Finland has a gift for the world that most people outside the Nordic region have never properly encountered. The long drink, known locally as lonkero, is one of the country’s most beloved beverages and carries a story that stretches back decades. Whether you are discovering it for the first time or simply want to understand what separates a great long drink from a forgettable one, this guide covers everything worth knowing about the Finnish original. And if you want to go beyond reading and actually get hands-on, join our Helsinki Long Drink Lab workshop, where you can craft your own long drink using real Finnish spirits.

The Finnish origins of the long drink

The story of the Finnish long drink begins in 1952, when Helsinki hosted the Summer Olympics. Finland needed a fast, practical solution for serving large numbers of international guests who expected refreshing mixed drinks, but the country’s bar infrastructure at the time was not equipped to handle cocktail service at scale. The answer was a pre-mixed gin-and-grapefruit soda, bottled and ready to serve, that could be served quickly and satisfy a crowd.

The drink became an instant success, not just as a logistical solution but as a genuine crowd favourite. Finns took to it immediately, and it never disappeared after the Games ended. The Finnish long drink became woven into the national drinking culture, sold in supermarkets, bars, and festival grounds across the country for generations. The word lonkero itself is colloquial Finnish slang that stuck, and today it is the term any local will use without a second thought.

This origin story matters because it explains why the long drink occupies such a unique cultural position. It was not invented by a marketing team or imported from abroad. It was born from practical Finnish ingenuity during a moment of national pride, and that authenticity has kept it relevant ever since.

What actually defines a long drink?

At its core, a long drink is a mixed drink that combines a base spirit with a longer, typically carbonated mixer. The “long” refers to the volume and the drinking experience: a drink served in a tall glass with plenty of liquid, designed to be refreshing and easy to drink over time. In the Finnish tradition, the classic combination is gin paired with grapefruit soda, but the category has expanded considerably.

What separates a long drink from a cocktail is largely one of format and intent. Cocktails are typically crafted to order, often spirit-forward, and served in smaller volumes. A long drink prioritises refreshment, balance, and drinkability. Carbonation plays an active role in the flavour profile, lifting botanical notes and creating a lighter, more approachable experience.

In Finland, the category is also defined by a specific alcohol content range, typically around 5.5% ABV, which places it firmly in the territory of sessionable drinks. This makes lonkero a practical choice for social occasions where people want flavour and quality without the intensity of a full cocktail. The format is also highly compatible with canned packaging, which has made it one of the most portable and accessible premium drink formats available.

Explore our Helsinki Long Drink range to see how the traditional format translates into a modern premium product across multiple flavour profiles.

Why the long drink endures in Nordic drinking culture?

Few beverages manage to survive as cultural touchstones across generations, but lonkero has done exactly that. Part of its staying power comes from its versatility. It fits equally well at a midsummer barbecue, a Helsinki terrace bar, a festival, or a casual evening at home. The drink does not demand a particular setting or occasion, which gives it a kind of democratic appeal that more formal beverages rarely achieve.

Nordic drinking culture also has a strong appreciation for quality ingredients and honest flavours. The long drink aligns well with these values because it is transparent in its construction. You know what you are drinking, the flavours are clear and direct, and the quality of the base spirit is immediately noticeable. In a culture that values authenticity and straightforwardness, that transparency carries real weight.

There is also a social dimension worth noting. The long drink is a communal beverage in Finland. It is the drink you share at outdoor events, pass around at gatherings, and reach for when you want something that works for everyone. That social function has embedded it deeply into Finnish life in a way that more niche or complex drinks simply cannot replicate.

Craft long drinks and the modern spirits renaissance

The global craft spirits movement has brought renewed attention to the long drink category, particularly in Finland. Where the traditional market was dominated by a handful of large producers, the past decade has seen small-batch distilleries bring genuine artisanal craftsmanship to the format. This shift has elevated the category considerably, introducing consumers to the craft spirits Finland has to offer at a level of quality that was previously unavailable in a ready-to-drink format.

The key difference in craft long drinks lies in the base spirit. When a distillery uses its own hand-distilled gin or vodka rather than a neutral industrial spirit, the flavour profile changes entirely. Botanical complexity, distillation character, and ingredient provenance all come through in the finished drink. A craft long drink made with a premium gin carries the gin’s personality into every sip, rather than simply delivering sweetness and carbonation.

This is the philosophy behind the Helsinki Long Drink range. Each variant uses our own hand-distilled Helsinki Dry Gin or Helsinki Dry Vodka as its base, meaning the spirit quality is not an afterthought but the foundation of the entire product. Flavour combinations like Gin and Lingonberry draw directly on Finnish nature, while Gin and Yuzu or Vodka and Lime Jalapeño reflect a more contemporary, globally influenced palate.

If you want to understand this craft approach from the inside, our Helsinki Long Drink Lab workshop gives you hands-on experience mixing your own long drinks using our spirits, guided by people who know the process deeply. It is available for groups of six or more, runs for approximately 1.5 hours, and is priced at 25 euros per person as an introductory offer.

What makes a quality long drink stand out?

Evaluating a long drink comes down to a few clear factors. The first is the base spirit. A quality long drink should have a spirit you can actually taste, not something that disappears behind sweetness and bubbles. The spirit’s character should carry through the mixer and define the drink’s personality. If you cannot identify the spirit in the flavour, it is likely that the spirit quality is not where it should be.

The second factor is ingredient quality and balance. A well-made long drink achieves harmony between its components. The mixer should complement the spirit rather than overpower it, and natural fruit or botanical flavours should feel genuine rather than synthetic. The carbonation level matters too: enough to lift the drink and add freshness, but not so aggressive that it overwhelms the flavour.

• Spirit quality: The base spirit should be hand-distilled and flavourful enough to carry the drink.
• Natural ingredients: Real fruit juice, genuine botanicals, and no artificial flavour shortcuts.
• Balance: Sweetness, acidity, and bitterness working together rather than competing.
• Carbonation: Present enough to refresh, controlled enough to let flavour through.
• ABV: Around 5.5% places it in the sessionable range without sacrificing character.

The third factor is provenance and honesty. Knowing where the spirits come from, how they are made, and what ingredients are used gives a long drink credibility. This is where craft producers have a clear advantage: the story behind the drink is genuine, traceable, and adds meaning to the experience.

At The Helsinki Distilling Company, we built our Helsinki Long Drink range around exactly these standards, using our own award-winning spirits and real ingredients to create a premium lonkero that reflects what this Finnish original deserves to be. Whether you want to taste the range, explore the craft behind it, or join a Long Drink Lab workshop and create your own, we would love to have you experience it firsthand. You are also welcome to get in touch with us directly if you have questions or want to arrange something for a group.