Forget BuzzBallz, spicy palomas, and Hugo spritzes — the drink of summer 2025 has arrived, and it's Lonkero. A Finnish classic dating back to the 1952 Helsinki Olympics, this blend of gin and grapefruit soda is now taking the UK by storm, served on draught in pints.
The drink's rise has been organic, spreading through word of mouth rather than TikTok trends. Co-founder Paige Gibbons notes that Norwich, Edinburgh, Brighton, and parts of London have become hotspots, with Norwich particularly embracing the beverage. "We're bizarrely doing very well in Norwich," she says.
Lonkero launched in the UK in May 2024, selling over 50,000 pints in its first six months. Co-founder Joe Harris developed a taste for it while working in Helsinki and teamed up with Gibbons to bring it to British pubs. Gibbons, who dislikes beer and cider, saw Lonkero as an easy-drinking alternative served in pints, offering a new category of drink.
The drink's shareability is key to its success. "If people try it, they get it," Gibbons explains. "Word of mouth has been phenomenal." This organic spread distinguishes Lonkero from viral TikTok concoctions that rarely translate to real-world pub sales.
While other contenders like the spicy paloma have been touted, Lonkero's undeniable presence in pubs across the UK cements its status as the drink of summer 2025. As one enthusiast put it, the drink has been "occupying a lot of brain space" since first trying it.
