The Only Canned Cocktail I Really Love Is From Finland
When it comes to canned cocktails, I believe the simpler the better. Just how a draft beer will always taste superior to one in a can, a cocktail is always better when it’s mixed in the moment. Other than beer, the Finnish Long Drink is one of the only beverages I’ll drink from a can. It was actually made for it.
You won’t see it on menus as often as other regional cocktails, like Brazil’s caipirinha, but the long drink has a fascinating history dating back to the 1952 Summer Olympics. As Finland was gearing up to host the games in Helsinki, the government was concerned about serving visitors drinks in a timely matter. So they commissioned a refreshing canned cocktail to be created especially for tourists.
A company called Hartwall produced the Original Long Drink; it was a simple combination of Finnish gin, grapefruit, and “the world’s cleanest water.” The cocktail grew in popularity, far beyond the Olympics, becoming the drink of Finland. In just four years, it was the third-best-selling item in Helsinki restaurants, according to Hartwall.
Until 1995, the Finnish government controlled which companies could produce the drink. Now, several companies make Finnish long drink, or as they call it in Finland, lonkero.
Hartwall came to the States in 2020, and a new brand, The Finnish Long Drink was launched in the U.S. in 2018 and brought the drink to the mainstream American market with celebrity partners like Miles Teller, Kygo, and professional golfer Rickie Fowler. The carbonated cocktail is made with gin and natural grapefruit and juniper flavors and is 5.5 percent ABV. The brand also has cranberry, peach, and zero-sugar versions, along with a Strong Citrus long drink that clocks in at 8.5 percent ABV.
The first time I tried The Finnish Long Drink was a couple years ago during a Delish canned cocktail taste test. I had never seen the can on shelves before and had no idea what was in it. And as a grapefruit hater, I was surprised to find out it had the bitter fruit in it. To offset bitterness, cocktails are usually loaded with sugar, but The Finnish Long Drink isn't too sweet or sticky. It's bright, balanced and refreshing, making it a perfect drink on a hot summer day. It’s comparable to a citrusy soda like Fresca, but way better because there’s gin.
Other canned cocktails on the market are often void of real liquor, or take a cocktail that's made to be shaken, mixed, and stirred at the bar, and put it to a can. While not every canned cocktail I've ever had is bad, The Finnish Long Drink is one of the only memorable one's I've had, and it's the only one I'd reach for when looking for a beach libation that's not beer.
What makes it superior comes down to its origins. In Finland, the drink is offered on tap or in a can. It’s not mixed like a cosmopolitan or even a rum & Coke. “Trust me, you can’t mix a real long drink. We tried, and you don’t get as good of a taste in your home kitchen,” said Finnish Long Drink co-founder Ere Partanen to Wine Enthusiast.
Some things are just better in a can.
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