The Hartwall Original Long Drink from Finland is now officially available in a total of 10 US states including California, Georgia, New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia, and Washington, DC.  The brand had a soft launch in US last year.

The history of the Long Drink dates back to the 1952 Summer Olympics, which took place in Finland’s capital city of Helsinki. Concerned the small northern European nation would not be able to produce and serve enough alcohol for its tourists, quick thinkers at the Hartwall Brewery created a simple, ready-to-drink cocktail made from artisanal Finnish gin, natural grapefruit flavors and, according to UNESCO (The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization), the purest water in the world.

Hartwall claims its Long Drink “was the first gin cocktail in a can, as the first of its kind, it’s the oldest long drink in the world.” The drink was such a success that it soon became the unofficial cocktail of Finland. Hartwall still uses the same recipe it did in 1952 to craft its Original Long Drink, which is also known as a “lonkero” in Finnish.

The Hartwall Original Gin & Grapefruit Long Drink is available in 12 ounce cans and can be purchased in 6-can packs. Each can contains an ABV of 5.5%. Hartwall’s full line of Long Drink products is not yet available in the US, however the brand boasts 6 additional flavors overseas including Gin & Grapefruit Light, Gin & Orange, Gin & Cranberry, Gin & Lemon, Vodka & Lime as well as Gin & Cassis, also known as blackcurrant.

The canned cocktail is now available in 15 countries and is already gaining traction in the US. “Our partnership with best in class distributors in the US, and the unique story of the Original Long Drink will bring an outstanding success to the brand,” stated Felix Sencion, Commercial Director of the Americas for Royal Unibrew, Hartwall’s parent company.

Hartwall might have been the first to create and craft its iconic Long Drink, but it is not the only company selling the beverage in the US.

A brand called the Finnish Long Drink soft launched in New York in 2018. The brand was founded by a group of three friends from Finland studying abroad in the US, Sakari Manninen, Ere Partanenand and Mikael Taipale, as well as an American friend and entrepreneur they met during their studies, Evan Burns.

That product quickly piqued the interest of actor Miles Teller, who became a co-owner of the drink company in 2019. The partnership brought on more famous co-owners including DJ Kygo and professional golfer Rickie Fowler.

The celebrity endorsed Finnish Long Drink brand is available in Traditional, a grapefruit flavor with an ABV of 5.5% as well as Zero, which has no carbs or sugars and an ABV of 5%. The brand also has an imperial version, aptly named Strong, with an ABV of 8.5%, as well as a Cranberry flavor which, like the Traditional, has an ABV of 5%.

The Original Hartwall Long Drink does not yet have American celebrities on its team but it is backed by nearly 70 years of history and tradition. “Original Long Drink, the first of its kind, is something quite unique. I am proud to represent a company that owns such an amazing brand. I believe that there are millions of people who will love the drink and the authenticity behind the brand. It is Original as its name, made in Helsinki, Finland with the same ingredients since 1952. Often imitated, but never replicated, as only one can be Original,” explained Angelica Diaz, US Senior Sales & Marketing Manager at Royal Unibrew.

“Hartwall Original Long Drink, after creating the whole long drink category in Finland, continues to expand distribution into new countries, and we’re excited to develop our consumer geographical reach to the next level.”

Shirani Jayasuriya
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