Lonkero
Finnish pre-mixed gin and grapefruit soda.
Lonkero is a Finnish ready mixed drink made from gin and grapefruit soda, though other flavors such as cranberry, raspberry, and lime exist. It originated in 1952 when Finland, preparing for the Games of the XV Olympiad in Helsinki, allowed the state alcohol monopoly to introduce pre-mixed long drinks to accommodate foreign visitors. The term is a Finnish adaptation of the English 'long drink,' and the beverage has become a staple in Finnish stores and restaurants, available on draught, in bottles, or cans.
Quick Facts
- Abv
- 5–8.5%
- Proof
- 10°–17°
- Origin
- Finland
- Introduced
- 1952
- Ingredients
- gin and, most commonly, grapefruit soda
- Variants
- cranberry and lime flavour
- Related
- long drink
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
In 1952, Finland was hosting the Games of the XV Olympiad in Helsinki and expected a surge of foreign visitors. Following the end of Finnish prohibition (1919–1932), the country maintained strict state-controlled alcohol policies. To help vendors serve international guests, the state allowed liberalization, and Oy Alkoholiliike Ab (the national alcohol monopoly, whose retail successor is Alko Inc) introduced two pre-mixed bottled long drinks: Gin Long Drink (gin with grapefruit) and Brandy Long Drink (brandy with Pommac), co-manufactured with Hartwall. The brandy version was discontinued in the 1970s, after which 'long drink' in Finland became primarily associated with the gin-and-grapefruit beverage.
Reader's Guide
Lonkero holds a unique place in Finnish culture as a ready-to-drink beverage that emerged from a specific historical moment—the 1952 Helsinki Olympics—and the country's post-prohibition alcohol regulations. Its name, a Finnish adaptation of 'long drink,' coincidentally also means 'tentacle' in Finnish, a double meaning that is purely coincidental but often humorously referenced. The drink's popularity has extended beyond Finland: it is commercially produced and marketed in Japan, China, Taiwan, and the United States, where Miles Teller introduced it. In the UK, Lonkero Drinks in Norwich sells long drinks in several cities. The beverage's significance lies in its role as a symbol of Finnish adaptation to international influences while maintaining a distinct national identity, and its evolution from a state-controlled product to a widely available commercial item reflects broader changes in Finnish alcohol policy and market liberalization.
Did You Know?
- The Finnish word 'lonkero' literally means 'tentacle' in English, but this double meaning is purely coincidental.
- In Estonia, the drink is colloquially called 'longero,' though the Estonian word for tentacle is 'kombits'.
- The original Brandy Long Drink (brandy with Pommac) was discontinued in the 1970s but reintroduced in the 2000s by Laitilan Wirvoitusjuomatehdas.
- Since 2007, Hartwall Original Long Drink has been the most popular product sold at Alko, outselling Koskenkorva.
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