Swedish Series Whiskey on the Rocks: 1980s Politics, Satire, and Vilnius as Stockholm

In 2023, the satirical Swedish TV series Whiskey on the Rocks was filmed in the Lithuanian capital, taking viewers back to the 1980s. The show, set during the era of Ronald Reagan and Leonid Brezhnev, turned Vilnius into several foreign cities and made it an important filming location. A large Lithuanian crew contributed to the production, and many local actors appeared in the series. The Vilnius Film Office now invites you to explore the city spots that served as filming locations.

The series Whiskey on the Rocks tells the story of a submarine that ran aground on October 27, 1981, off the southern coast of Sweden, about 10 kilometers from Karlskrona — one of the country’s main naval bases. This violation of Swedish sovereignty sparked tensions between Sweden and the USSR, becoming one of the notable confrontations of the Cold War, eventually resolved after 11 days of intense negotiations.

Gunfire in Pasažas Alley

We suggest starting the walk at Pasažas Alley — a spot much loved by filmmakers and one that has appeared on screen more than once. Over the years, Pasažas Alley has played the role of Paris, Oslo, and Copenhagen in various films and TV series. In Whiskey on the Rocks, it became a small Stockholm street, where a period car with the actors drove by. In this scene, the characters are shown heading to the theater when a shootout breaks out.

Vilnius Town Hall – a Swedish Naval Base

The second stop on the route is just nearby. Take a moment to stop at Vilnius Town Hall, which today serves as an art gallery, exhibition hall, and a venue for city concerts. Last reconstructed in the late 18th century in the neoclassical style, the building has witnessed much older history – from the days when it housed the city magistrate to its time as a prison.

In Whiskey on the Rocks, you can spot both the interior and exterior of Vilnius Town Hall. In the series, the main entrance becomes a Swedish military base, while the Red Hall serves as the office of a political institution.

Cinematic Bernardinai Garden

Continue your walk down Didžioji Street and, upon reaching Cathedral Square, turn towards Bernardinai Garden.

With its mix of open and secluded spaces, rose gardens, rock gardens, ponds, and fountains, Bernardinai Garden is not only a favorite spot for recreation but also a venue for various initiatives, events, and even wedding ceremonies.

The park has also appeared on screen in a number of productions, including the BBC2 historical documentary series The Rise of the Nazis, the widely popular period drama Sisi, the series The Royal Mob, and the gripping crime drama Young Wallander. Welsh filmmakers discovered 19th-century London in this garden, while Swedish director Charlotte Brändström – best known for Grey’s Anatomy – transformed the park into a stage for international political intrigue. Meanwhile, Sisi brought an atmosphere of 19th-century European royal life to this corner of Vilnius.

In Whiskey on the Rocks, Bernardinai Garden became Moscow’s Central Park, where key dialogues were filmed amid lush greenery.

On Screen – The Facade of the National Museum of Lithuania

After your stroll through Bernardinai Garden, head towards the building of the National Museum of Lithuania. Its exterior was used in the series as the Swedish naval base. In the show, Sweden’s Prime Minister faces the immense challenge of maintaining peace between Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev and U.S. President Ronald Reagan.

Interestingly, the production involved a team of about 150 people, the majority of them Lithuanian.

Swedish Government Institutions on Gediminas Avenue

After visiting the National Museum of Lithuania, we suggest continuing along Gediminas Avenue. In its center stands the administrative building of the Lithuanian Cooperative Union – a massive example of late modernist architecture that is visible from afar. Not everyone knows that this building is a popular filming location and is often described as one of the city’s most cinematic spaces.

Designed by Justinas Šeibokas, the building on Gediminas Avenue was completed in 1978. It is best known for its undulating floors, echoing Vilnius Baroque architecture. However, what draws filmmakers most is the interior – the almost unchanged 1970s atmosphere, perfect for stories set in that period.

In Whiskey on the Rocks, the Cooperative Union building played the offices of the Swedish government, where key political decisions were made. All three political leaders are portrayed in a caricatured and sometimes scandalous manner: Swedish Prime Minister Feldin (played by Swedish actor Rolf Lassgård), Soviet politician Brezhnev (played by Lithuanian actor Kęstutis Stasys Jakštas), and President Reagan (played by British actor Mark Noble).

Kaštonų Street – Transformed into Stockholm

Continuing along Gediminas Avenue, we suggest turning into Kaštonų Street, located just past Lukiškės Square. This street is home to the largest biomedical and related sciences library in Vilnius. Several films and series have been shot here, including Hamilton: Agent, Young Wallander, The Generation of Evil, The Compromise, and Hilma.

Kaštonų Street has often stood in for Swedish cities, including Stockholm and Malmö in various periods, as well as post-war Berlin. In Whiskey on the Rocks, Kaštonų Street played Stockholm. A period car drove along the street, with an actor inside looking out the window at the nighttime cityscape, followed by another car carrying Russian KGB agents.

Žvėrynas – Cozy Satra District

From Kaštonų Street, return to Gediminas Avenue and head toward Žvėrynas.

The wooden and Scandinavian-style buildings that adorn Žvėrynas became 1980s Sweden in Whiskey on the Rocks, specifically a residential district in Stockholm inhabited by the series’ political characters. Scenes were filmed on Traidenio, Birutės, and A. Mickevičiaus streets. Notably, the Composer’s House, opened in 1966 in Scandinavian style on A. Mickevičiaus Street, appears on screen as the backdrop for key political decisions – serving as offices and leisure spaces for government representatives. Meanwhile, the house on Traidenio Street represented the Satra district, through which the series’ fictional cars drove.