A Sydney Covid ‘lock-down’ exploration of the refreshing ‘Whisky Highball’ cocktail.
Lock-down has inspired me to explore this famous cocktail, a very simple ‘make-at-home’ cocktail perfect for the warmer weather.
WHISKY HIGHBALL
Scotch and Soda mixes were popular from the mid 1800’s, and the tall ‘Highball’ variation turned up in the late 1800’s, and in print by 1895.
Continuing its popularity in the UK and USA during the early 1900’s, the modern day home of the ‘Highball’ is probably Japan, alongside Japanese Whisky Culture.
Let’s give the ‘Highball’ a ‘Locktail’ (Sydney Covid Lock-down) re-discovery.
Make your own ‘mix-at-home’ #Locktail ‘Highball’.
INGREDIENTS
45ml Whisky (or Whiskey – of quality)
100ml+ Mineral Water (or Soda Water)
Glassware – Highball (or Collins)
Preparation – Build (in the glass)
Ice – On The Rocks (cubes or pieces)
Garnish – None (optional lemon wedge)
Cost – $$ (around AUD $8 ea.)
Rating – ⭐⭐⭐ 3-stars (very good)
Mixed – 4 October 2021
Difficulty to Make – 🍸 (Very Easy)
LT Number – 049
Invented – before 1895
Home – London, England
METHOD – Chill a Highball or Collins glass. Add 45ml (or more depending on the size of the glass) and then slowly poor in cold soda water or mineral water. Garnish with a lemon wedge (optional). Some commentators suggest various types of mixing, others suggest mixing spoons will reduce the carbonation (bubbles) of the water. I tend towards letting the drinking and bubbles do the mixing for you.
HISTORICAL NOTES – A recipe for a ‘High Ball’ appears in Chris Lawlor’s 1895 ‘The Mixicologist’, that can be made with Brandy or Whiskey (see below). On the previous page (p.37) of his book, there is a cocktail called the ‘Splificator’ that is basically a customer-built ‘Whiskey Highball’ with serve yourself whiskey, ice and Apollinaris Water (a German Mineral Water). There are earlier mentions of a ‘Highball’, however Lawlor’s seems to be the earliest recorded recipe.
By the time of Harry Johnson’s 1900 ‘Bartenders Manual’, the ‘Highball’ is one word and the only spirit called for is ‘Scotch Whiskey’ (yes, spelt with a ‘e’ in his book).
The ‘Highball’ had made its way to the USA in the early 1900’s and most likely went underground during Prohibition (1920–1933). In the post-Prohibition and pre-WWII America, it made a resurgence and was a very popular cocktail during the 1930’s, with readily available ice and soda-water.
In post-WWII Japan (after 1945), the Highball became a very popular drink, waning a little by the end of the 1960’s, but reinvigorated by Suntory after 2000, including as you would expect from Japan, ‘Highball’ dispensing machines.
THE OFFICIAL MIX – Strangely the ‘Highball’ does not appear in any of the International Bartender Association (IBA) official drinks lists. Perhaps because it is effectively a singe-ingredient mixer, although many ‘variations-on-a-theme’ use the ‘Highball’ as a staring point, including shōchū variations in Japan where the ‘Highball’ is incredibly popular and ubiquitous with the Japanese ‘Whisky Culture’.
TASTING NOTES – Depending upon your choice of Whisky and soda or mineral water, the drink will change significantly in flavour, even the choice of ice will have an impact. Make sure the ice is new and from quality water. I prefer the ‘unmixed’ version where the amount of lemon (from the garnish) and whisky changes as you consume the drink. Certainly a refreshing way of drinking Whisky for Whisky fans.
LOCKTAIL CHANGES – No changes from accepted recipes, other than confirming the ‘banning’ of metallic bar tools from going anywhere near this drink. Fresh ice, cold glass, quality whisky and just opened mineral water, what could be better on a warm day.
YOUR LOCKTAIL EXPERIENCE – If you’d rather taste than read, I am progressively building an ingredient list and other sourcing information on this site. I will re-use ingredients where I can (good for my budget too), so that the cost goes down overtime if you are ‘playing at home’.
Let me know what you think.
Cocktails you’d like reinvented.
Recipes you’ve tried and your ‘score’.
This is the ninth and second-last cocktail from the 1931-1940 bracket of ‘Locktail’ remixes. Full list in the index.
Lockdown Cocktails 