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.
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!
In an ice-filled highball glass, stir together the gin, lemon juice, and cranberry juice. Top with the grapefruit soda. Garnish with a grapefruit wedge, if desired.
Notes
*To convert to tablespoons, 1 ounce = 2 tablespoons
What is sparkling water, aka carbonated water or seltzer water? Is it good for you? Here’s what you need to know about this bubbly beverage.
These days grocery store shelves are loaded with dizzying colorful cans of sparkling water from breands lik LaCroix to Sprindrift. But what is it exactly, and how is it different from carbonated water or seltzer? Is it good for you and your teeth? How is it different from club soda?
Here I’ll break down the technical terminology and clear up the health benefits (spoiler: don’t worry about your teeth!). And, I’ll share some of our favorite drink recipes starring this bubbly mixer.
What is Sparkling Water? Is it Seltzer Water?
What is sparkling water? Is it the same thing as carbonated water or seltzer water? What about club soda? Here are some of the differences between these very similar products:
Sparkling water, also known as seltzer water, soda water, or carbonated water, is water with no additives, carbonated by injecting carbon dioxide (CO2). It’s the base for brands like La Croix, or what comes out of a SodaStream.
Sparkling mineral water is water from a natural mineral spring that’s been carbonated. Examples of brands are Perrier or Topo Chico.
Keep in mind, many sparkling water brands have added flavors or sweeteners. Make sure to look for brands with no additives for your regular drinking, or if you’re using it for a cocktail that calls for soda water.
Sparkling Water vs Club soda vs Tonic Water
Sparkling water has a few differences from other types of carbonated beverages. Here’s what to know about club soda and tonic water:
Club soda is carbonated water infused with added minerals, which give it a salty or lightly sweet flavor. Club soda is most often used for cocktails. Stick to sparkling water for your regular drinking.
Tonic water is carbonated water with added quinine and sugar. It was first sold commercially in the 1850’s as a way to drink quinine, prescribed at the time to fight malaria. It tastes sweet and bitter, and is mostly used in cocktails, like the classic gin and tonic.
Is Sparkling Water Good For You?
Yes, as long as you stick to unflavored sparkling water with no additives and sugars! Sparkling water is just as hydrating as still, and some studies show it may have benefits for digestion.
Is sparkling water bad for your teeth? No, as long as its plain and unflavored. The American Dental Association indicates studies show that water and sparkling water have the same minimal impact on tooth enamel. Even better, it’s much better for your teeth than sugary drinks and soda. Keep in mind, though: citrus-flavored waters do have higher acid levels that increase the risk of damage to your enamel, so try to enjoy them in one sitting or with meals.
Can You Make Carbonated Water?
Yes! There are lots of home carbonation systems on the market, due to the massive interest in sparkling water. The advantage to these systems? There’s much less aluminum can or bottle waste! I use a SodaStream to make our own water on demand.
What’s The Best Sparkling Water?
This is where personal palate takes over, because “best” really depends on what you’re after. Topo Chico and Perrier have more pronounced carbonation: Spindrift (made with real squeezed fruit) and LaCroix have a gentler fizz.
In my opinion, I absolutely love Topo Chico and San Pellegrino, especially for pairing with a meal. I drink LaCroix most of the time otherwise. Here’s a quick side-by-side of the brands:
Sparkling water or seltzer water have been used in cocktails for hundreds of years. You can use club soda interchangeably in cocktail recipes since it’s so similar. Add bubbles to wine and you’ve got a wine spritzer! Add it to gin and you’ve got a Gin Rickey or go non-alcoholic with a Lime Rickey or Cherry Lime Rickey. There are so many tasty drinks try: here are some of the most popular:
This iconic Cuban drink is one of the greats, popularized by Ernest Hemingway in the 1930's. Here’s a recipe for it that’s spot on perfection: not too sweet, bubbly, and minty fresh.
The gin rickey cocktail was born in the 1880s and has been popular ever since. Here's a mocktail version of it featuring sparkling water and raspberry syrup!
This nostalgic classic cocktail that’s about as classic as it gets! This tall highball drink is a gin sour, a sweet and sour drink made with gin, lemon and sparkling water.
