Name: Whiskey Highball
Prep time: 3 min
Total time: 3 min
Ingredients: 2 ounces whiskey; 4 ounces soda water; 1 lemon wedge; Rosemary sprig (optional)

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Here’s how you make the perfect Whiskey Highball! A classic cocktail made with just a few ingredients! It’s refreshing, bubbly, and easy to make!

Do you like whiskey, but want something with a refreshing twist? Try a whiskey highball! Since the 1890s, the cocktail has been a popular cocktail among whiskey lovers who want to spice up their spirits by adding a bubbly, fresh element.

With just a few ingredients and no need for a cocktail shaker, the whiskey highball is an easy way to enjoy complex flavors in just a few minutes. For a cocktail you can whip up quickly on a busy night or use to impress the guests at your next dinner party, this is the perfect drink for you.

Also, try our classic whiskey sour recipe!

Table of Contents

What is a whiskey highball?
How to Make a Whiskey Highball
How much whiskey is in a highball?
Whiskey Highball Variations
Japanese Whiskey Highball

What is a whiskey highball?

The whiskey highball is one of the many types of highballs. These cocktails combine a small amount of alcohol with a large amount of a non-alcoholic beverage. Famous cocktails like the gin and tonic and the vodka cranberry are also considered to be highballs.

Ingredients

Originally derived from scotch and soda, whiskey highballs still require only a few ingredients:

Whiskey
Soda water
Lemon

With so few ingredients, you can enjoy this drink with little fuss; making it the perfect drink to unwind with after a busy day.

How to Make a Whiskey Highball

To make a whiskey highball simply fill a tall glass with ice, add your measured whiskey and soda water, and stir to combine. Garnish with a lemon wedge, and that’s it! In no time, you’re ready to relax with a delicious, refreshing cocktail.

It can be done in 4 easy steps:

Fill a highball glass with ice.
Add in the whiskey.
Top with club soda.
Garnish with a lemon slice.

How much whiskey is in a highball?

The basic ratio for a whiskey highball is two parts soda water and one part spirit. For this recipe, you’ll be using four ounces of soda water and two ounces of whiskey. This ratio allows the flavor of the whiskey to shine through while adding just enough soda water to bring a refreshing, bubbly element to the cocktail.

Combined with a lemon wedge, each ingredient is perfectly balanced for maximum enjoyment.

whiskey highball recipe with rosemary and lemon

Whiskey Highball Variations

There are many ways to put your own spin on the classic whiskey highball.

Instead of soda water, you can use another fizzy drink such as ginger ale or ginger beer. This substitution adds a deeper flavor and a subtle sweetness that balances out the dry spiciness of the whiskey.

Add a little lemon juice to the recipe to give the cocktail a lemon fragrance and flavor. Also, check out all of our lemon recipes that would pair perfectly with this drink.

Garish with a fresh sprig of rosemary for a festive look.

Another highball cocktail recipe we love is a Tom Collins.

Japanese Whiskey Highball

If you’re a whiskey highball lover, serve your cocktail in style with specialty whiskey highball glasses. This drinkware is designed with just enough space for your drink and a generous serving of ice. With more height than traditional glass, highball glasses are perfect for the addition of soda water to the spirit.

Due to the relatively low alcohol content, this drink is extremely popular in Japan. For a Japanese take on the whiskey highball, substitute Japanese whiskey and mix the cocktail as otherwise directed.