Finnish Long Drink

This Finnish long drink recipe mixes gin, grapefruit soda, and a splash of cranberry into Finland’s famous fizzy cocktail. It takes 3 minutes and one glass!

Here’s a unique highball cocktail that I highly recommend giving a try: the Finnish Long Drink! This concoction of gin and grapefruit soda was invented in Finland in the 1950’s, and now you can find it pretty much everywhere.

Why not make it homemade? As a cocktail expert I really love any type of long drink (aka highball cocktail), and this one is so fizzy, sweet tart and refreshing.

What is a Long Drink?

A long drink is another name for a highball: a family of cocktails with a larger percentage of mixer than alcohol, usually a fruit juice or soda water. Typically they’re served over ice and often in a tall highball glass. Some famous long drinks? The Tom Collins, Long Island Iced Tea, or Screwdriver.

The Story Behind the Finnish Long Drink

The Finnish long drink (aka lonkero) is a highball cocktail served in Finland, a combination of gin and usually grapefruit soda. It was invented at the 1952 Summer Olympic Games in Finland: a stroke of genius by the government to tackle the problem of serving drinks to a massive crowd. It caught on and today is served all over Finland, often on tap at restaurants.

Today you can find a canned cocktail in the US called “The Finnish Long Drink.” It’s a company was created by former Finnish exchange students who wanted to bring the signature drink to the America.

Ingredients in a Long Drink

Here’s what you need for this recipe I made inspired by the Finnish long drink concept:

Gin: The traditional spirit for lonkero. Use a dry style or a smooth mixing gin; I like Malfy Originale for mixed drinks.
Grapefruit soda: The classic mixer for a Finnish long drink. You should be able to find a grapefruit soda at your local grocery store, but if not you can opt for a lime soda. The grapefruit does lend a nice citrus balance, so it’s what I like using.
Lemon juice: Freshly squeezed, always. Unsweetened cranberry juice (optional): My secret ingredient! It adds a nice color and a tart flavor. I like to use 100% cranberry juice, since “cranberry juice cocktail” has added sugar and a more muted color.

How To Make A Long Drink

Long drinks are some of the easiest cocktails to make: because most of them you can build in the glass! Instead of dirtying a cocktail shaker or mixing glass, simply pour each ingredient into the glass and enjoy. Here’s how to make a Finnish long drink:

Add 2 ounces gin and ½ ounce each lemon juice and unsweetened cranberry juice to an ice-filled highball glass.
Top with 4 ounces grapefruit soda. Enjoy!

If you’d like a cocktail bar look, serve the drink with clear ice: it’s crystal clear ice you can make at home and cut into organic shapes. It makes a highball, in my opinion!

What Does a Long Drink Taste Like?

A long drink tastes bubbly, citrusy, and lightly sweet, with some juniper notes from the gin. It’s sweeter and more fruity than a Gin and Tonic and more nuanced than a Vodka Soda.

Variations To Try

Skip the cranberry for a classic Finnish-style lonkero: just gin, grapefruit soda, and a squeeze of lemon.
Try a lime soda if you can’t find grapefruit (cranberry-lime is a popular flavor in Finland)
Lighten it up: Reader Pam mixes her long drinks with Fresca, a zero-sugar grapefruit soda, for a lower-calorie spin.
Swap the spirit: Try vodka for a mild long drink, or tequila for something like a Paloma.