for this style of ready-mixed long drink rather than referring only to one specific product.
What Does “Lonkero” Mean?
In everyday Finnish, lonkero is the familiar name for a long drink.
The term developed from the English expression “long drink”, which originally referred to a longer, diluted alcoholic drink. In Finland, the word gradually became strongly associated with the ready-mixed gin-and-grapefruit style created in the 1950s.
Why Was Lonkero Created?
The original Finnish Long Drink was created for the 1952 Helsinki Summer Olympics.
Helsinki was preparing for a large number of international visitors, and restaurants and bars were concerned that they would not have enough staff to prepare individual cocktails quickly enough.
The solution was simple but innovative: create a cocktail that was already mixed and could be served immediately.
Hartwall developed a gin-based grapefruit long drink for the Olympics, while a brandy-based long drink was also created. The gin-and-grapefruit version proved more popular and remained in production after the Games.
What Is in a Traditional Lonkero?
The classic Finnish Lonkero is based on two main flavour elements:
- Gin
- Grapefruit soda
Hartwall describes its Original Long Drink as a mix of Finnish premium gin and grapefruit soda. The gin contributes juniper and botanical character, while grapefruit provides the drink’s refreshing citrus profile.
The result is lighter and more refreshing than many traditional cocktails, with citrus, gentle bitterness and juniper notes.
Is Lonkero a Cocktail?
Yes, in practical terms Lonkero is a pre-mixed cocktail.
Instead of being prepared by a bartender at the moment of serving, the spirit and mixer are combined before packaging.
This makes Lonkero one of the early examples of the ready-to-drink cocktail concept that has become increasingly popular around the world.
Is Lonkero Beer or Cider?
No. Traditional Lonkero is neither beer nor cider.
Beer is brewed from grains, while cider is fermented primarily from fruit juice, usually apples or pears.
Classic Finnish Lonkero is a spirit-based mixed drink, traditionally made with gin and a grapefruit mixer.
This puts it closer to a ready-to-drink cocktail than to beer or cider.
How Strong Is Lonkero?
Alcohol strength depends on the product.
The classic Hartwall Original Long Drink is commonly sold at 5.5% ABV, although lighter and stronger versions also exist. Stronger variants at around 7.5% ABV and lighter alternatives are also available.
This places standard Lonkero in roughly the same strength range as many beers and ciders, even though the drink itself is made differently.
What Does Lonkero Taste Like?
The original style is crisp, citrusy and slightly bitter, with grapefruit at the centre and gin adding juniper and botanical character.
Compared with a Gin & Tonic, Lonkero is generally fruitier and more grapefruit-led.
It is designed to be easy-drinking, refreshing and ready to serve without any additional ingredients.
What Flavours of Lonkero Are Available?
Gin and grapefruit remains the classic, but modern Finnish long drinks are available in many flavours.
Hartwall has expanded its Original Long Drink range over the years with versions including cranberry, orange, pineapple, lemonade and raspberry, as well as vodka-and-lime variations.
This has helped turn Lonkero from a single drink into a broader ready-to-drink category with fruit, citrus and berry flavours.
How Should You Serve Lonkero?
Lonkero is designed to be served very cold.
The easiest way is straight from a well-chilled can or bottle. You can also pour it into a tall glass over ice for a more cocktail-style presentation.
A simple garnish works particularly well:
- Grapefruit wedge for classic gin & grapefruit
- Lime wedge for lime-based versions
- Orange slice for orange-flavoured long drinks
- Fresh berries for cranberry or raspberry styles
Because the drink is already balanced, there is normally no need to add tonic, soda or syrup.
Lonkero vs Gin & Tonic
Although both drinks can contain gin, they are not the same.
A Gin & Tonic is made by combining gin with tonic water, which brings bitterness from quinine and usually has a relatively dry profile.
Classic Lonkero combines gin with grapefruit soda instead. It is generally more citrus-driven, fruitier and softer in bitterness.
Lonkero is also sold pre-mixed, while a Gin & Tonic is traditionally prepared at the time of serving.
Lonkero vs Ready-to-Drink Cocktails
Lonkero belongs to the broader ready-to-drink, or RTD, category.
RTD drinks include canned cocktails, hard seltzers and other alcoholic beverages that are already mixed before purchase.
What makes Lonkero distinctive is its Finnish history and its particularly strong association with the combination of gin and grapefruit.
Can You Make Lonkero at Home?
Yes. You can make a simple Lonkero-style drink at home using gin and grapefruit soda.
A good starting point is:
- 40–50 ml gin
- 120–150 ml grapefruit soda
- Ice
- Grapefruit wedge
Build the drink over ice in a highball glass and stir gently.
It will not be identical to a commercial Finnish Long Drink, but it gives you the same general combination of gin, grapefruit and refreshing carbonation.
Why Is Lonkero So Popular in Finland?
Part of the appeal is simplicity. Lonkero is cold, refreshing and easy to serve, with no mixing required.
But its popularity is also closely connected to Finnish culture. The drink has been produced since the 1952 Olympics and has become one of the beverages most strongly associated with Finland.
More than seven decades later, the original style is still widely recognised, while new flavours continue to expand the category.
What Is the Difference Between “Long Drink” and “Lonkero”?
Long drink is the broader English term.
Lonkero is the Finnish name that became associated with Finland’s own ready-mixed long drink category.
Outside Finland, products may simply be labelled “Long Drink”, while Finns commonly use the word “Lonkero”.
Is Lonkero Worth Trying?
If you enjoy refreshing, citrus-led drinks, Lonkero is one of the most distinctive Finnish beverages to try.
The classic gin-and-grapefruit version is the best place to start because it represents the original style created in 1952.
From there, modern fruit flavours such as pineapple, cranberry, orange or raspberry offer a different take on the same easy-drinking long drink idea.
Where Can You Buy Finnish Lonkero?
If you want to explore authentic Finnish long drinks, Long Drink Club specialises in Finnish Lonkero and ready-to-drink long drinks.
You can find the classic gin & grapefruit style together with a variety of modern fruit flavours and Finnish long drink variations.
Drinkero focuses on helping you discover cocktails, cocktail ingredients, mixers and bar tools, while Long Drink Club is dedicated specifically to Finnish long drinks.
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