Here’s a refreshing way to drink your favorite whiskey: the classic Whiskey Highball with sparkling water! This two-ingredient cocktail originated around the turn of the 20th century and it’s still popular to this day.
Diluting wine with sparkling water started back in the 19th century, as a way to make bubbly wine. The name comes from the German word “spritzen,” meaning “to spray.”
The spritz was invented back in the 1800’s in Italy as a way to water down sparkling wine by mixing in…well, water! It wasn’t until the 1950’s that the Aperol spritz took the form it has today, with Aperol, Prosecco, and sparkling water.
Try these bubbly drinks with sparkling water (aka seltzer or carbonated water)! The Lime Rickey is outrageously refreshing drink with lime and soda water. Or go for a Vodka Soda: a tangy, bubbly cocktail!
These summer mocktails are bubbly, fruity, and refreshing: from a virgin margarita to a non alcoholic spritz! Each one is alcohol-free and easy to make.
I’ve made hundreds of summer cocktails over the years, but lately I’ve started cutting back on my alcohol. Here’s the problem: summer drinks are so much fun and truly set the mood for any backyard BBQ or pool day.
So I’ve come up with a new collection of all my favorite summer mocktails! Every one in the list I’ve created and tested out on my real-life family, and they have all the bubbly, refreshing flavors of my standard cocktails. From non alcoholic spritzes to virgin frozen drinks, they use fresh ingredients like berries, lemon, lime, and bubbles to go big on flavor and get that care-free summer vibe.
This non-alcoholic Aperol spritz has all the herbal, citrusy flavor of the Italian classic without any alcohol: and there's no need to hunt down a special zero-proof spirit. It's bubbly, bright, and comes together in minutes with my homemade orange syrup.
My virgin spin on the classic Mexican Paloma is a mocktail starring fresh grapefruit and lime with a salted rim and bubbly sparkling water. It's tart, just a little sweet, and exactly what I want on hot afternoons.
Muddled fresh mint and lime over ice, topped with soda: this virgin spin on my classic Mojito is the most refreshing thing you can make in 5 minutes (plus, it uses all my garden mint!). It's my house drink all summer.
Here's one of my top frozen mocktails: blend frozen strawberries and lime into a frosty, slushie-like swirl! This virgin strawberry daiquiri tastes like summer and it's a huge hit with kids and adults alike. Serve it alongside my Strawberry Daiquiri for the rum version.)
Here's a fun one: this lemon blueberry mocktail has tart lemon, muddled fresh blueberries, and a little mint for a drink that's so pretty and refreshing. The color alone makes it feel like a party!
This one is just as fun as my classic margarita recipe, minus the tequila. This virgin margarita is my go-to, with a secret ingredient readers love! Serve it on the rocks with a salt rim that makes it feel like the real thing.
Here's a classic summer mocktail: a virgin spin on my classic piña colada! It's just coconut and pineapple blended with ice, and tastes like a tropical vacation that you can easily whip up in your blender.
This Pineapple Mint Slushie is the refreshing 3-ingredient summer drink you’ll be making on repeat this season! It’s got no added sugar, and it’s kid-friendly or great as a mocktail for adults: I call it a Pineapple Mojito Mocktail.
Tips for the Best Summer Mocktails
Here are a few things I’ve learned that make the best mocktail recipes:
Use fresh citrus. Bottled juice can’t compete with the bright flavor of fresh lime, lemon, orange, or grapefruit.
Keep simple syrup on hand. A jar of homemade simple syrup (or an herb-infused syrup like mint simple syrup) is perfect for whipping up drinks at moment’s notice.
Use good ice. I love clear ice: the cubes melt slower and the big chunks look like the drink was made at a fancy bar.
The garnish is important! A sprig of mint, a citrus slice, or a salted rim is what makes the drink: don’t leave it out!
Batch it for a crowd. Each of the linked recipes have instructions for how to make a batched version. The basic rule: mix the base ahead in a pitcher and top each glass with soda water right before serving to preserve the bubbles.
