Whiskey Highball Recipe
If you’re looking for the perfect cocktail on a hot summer night, you want one that won’t make you sweat to put it together. Which makes the whiskey highball one of the top choices in that category. It doesn’t require any fancy equipment, and it consists of only two ingredients, which makes it extremely simple to make.
Learning how to make the best whiskey highball is easy. Keep reading, and you’ll learn everything you need to know about this refreshing cocktail, including what you need for the recipe.
Whiskey Highball: What Is It?
A highball is any drink that contains a spirit, a large amount of a non-alcoholic mixer, and ice. The most popular highballs are gin and tonic, vodka tonic, vodka cranberry, etc.
Different origin stories are related to the term “highball.” Some claim it has English/Irish roots. Namely, bartenders in Ireland call glasses of whiskey “balls.” In England, “ball” was used to describe whiskey in a high glass.
The term first appeared in the 1890s, in a play called “My Friend From India,” where one of the characters asks for a high ball of whiskey. In the 1900s, in the “Bartenders Manual” written by Harry Jonson, highball appears as one word for the first time.
Others claim the word “highball” originates from America and its railroad system. One of the signals at the time that marked a clear track was a ball raised on a signal post, which might have been the inspiration for naming the cocktail.
Today, tall glasses used for serving cocktails and other drinks are called highball glasses.
The original whiskey highball combined Scotch whisky and soda water. Today, a whiskey highball is often made with ginger ale. Which one you’ll choose depends solely on your preferences: if you enjoy whiskey’s flavor, use soda water. If you’re looking for a refreshing, sweeter, and lighter version, use ginger ale or any other soda.
Whiskey highball is a popular cocktail for many reasons. First of all, it’s easy to make since it consists of only two ingredients and doesn’t require a shaker or any additional equipment. Secondly, it’s easy to drink it; the non-alcoholic mixer makes whiskey highball lighter. Finally, it enables you to experiment because you can combine any whiskey with any kind of soda.
Whiskey Highball Recipe
As mentioned, a whiskey highball requires only two ingredients: whiskey and a mixer. It’s up to you to choose the kinds.
Ingredients:
- 2 ounces of whiskey (rye, Scotch, bourbon, Japanese)
- 4 ounces of non-alcoholic mixer (soda water, ginger ale, Sprite, etc.)
- Lemon wedges for garnish (optional)
Instructions:
- Fill a highball/Collins glass with ice.
- Pour the whiskey into the glass.
- Pour the non-alcoholic mixer over the whiskey.
- Squeeze the lemon into the glass.
Surprise Everyone With a Perfect Whiskey Highball
A whiskey highball is a popular cocktail for hot summer nights and happy hours. The original version involved Scotch whisky and soda water, but today people usually prefer serving whiskey with ginger ale. The cocktail is easy to make and drink and represents a perfect, bubbly mix of whiskey and soda.
We hope we were able to teach you how to make the best whiskey highball. With only two ingredients, the simple cocktail will be ready in just a few minutes.
