Whiskey Highball: Timeless Yet Modern
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Treat yourself to a timeless yet modern Whiskey Highball. The two-ingredient cocktail has been around for centuries, but it tastes as fresh as ever.
We first encountered the Whiskey Highball back in 2016 when we visited Osaka. During our week-long visit, it wasn’t uncommon for us to see suited Japanese businessmen enthusiastically exclaiming Kampai! before quickly downing the sophisticated sipper. The classic golden cocktail seemed to be on the menu at every izakaya and ramen shop we entered.
It took us several years, but we now get why Japan has embraced this legendary cocktail with such gusto. Not only does the Whiskey Highball look and taste great, but the two-ingredient cocktail is also super easy to craft without any exotic ingredients or special bar tools.
Discover more two-ingredient cocktails.
What Is a Whiskey Highball?
The Whiskey Highball is a classic cocktail that’s traditionally crafted with two parts soda water and one part whiskey. Some people replace the soda water with ginger ale, but be aware that the sweeter version approaches Whiskey Ginger territory.
Also, not surprisingly, Whiskey Highballs are always served in tall highball glasses.
History of the Whiskey Highball
While crafting a Whisky Highball is easy to do, pinpointing its exact origin isn’t so simple. Still, it has an interesting history that spans multiple centuries and continents.
Most cocktail historians link highball cocktails to the UK, the country where Joseph Priestley invented soda water during the latter half of the 18th century. While it’s likely that people started mixing liquor with soda water soon after that, the highball name arrived more than a century later and is attributed to American mixologist Patrick Gavin Duffy, author of The Official Mixer’s Manual.
The highball became popular in the US during Prohibition when drinkers would mix moonshine with soda. The style never went totally out of fashion, achieving peak popularity in Japan, halfway around the world, in 2008.
Today, the Whiskey Highball is so popular in Japan that it’s available on draft at izakayas from Tokyo to Kyoto and everywhere in between. Despite its seeming simplicity, the Whiskey Highball is one of the country’s most popular cocktails.
Ingredients
This easy Whiskey Highball recipe requires the following ingredients:
Ingredient quantities are detailed in the printable recipe card below.
While you only need two ingredients to craft a proper Whiskey Highball, you have a few decisions to make.
First, you need to decide if you want to craft the cocktail with bourbon, rye, scotch or whiskey. We use bourbon since we’re fans of the American whiskey’s rich, caramel-like flavors. However, Japanese whiskey, Irish and Scotch whiskey are all great options if you prefer more floral or smoky flavors.
Next, you need to decide between using soda water or ginger ale for the mixer. Do you want a potent-tasting potable, or are you in the mood for a sweeter drink? The alcohol content will be the same either way.
Finally, you need to decide if you want to add a citrus garnish. We like to add a lemon wedge but adding a garnish is totally optional.
How to Craft a Whiskey Highball
Once you decide on the ingredients you want to use, the first step is to fill a highball glass with ice cubes.
Next, measure your whiskey of choice and pour it directly into the ice-filled glass. We use a Japanese jigger to minimize spillage.
Buy a Japanese jigger from Amazon if you need a jigger or want an inexpensive upgrade.
Top the glass with soda water or ginger ale.
Pro Tip
You can use club soda or seltzer if you can’t find soda water.
Gently stir the cocktail using a bar spoon.
Optionally garnish the cocktail with a lemon wedge.
Could the Whiskey Highball be the easiest cocktail to craft at home? If not, it’s certainly a contender.
Variations
The Whiskey Highball is one of many highballs that you can craft at home. Since they’re so easy to craft, we recommend that you craft more highballs to find your favorite. These are our favorites:
Whiskey Highball Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 ounces whiskey (bourbon, rye, scotch or whiskey)
- 4 ounces soda water
- ice cubes
- 1 wedge lemon (optional garnish)
Equipment
Instructions
- Fill a highball glass with ice cubes.
- Pour the whiskey into the glass.
- Top off with soda water.
- Gently mix.
- Optionally garnish with a lemon wedge.
Notes
- You can replace the soda water with club soda, seltzer or ginger ale.
- The best whiskey for this recipe is your favorite whiskey.
Nutrition
💡 Frequently Asked Questions
The Whiskey Highball is a classic cocktail that is traditionally crafted with two parts soda water and one part whiskey. Alternatively, it can be crafted with ginger ale instead of soda water.
The Whiskey Highball was invented in England.
Whiskey, Soda Water or Ginger Ale, Ice Cubes and a Lemon Wedge (optional garnish)
The Whiskey Highball is stirred, not shaken.
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