Last orders, please

Finns are notorious for their alcohol consumption. Instead of showing drunken Finns, the final episode of Finnish Favorite Hobbies reveals few typical Finnish drink recipes. Drinks like Lonkero and Kossuvissy have been helping Finns to get drunk for decades.

Finnish Favorite Hobbies series is coming to its final episode. What would be more appropriate theme, than drinking and alcohol, which Finns are world famous for. At least in their own mind.

In addition to beer and cider, the base of local drinks is on clear liqueurs, like vodka and Koskenkorva - vodka type of drink with just a hint of sugar. The base ingredient is then flavored with all kinds of mixers. For example mixing vodka with mineral water will clarify the real taste of vodka, by diluting the burning sensation of alcohol.

Ice Fishing

The white surface of snow and the warming rays of the sun of early spring accompany the buoyant fisherman while he expects the fish to bite the bait. Pulling nourishment thru the ice is not the main motivation anymore, but relaxation, sense of peace and physically experiencing the arriving summer are the factors driving people to gather around holes in the ice.

This winter ice covered waters also in the south part of Finland, after a couple of iceless winters. However, some 300 kilometers north, the ice is guaranteed, and ice fishing from the moment of first sun shine on, is very popular.

When shooting this episode late April in Central Finland, to our surprise, there were no other people on the lake. People started to come drilling their holes only after we finished shooting and were ready to leave, quite late in the afternoon. Being alone on a big flat hard surface, and hearing only the sound of melting ice, is quite an extraordinary experience.