The Finnish Long Drink is the best gin cocktail you’ve probably never heard of

Some of the most basic types of cocktails are highball drinks, popular the world over, consisting of a spirit and a mixer. You’ll also find these referred to as mixed drinks or long drinks, but there’s one type of long drink that’s rather special, and it’s a cocktail you may never have heard of before: the Finnish Long Drink. This simple cocktail has a history dating back 70 years and is popular not only in its homeland of Finland but beyond, bringing together gin with refreshing citrus.

This simple drink is dead easy to make at home, and it has found popularity in home bars across Scandinavia since its invention during a global sporting event, of all things. Try the recipe out for yourself and find out why it has stuck around.

Traditional Finnish Long Drink recipe

If you want to try this special taste of Finland for yourself, you don’t have to head all the way to Helsinki (but if you do, you won’t be sorry — it’s an amazing place). No, you can make the Finnish Long Drink in the comfort of your own home, and as a bonus, you really don’t need to have fancy bartender skills to make this refreshing gin-and-citrus cocktail.

Ingredients

• Ice
• 1/2 ounce lemon juice (freshly squeezed is best)
• 2 ounces white grapefruit juice
• 2 ounces gin
• 3 ounces citrus-flavored soda (such as Fresca)
• Club soda
• Citrus fruit for garnish (grapefruit is traditional, but you can also use other fruits like lemon)

Method

1. Fill a highball glass with ice.
2. Add lemon juice, gin, grapefruit juice, and citrus soda.
3. Stir to combine.
4. Top with club soda and lightly stir.
5. Garnish with citrus fruit.

Alternative Finnish Lonkero recipe

There are several renditions of the Finnish Long Drink available out there, but if you’re looking for one that would go well in the colder months, especially the fall, we like this one from A Couple Cooks. It takes on some cranberry, citrus, and a good gin, a combination that never gets old. And you really don’t need to wait — this one is good year-round.

Ingredients

• 2 ounces gin
• 4 ounces grapefruit soda
• 1/2 ounce cranberry juice
• 1/2 ounce lemon juice
• Citrus for garnish

Method

1. In an ice-filled glass, stir the gin, lemon juice, and cranberry juice together.
2. Top with soda and garnish with citrus.

History of the Finnish Long Drink

It all started in 1952 when Finland hosted the Summer Olympics. The masses descended on Helsinki to see the world’s best athletes and brought with them not just a hunger for entertainment and sport, but thirst. It was August, conditions were mild, and fans needed something refreshing. Finland, a relatively small country, needed to efficiently serve a large audience and do so quickly and efficiently.

The government stepped in to commission an official drink. It was to be simple to make, in order to keep up with the sheer number of people who would be ordering the new gin drink. The Finnish Long Drink was born, a fizzy mix of gin and citrus soda. It’s called “lonkero” in its homeland and remains a vastly popular beverage, especially during the milder months. It’s sort of like the northern European version of Ranch Water, a drink that’s simultaneously minimalistic, deeply thirst-quenching, and not overly alcoholic.

Therein lies the beauty of the Finnish Long Drink. It’s got longevity. It’s a low-octane beverage you can sip on all day without losing your functionality. Better still, you can batch up large versions of it when you’re entertaining guests or looking to fill a thermos before adventuring out. And while the Finnish may make it a select way, it’s a drink that can be experimented with and doctored up to your personal liking.

These days, there are canned versions of the Finnish drink. And while those are tasty, you can also make your own at home.

What soda to use for a Finnish Long Drink

Most versions call for some kind of citrus soda, typically grapefruit in flavor. That said, there are many options out there, some better than others. Look to brands like Q Mixers or Fever Tree for high-end soda that really captures the flavor of the fruit. For something a little more playful and nostalgic (and a little sweeter), seek out a can or two of Squirt or even a few bottles of Jarritos.

You can also go the tonic route and flavor it yourself with freshly squeezed grapefruit. Go one step further and play around with a few other additions, like fresh blood orange, a touch of tangerine, or even a splash of apricot liqueur.

What is a Lonkero?

A Lonkero is just the Finnish name for any long drink — so that’s any drink that consists of a spirit and a mixer. That could be the Finnish Long Drink described above, but it could also refer to drinks like a rum and coke or a vodka and orange juice. As in the U.S., people in Finland often drink their spirits with mixers as long drinks, and pre-packaged long drinks in cans or other containers are also popular.

So if you’re ordering at a Finnish bar and you see a type of drink called a Lonkero on the menu, look for more information — because you might end up with a Finnish Long Drink, or you might end up with something else altogether!