What is a Whiskey Highball & How to Make One?
Scroll TikTok lately? Chances are you’ve seen a tall glass filled with fizzing soda, golden whiskey, a delicate lime wedge, or a sprig of mint. Yes, the whiskey highball cocktail is suddenly everywhere and for good reason. It’s stylish, versatile, and the poster child for minimalist mixology.
Named after the long highball glass in which it’s served, a whiskey highball is a candid mix of whiskey, soda water, and a wedge of citrus garnish. On the face of it, honest and effortless. Right?
Don’t let its simplicity fool you. The whiskey highball is no slapdash drink that you throw together without a thought. Quite the opposite. Simple yet considered, a highball whiskey cocktail is as much a drinking ritual as it is a ritual order and provides a fantastic base recipe to develop further. From chilled glassware to the slow pour and gentle stir, it’s about doing small things with care to transform what could be a straightforward whiskey soda into something greater than the sum of its parts.
Below is your guide to the latest highball whiskey trend, and an insight into the exact whiskey highball recipes that are winning hearts and taste buds worldwide (hint: they’re made with Jameson Irish Whiskey).
What is a Whiskey Highball?
As we said above, a highball whiskey is wonderfully straightforward: whiskey plus soda water, served over ice in a tall glass with a garnish. Simple. And it’s that simplicity, the drinking experience itself, that has people coming back for more.
Light, bubbly, and endlessly refreshing, the whiskey highball is one of the most satisfying long drinks you can order. It’s perfect for casual serves, an instant classic among summer cocktails, and a guaranteed hit in your home bartending rotation.
And here’s the secret: what separates a good highball from a great one isn’t the ingredients alone. It’s the technique. And by technique, we mean versatility. Switching up the types of soda or mixers you use can bring a whole new dimension to your whiskey highball; a dash of bitters or a splash of liqueur is a recipe for some highbrow highballs.
Where Did the Whiskey Highball Come From?
The highball first popped up in the late 19th century as Scotch and soda, but it was in Japan where the serve truly found its audience. There, the highball became a near-ceremonial experience: chilled glassware, perfect ice, and reverent precision with every step.
Today, the whiskey soda has been reimagined around the world, with many sensible and smooth-seeking sippers looking for an excellent triple-distilled Irish whiskey to include in their highball whiskey recipe.
The Highball Ritual – Why the Simple Becomes Special
Yes, it can be a simple cocktail. But done right, it feels special. Here’s the drinking ritual at work:
• Chilled glassware: start with a frosty glass to keep things crisp.
• Ice cubes: large, to slow down dilution.
• Slow pour: Jameson Original first, letting it roll over the ice.
• Soda Water: added gently, ideally down the side of the glass to protect carbonation.
• Gentle stir: once or twice only with a long spoon, just to marry flavours without killing the fizz.
• Citrus garnish: a lemon wedge or peel for brightness.
And there you have it: aromatic, fizzy, and visually beautiful with Jameson’s smooth character shining through, rewarding anyone who takes home bartending seriously.
The Whiskey Highball Recipe, Jameson Style
If you’re after the official highball whiskey recipe, you’re in the right place. Making one is nearly as easy as ordering, but way more satisfying.
Ingredients:
• One measure of Jameson Irish Whiskey
• 150ml chilled soda water
• Large ice cubes
• Lime wedge
It’s not just mixing a drink — it’s creating a moment: the clink of ice, the fizz of soda, the citrus aroma hitting first. That’s the beauty of the whiskey highball cocktail.
Best Whiskey for a Highball
We already know that Jameson is the best whiskey for any highball drink… or any whiskey drink for that matter. The real conundrum is choosing between the variations of Jameson for your highball cocktail. For us, there are 3 clear choices.
• Jameson Original: smooth, versatile, and effortlessly stylish.
• Jameson Single Pot Still: richer and spicier take for when you want depth.
• Jameson Black Barrel: bolder, robust and slightly sweet flavour, for an elevated serve.
Highball Whiskey Variations to Try
Ok, so you’ve mastered the classic recipe. Now, it’s time to try these Jameson twists on the whiskey highball cocktail:
• Heavenly Highball – a zesty, citrus-forward twist.
• Honesy, I Made a Highball – smooth, with a subtle honeyed sweetness.
• Lo-Hi Ball – lower ABV for those who like refreshing drinks that last the evening.
Each variation proves why the highball belongs in every home bartending playbook.
Final Sip: Why the Whiskey Highball is Here to Stay
The whiskey highball cocktail is simple, stylish, and endlessly versatile. It’s one of the most timeless long drinks, perfect for summer cocktails and casual catch-ups with friends.
Thankfully, with Jameson Irish whiskey, you’ve always got the smoothest whiskey for highball making.
So, whether you’re keeping it classic, adding flavour or two, or going completely off script and coming up with a whole new highball whiskey recipe yourself, there’s one thing you need to remember: it Must Be A Jameson.
Explore more whiskey cocktail recipes.