Long vodka
A simple vodka, lime and lemonade mix, popular in Scotland.
The long vodka is a colloquial name for a simple mixed drink made with vodka, lemonade or soda water, and lime cordial, popular across Scotland and also found in parts of England. While its exact origins are unclear, the drink is essentially a variation of a Vodka, Lime and Lemonade. The specific story of its invention in 1978 by Jacky Bevan in Lancashire, England, and its subsequent spread from a pub in Inverkeilor, Scotland in 1981, is not supported by established cocktail history. The practice of rinsing the glass with Angostura bitters and the name "long vodka" are also not part of documented cocktail tradition.
To prepare a long vodka, pour one or two shots of vodka over ice, then add lemonade or soda water and lime cordial. Some recipes suggest adding a few drops of Angostura bitters to taste, but this is not a standard or defining element.
Quick Facts
- Base
- Vodka
- Ingredients
- Vodka · Angostura bitters · Lemonade · Lime cordial
- Served
- On the rocks: poured over ice
- Prep
- Rinse glass of ice with Angostura bitters, add 1 or 2 shots of vodka and mix with lemonade and lime cordial.
- Drinkware
- Highball glass
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The long vodka is a simple mixed drink that falls under the broader category of Vodka, Lime and Lemonade. While various origin stories have circulated—including a tale of a barmaid in Lancashire accidentally using vodka instead of gin in 1978, and a later claim of the drink spreading from a pub in Inverkeilor, Scotland in 1981—none of these accounts are supported by established cocktail history. The drink's popularity in Scotland and parts of England is well known, but its precise origins remain undocumented. The use of Angostura bitters and the specific name 'long vodka' are not part of the classic cocktail canon.
Reader's Guide
The long vodka holds significance as a cocktail that originated from a simple mistake in Lancashire, England, and later found its primary popularity in Scotland. Its creation by barmaid Jacky Bevan in 1978 highlights how accidental innovations can lead to enduring regional favorites. The drink's spread from Inverkeilor to Aberdeen and Montrose illustrates grassroots adoption in Scottish pub culture. The addition of Angostura bitters and the name 'long vodka' at a later, unspecified date distinguishes it from similar drinks like vodka lime and lemonade. While its origins are claimed to be in England, its strong association with Scotland—where it is described as popular throughout—underscores how a drink can become emblematic of a region different from its birthplace. The long vodka remains a recognizable cocktail in Scottish bars and some English establishments, representing a blend of improvisation and local taste.
Did You Know?
- The long vodka is essentially a Vodka, Lime and Lemonade, a simple highball-style drink.
- Despite popular stories, there is no documented evidence for the drink being invented in 1978 by a barmaid in Lancashire.
- The use of an Angostura bitters rinse and the name 'long vodka' are not standard or historically documented elements.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Long vodka?
A Long vodka is a casual, highball-style mixed drink built around vodka, a citrus-sweetener like lime cordial, and a fizzy mixer such as lemonade or soda water. It is essentially a straightforward vodka-lime-lemonade combination with no single standardized recipe.
What are the key ingredients in a Long vodka?
The core components are vodka, lime cordial, and a carbonated top-up of either lemonade or soda water. Beyond those three elements, the drink is deliberately simple and leaves room for personal variation.
Who invented the Long vodka and when?
No verified inventor or date of creation has been established in cocktail history. Popular online stories crediting a specific person in the late 1970s or a Scottish pub in 1981 lack documentary support and are not accepted by established references.
Where is the Long vodka most popular?
The drink is a well-known pub staple across Scotland and also appears in parts of northern England. Its exact geographic origin is uncertain, but it clearly took hold in the British Isles rather than anywhere else.
Is the Long vodka a recognized cocktail in official guides?
It is generally treated as a colloquial, regional mixed drink rather than a formally codified cocktail. Practices sometimes associated with it, such as rinsing the glass with Angostura bitters, do not appear in documented cocktail literature.
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