Turn It Into a Party
Here are a few ways to add food and turn these mocktails into a party:
This easy baked feta recipe with tomatoes makes into a warm, creamy Greek-inspired appetizer in under 25 minutes. Scoop it up with crusty bread for a delicious snack!
Here’s a recipe inspired by my trip to Greece a few years ago: I came to love a certain baked feta appetizer. I had it prepared in different ways but it was always delicious: melty, gooey feta in a tomato sauce, sometimes with onions or red peppers, sprinkled with a few herbs.
One server brought it out to us and declared, “Feta in the oven!” and I learned this was the English translation on most menus. Alex and I even recreated it a few times while in Greece in the kitchen of our rental home. This baked feta is the version I make now whenever friends come over, and it disappears faster than anything else on the table!
Why You’ll Love This Baked Feta Recipe
It’s absolutely delicious. The best appetizers are often the simplest. A block of feta goes into a small dish with tomatoes, garlic, and olive oil, then bakes until it’s warm and melty: pure heaven!
It’s inspired by a real recipe in Greece. It’s not exactly what I had there, but it has a similar, carefree vibe!
It’s easy to make: It comes together in under 25 minutes, most of it hands-off oven time, and it’s very flexible.
Ingredients You’ll Need
While in Greece, we baked the feta with large fresh tomatoes and it turned out beautifully. We tried this at home in the US, but the tomatoes came out too watery. We switched to cherry tomatoes, which worked better. Here’s what you’ll need:
Feta cheese: Use a solid block of feta, not the pre-crumbled kind. I buy feta packed in brine for the best texture and flavor.
Cherry tomatoes: This is my secret to a jammy, non-watery result.
Garlic: This adds just the right savory flavor.
Olive oil: A good drizzle is essential.
Dried oregano: The classic Greek herb here. Fresh oregano or thyme are perfect if you have them.
Kalamata olives: Optional, but they add a briny punch.
How to Make Baked Feta
This is barely a recipe and more of a method; here’s the basic approach:
Preheat and prep. Heat the oven to 400°F. Halve the cherry tomatoes and toss them with a few pinches of kosher salt while the oven comes up to temperature.
Place the ingredients in a small dish. In a small oven-proof dish, add the tomatoes, minced garlic, and olives. Place the block of feta in the middle, drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with oregano.
Bake and serve. Bake for about 18 minutes, until the feta is warm and soft and the tomatoes are burst. Serve immediately.
Pro tip: If you’d like, you can place the dish under a broiler for the last minute or two to get a lightly golden color to the top of the feta.
Ways to Serve It
Baked feta is at its best served warm right from the oven with something to dip it, and a few Mediterranean-style platters alongside. Here’s what I’d recommend:
Pita. Warm pita wedges or crisp pita chips are perfect for scooping.
Honey baked feta: Drizzle warm honey over the feta just before serving for a sweet-and-salty contrast.
Roasted red peppers: Add sliced roasted red peppers to the dish before baking for extra sweetness and color.
Baked feta pasta: This is the viral recipe that took over the internet! Make double the recipe (8 oz feta and 2 pints tomatoes) with ¼ cup olive oil, then stir the whole softened mixture into a pound of hot cooked pasta with a splash of pasta water.
Storage and Make-Ahead
Baked feta is best fresh and warm. Leftovers keep in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days: reheat gently in a 350°F oven. You can also assemble the whole dish ahead, cover it, and refrigerate for a few hours before baking: just add a few minutes to the bake time.
Dietary Notes
This baked feta recipe is vegetarian and gluten-free.
This easy baked feta recipe with tomatoes makes into a warm, creamy Greek-inspired appetizer in under 25 minutes. Scoop it up with crusty bread for a delicious snack!
Slice the cherry tomatoes in half and add a few pinches kosher salt. Finely mince the garlic. Chop the parsley.
In a small oven-proof dish, place the tomatoes, garlic, parsley, and Kalamata olives, then top with the feta cheese. Drizzle with the olive oil and sprinkle with the dried oregano.
Bake for about 18 minutes, until the feta cheese is warm and soft. Serve immediately with crackers, pita, or bread.
Notes
*Note that the portion size is a modest appetizer for four. For a more substantial portion, the recipe is easily doubled.
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