We’re kicking off the New Year with our top 10 best whiskies for a Highball.
It’s the simplest of mixed drinks, just whisky stretched with plenty of ice and topped with sparkling water. That’s it. No tricks, no garnish arms race, no pretending it’s complicated. It’s refreshing, sessionable, and quietly brilliant when done properly.
So, is there a difference between a Highball and a whisky soda? Technically, no. In practice, yes. A Highball cares about balance. Good ice, plenty of fizz, and a whisky that plays nicely rather than shouts. A whisky soda can feel like a last-minute decision. A Highball is a deliberate one. The Highball can also extend beyond soda to cola, ginger ale, etc.
Why the Highball works
The Highball lets whisky breathe. Carbonation lifts the aromatics, dilution opens up flavours, and everything becomes lighter, brighter, and more sociable. Of course, each whisky we’ve chosen is good enough to sip neat, too.
Why it’s ideal for a Damp January, not a dry one
A Highball slows the pace while still delivering flavour. You get to keep the ritual and the refreshment, without writing off the rest of your evening. Sensible. But not smug.
Top 10 best whiskies for a Highball
Campbeltown Loch Blended Malt Whisky
Campbeltown Loch works brilliantly in a Highball because it has flavour to spare but doesn’t overstep. The mix of bourbon and sherry cask maturation gives enough sweetness and spice to stand up to soda, while the coastal salinity and soft peat are lifted rather than flattened by carbonation.
Woven Superblend
This is a Highball-friendly blend by design, with malt and grain whisky from across Scotland, England, Ireland, Germany, and the US. Woven Superblend leans into balance and clarity rather than dominance. Soda brings out soft cereal sweetness, vanilla, and light fruit. A fun way to enjoy a fun whisky.
Green Isle Whisky
Green Isle proves that smoke and Highballs get on just fine. Built around Islay malt with support from Speyside and Lowland whisky, the smoke turns aromatic and coastal rather than ashy, with citrus, honey, and spice taking a bigger role. It’s refreshing, not brooding, which is the whole point.
Clynelish 14 Year Old
Waxiness is a Highball secret weapon, and Clynelish has it in abundance. Soda stretches the texture rather than stripping it back, letting citrus oil, honey, and coastal notes glide through the glass.
Starward Left Field
Australian whisky brings a fruit-forward, approachable style that suits Highballs perfectly. Two-Fold is matured in Australian red wine barrels and shows off generous helpings of dried fruit, maple syrup, and baking spice. It’s a reminder that good Highball whisky does not have to come from the usual places.
Kilkerran 12 Year Old
Highballs reward character. Kilkerran is oily and faintly funky, and its notes of lemon oil, malt sweetness, and light smoke elevate with soda water. It stays savoury and dry, which makes it dangerously easy to keep refilling.
Filey Bay Flagship
English whisky rarely gets mentioned in Highball conversations, which feels like an oversight. Filey Bay Flagship has soft cereal sweetness, orchard fruit, and a clean, malty core that suits soda. This is a Highball that feels modern without trying too hard.
Ardnamurchan AD
This Highland malt has the weight and freshness a Highball loves. A mix of peated and unpeated spirit matured in bourbon and sherry casks gives citrus, malt sweetness, and a faint whiff of smoke. Soda lifts the distillery’s natural brightness and reins in the richness. I’m making myself drool here.
Nikka Days
Nikka Days was made for the Highball. And given Japan is the spiritual home of the Highball, you can bet this hits the spot. Bringing gentle orchard fruit, malt sweetness, and a whisper of oak to the table, it has a balance where nothing shouts, and nothing sinks. It is the kind of whisky that makes you understand why Japan fell in love with the Highball in the first place.
Johnnie Walker Black Label
A classic for a reason. Black Label has enough smoke, malt depth, and sweetness to survive dilution, which is exactly why it works so well in a Highball. It’s a personal favourite, and because Black Label is everywhere, always a safe option.
A very simple Highball build
Fill a tall glass with good ice.
Add 25 to 50ml of whisky (adjust strength to your preference).
Top slowly with chilled sparkling water.
Give it a gentle stir before adding your garnish. A lemon twist is typical, but you can play around and have fun here.
Stewart McPherson Baillie