Lonkero

Lonkero takes the original Finnish “long drink” idea and gives it a slightly more modern RTD twist for the UK market. Which makes sense because Britain has become very good at canned cocktails recently, largely through collective exhaustion and people wanting decent drinks without washing up afterwards.

The drink itself sticks fairly closely to the classic formula. Citrus-led mixed drinks, usually built around gin, vodka or other clear spirits with sparkling fruit flavours and a clean, crisp finish. Grapefruit remains central to a lot of the range because Finland got that combination right the first time and there’s not much point arguing with it.

What separates Lonkero from a lot of RTDs is balance. These drinks generally avoid tasting like melted sweets or aggressively alcoholic energy drinks, which already places them comfortably above a worrying percentage of the category. You get proper bitterness, fresh citrus and enough dryness to keep things refreshing rather than sticky.

The Finnish influence still comes through stylistically too. Minimal branding, clean flavours and a fairly straightforward approach to drinking. No elaborate cocktail theatre. Just cold cans designed for parks, barbecues, festivals or mildly chaotic train journeys in summer.

RTDs as a category have improved massively over the last few years in fairness. Better carbonation, more sensible sugar levels and producers realising adults might prefer drinks that actually resemble proper mixed serves. Lonkero fits neatly into that newer wave. Easy drinking without feeling completely disposable.

Also worth noting that grapefruit and carbonation remain one of the best combinations ever invented for pretending the weather is nicer than it actually is. Particularly useful in Britain.