Whereas in Finland, I found the ubiquitious ready-to-drink End lonkero or “Lengthy Drink.” Extensively accessible in Finnish liquor shops the End Lengthy Drink was much more extensively accessible out. I’d be in eating places or saunas with just one or two drinks on draft, and with out fail the Finnish Lengthy Drink was one in all them.
For the unfamiliar the Finnish Lengthy Drink was first produced by Hartwall for the 1952 Summer time Olympics. For college kids of Olympic historical past, this is perhaps greatest remembered because the first summer season olympics since 1912 the place medals weren’t awarded for artwork (which is a disgrace that hometown expertise Aale Tynni wasn’t capable of defend her 1948 gold medal in Literature for Laurel of Hellas, however I digress). This meant that whereas the Hartwall Lengthy Drink itself wasn’t eligible for any medals, the mix of grapefruit soda and gin must accept wining hearts. And that it did.
The Finnish Lengthy Drink is generally an about to five%–8% alcoholic beverage typically composed as a mix of gin and grapefruit. The product was discontinued within the Seventies, nonetheless, on account of recognition (and a very good dose of nostalgia) that unique Hartwall drink returned.
Since, others have made their very own takes on it. Some have even tried naturally fermenting variations. However what’s fascinating is that not too way back the Finnish Lengthy Drink was a factor that guests to Finland would keep in mind solely of their scrapbooks. The Finnish lengthy drink is making it method out of Finland and increasing throughout two continents. In 2015, Hartwall signed agreements to get the drink on cabinets within the Netherlands, Sweden and Belgium. In 2016, they expanded to Asian markets together with Japan. Exterior of markets the place it’s extensively accessible, it conjures up a cult following. Reviewers of a Brighton, UK bar level it out prominently in a Journey Advisor overview: “Quirky bar serving the Finnish Lengthy Drink.” The Finnish Lengthy Drink is actually world. Hopefully (for me) it makes its method to North America quickly.
Ingesting the Finnish Lengthy Drink in Finland
Hartwall Authentic Finnish Lengthy Drink
White grapefruit flesh on the nostril… The palate is far much less candy than I anticipated. Acidic grapefruit early, with gin notes approaching most strongly mid-palate. Crisp juniper and citrus depth. Heavy grapefruit notes predominate, however with a delicate crisp and gently dry end. There’s no bitterness right here, nevertheless it does have a sure crispness that calls to thoughts a Gin and Tonic. [Full Review]
Laitilan Gini Lengthy Drink
A little bit of Squirt on the nostril, and a notice of ruby pink grapefruit as effectively, together with the extra anticipated white grapefruit juice notes. On the palate, it’s grapefruit early and late. The juniper is slightly uninteresting and never very clear amidst the overwhelming grapefruit. Whereas Laitilan Gini Lengthy Drink has a pleasant grapefruit taste, there’s not as a lot London Dry Gin right here as I hoped. [Full Review]
Making the Finnish Lengthy Drink at Residence
So naturally, with it not being accessible, I sought out to recreate the drink at house.
Lengthy Drink #1: With Squirt
On condition that the primarily taste was grapefruit soda, I instantly thought that the extensively accessible Pepsi product Squirt would possibly make a very good Lengthy Drink.
I attempted a few ratios. However regardless of the mixture, each the Gin Spouse and I agreed: this one is simply too candy. Right here’s our most popular ratio of those we tried:
4 components Squirt 3 components Tanqueray Gin 1 half Tonic Water Construct over ice and stir gently to mix.
Lengthy Drink #2: With Fresca
I used the identical ratio as within the above instance, however this time with Coca-Cola’s reply to grapefruit soda: Fresca. This was waaaaaaay nearer to the Lengthy Drink I had in Finland and truly comes pretty near replicating the canned ones.
Really useful
Lengthy Drink #3: With Grape Tonic
I discovered dialing the gin as much as nearly parity (1:1) created a pleasant stability of grapefruit and juniper. I’d recommend a extra traditional 1 half gin, 2 components Grape Tonic, garnished with a lemon wedge so as to add a pleasant counterpoint to the grapefruit. Although sadly this feature might be for Finns solely, as I haven’t seen Grape Tonic wherever apart from Finland. [Grape Tonic Review]
2 components Grape Tonic 1 half Juniper ahead gin Construct over ice and garnish with a lemon wedge.
Lengthy Drink #4: With a Glowing Grapefruit Juice
We used a Grapefruit Soda resembling Izze, although there are numerous others available on the market which come shut. The hot button is to make sure that it has actual grapefruit juice and sweetening amongst its elements.
This Lengthy Drink comes shut by way of taste, however leaves quite a bit to be missing by way of colour. It’s one in all my favorites to drink, however nobody will dare mistake this for a Finnish Lengthy Drink. If the colour is vital to you, glowing grapefruit juices nearer to San Pellegrino’s Pomplemo are price having a look at; nonetheless, for us the flavour was off. The white grapefruit taste was far too tart and didn’t replicate the drink in any way.
Lengthy Drink #5: With Contemporary White Grapefruit
¾ oz. recent squeezed grapefruit juice ¼ oz. recent squeezed lemon juice a scant ½ oz. of straightforward syrup 1½ oz. Tanqueray Gin Shake elements with ice to mix, pressure right into a excessive ball glass with ice High with 3 oz. of Q Tonic Stir and serve.
Contemporary grapefruit alone didn’t present as a lot of an analogous taste to the Lengthy Drink. The contact of lemon juice brings it a bit nearer in step with the flavour of Squirt and Fresca.
However the fact is that the Finnish lengthy drink appears so reliant on that odd, practically unreplicable notice of Grapefruit soda that I’m unsure there’s a mixture of recent elements that can change it. This drink total is a pleasant citrusy and slightly-sweeter-than-your-usual Gin and Tonic.
Last Ideas
Till the Finnish Lengthy Drink arrives stateside, these makes an attempt are the very best we now have. My advice is The Lengthy Drink with Fresca. It was the closest to the unique.
DIY Finnish Lengthy Drink
When you’ll be able to’t be in Finland however you continue to desire a lengthy drink, there’s some excellent news. You will get fairly shut with solely what’s accessible at your native grocery.
4 components Fresca
3 components Traditional gin ((like Tanqueray))
1 half Tonic Water ((like Q Tonic))
Construct over ice and stir gently to mix.
In any other case, for these of you lucky sufficient to stay in a spot the place the Lengthy Drink is extensively accessible, I like to recommend grabbing the actual factor.
