Finland’s iconic drink, Lonkero, takes center stage at Scotland’s premier arts festival. Hartwall Original, also known as ‘Lonkero’ is a ready to drink gin, with refreshing grapefruit. In the Finnish state retail monopoly alcohol store Alko, since 2007 Hartwall Original Long Drink has been the most popular product sold by the store, outselling Koskenkorva, one of the oldest Finnish spirits. These were the Gin Long Drink (gin with grapefruit) and the Brandy Long Drink (brandy with Pommac), then co-manufactured with Hartwall. Alko created two long drinks which were pre-mixed and bottled, ready-to-consume.
Lonkero brings Long Finnish refreshment to Summerhall’s Fringe
She first encountered the drink through friends and later tried a version made by a British startup, Lonkero Drinks. Elle Hunt, writing for The Guardian, said the drink’s appeal emerged without fanfare or internet hype. So we are encouraging all of our wonderful customers and artists across the Fringe and beyond to help us by enjoying Lonkero, responsibly of course.” From supporting artists and performers to transforming one of the city’s most loved venues, this is more than a brand activation – it’s a love letter to community and creativity.”
With its “refreshingly not beer” positioning, Lonkero aims to capture market share in the UK’s expanding ready-to-drink category while supporting local arts communities. The collaboration represents a growing trend of international beverage brands supporting arts venues, particularly as independent cultural spaces face ongoing funding challenges. Created in Helsinki for the 1952 Olympics to quickly serve international visitors, the Finnish long drink combines spirits with citrus flavors. • Best served chilled, over ice or straight from the can The name lonkero comes from the English term long drink, per the similar pronunciation to the word long, but more adapted to the Finnish pronunciation, which prompted producers to use the word as part of their marketing.
- Finnish long drink Lonkero has found itself a prominent spot at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, with a month-long takeover of Summerhall’s courtyard.
- Alko created two long drinks which were pre-mixed and bottled, ready-to-consume.
- In Finland, lonkero is available in stores and restaurants, where it can be on draught, bottle or can.
- Lonkero is a Finnish word given to what are known as ‘long drinks’.
- Very much like a gin and tonic.
- In the Finnish state retail monopoly alcohol store Alko, since 2007 Hartwall Original Long Drink has been the most popular product sold by the store, outselling Koskenkorva, one of the oldest Finnish spirits.
The recognition comes as Lonkero begins appearing on draught in select venues in Britain, where it is served by the pint. According to the official tasting notes, Lonkero offers a “crisp and zingy” profile with “light and zesty” characteristics, served ice-topped with grapefruit. Lonkero has pledged $1,245 (£1,000) to kick off Summerhall’s fundraiser and will donate 31 cents (25p) from every pint sold to support the venue’s year-round arts programming.
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Working with Mark Littler Hannah has amassed a broad range of whiskey knowledge and specializes in helping consumers make education driven cask investments. She has been working in the secondary whiskey market since 2019 and joined The Whiskey Wash team when Mark Littler took over as Editor in Chief. Hannah Thompson is a whiskey educator who helps consumers understand everything they need to know to make an informed decision about whiskey investment. The drink is now available across the UK in six-packs for $22.40 (£17.99) and twelve-packs for $37.35 (£29.99). At 4.7% ABV, it positions itself as a lighter alternative to beer or traditional spirits.
Finland once had prohibition which was relaxed in 1932 with the creation of state company called Alko, where you could buy alcohol. Did you know this drink dates back to the 1952 Olympic Games in Helsinki? Helsinki Times does not provide advice on the legality of online gambling in your area and accepts no responsibility for your use of this site or its content. Before using any information on this website, including online casinos or gambling services, please ensure you verify and comply with local laws and regulations. The long drink remains widely popular in Finland and has also found a foothold in the United States in recent years, where various companies have introduced canned versions. In addition to Norwich, Lonkero is also sold in pubs in London, Edinburgh, Brighton and several other British cities.
Event: Craft Beer Festival at Edinburgh Biscuit Factory 26-28th May
There is also a company called Lonkero Drinks in Norwich, UK, whose long drinks are sold in Norwich, Edinburgh, Brighton and London. Fermented lonkero beverages are sold in ordinary grocery stores under various names like "gin lonkero" or "grapefruit lonkero". The same composition can be achieved by diluting a 10% cider into 5% with water and gin and grapefruit flavors, and the 5.5% product can be sold in grocery stores. It is a crisp & zingy drink combining gin, grapefruit, soda, lime, pine & botanicals. The version sold in the UK mirrors the classic Finnish recipe, a slightly sweet, citrus-infused drink with a gin base.
Hartwall Original Long Drink – Gin & Orange 5.5% 330ml
Lonkero represents a unique category in the spirits world. The brand has also partnered with Finland’s Red Nose Company, who are performing their five-star show “Don Quixote” at Assembly Studio Two. The brand has partnered with Edinburgh-based artist Ross Blair of TrenchOne Industries to create courtyard-wide installations that blend Finnish culture with Scottish creativity. Throughout August 2025, Lonkero, Finland’s iconic long drink recently named The Guardian’s “Drink of Summer 2025,” is transforming Summerhall’s courtyard into an immersive Nordic experience. Known for its clean, balanced taste and ready-to-drink convenience, it has become a staple across the Nordics.
One was a brandy and fruit flavour and the second one was made with gin and grapefruit. The drink, typically a mix of gin and grapefruit soda, was first created for the 1952 Helsinki Olympics to help bars serve large numbers of visitors quickly. Lonkero, a Finnish longdrink consisting of gin and grapefruit lemonade. Kicking off Summerhall’s fundraiser with a £1,000 donation, the brand will also donate 25p to Summerhall for every pint of Lonkero served throughout the Fringe, supporting the venue’s programme of independent arts and performance.
- At 4.7% ABV, it positions itself as a lighter alternative to beer or traditional spirits.
- The recognition comes as Lonkero begins appearing on draught in select venues in Britain, where it is served by the pint.
- In the capital, Lonkero is currently on draught at Summerhall, Teuchters Landing and Edinburgh Street Food, and is available in off-licences in six- and twelve-packs.
- She first encountered the drink through friends and later tried a version made by a British startup, Lonkero Drinks.
- The same composition can be achieved by diluting a 10% cider into 5% with water and gin and grapefruit flavors, and the 5.5% product can be sold in grocery stores.
Lonkero is a Finnish word given to what are known as ‘long drinks’. His experience led him to co-launch the brand in the UK alongside Paige Gibbons, who said the drink has been performing “surprisingly lonkero casino review well” in Norwich. Joe Harris, co-founder of the company, became familiar with the drink while working in Helsinki. Working with local artist Ross Blair of TrenchOne Industries, Lonkero has installed an ‘immersive Finnish experience’ in the space, where festival-goers can enjoy pint-sized serves of the ‘crisp and zingy’ Nordic speciality.
Long drinks in the Finnish style have been commercially produced and marketed in other nations, including Japan, China, Taiwan and the United States. The original mixed gin beverages were only sold at Alko due to higher alcohol content (5.5% alc/vol) and the fact that only Alko was allowed to sell non-fermented alcohol until 2018 when the alcohol legislation was changed. The 2000s saw the reintroduction of the brandy long drink, now manufactured by Laitilan Wirvoitusjuomatehdas. After joining the EU the government was no longer allowed to control the production, and this led to the birth of several long drink brands by different companies. Very much like a gin and tonic.
Lightly sparkling and refreshingly bitter-sweet, it’s a go-to drink for relaxed occasions. Until Finland joined the European Union in 1995, the production of long drink was strictly controlled by the government. In Finland, lonkero is available in stores and restaurants, where it can be on draught, bottle or can.