United Kingdom

Scotch Highball

Also known as Whiskey Highball, Scotch and Soda

A simple, fizzy mix of Scotch and soda water that lets the whisky breathe without masking it.

smokymaltydryeffervescentrefreshingwhiskycarbonatedpeaty

ABV

Difficulty

Overview

What this drink is like

The first sip is crisp and carbonated, with the soda lifting the whisky's lighter grain and malt notes. The middle is where the Scotch shows its character—subtle smoke or oak depending on the bottle. It finishes dry and clean with a lingering warmth.

Who will like it

For people who like spirit-forward drinks but want something tall, cold, and low-proof.

When to drink

Ideal as a pre-dinner thirst quencher or a slow-sipping afternoon drink.

Ordering tip

Ask for a specific Scotch if you have a preference, otherwise you'll likely get the house blend.

Ice: CubedTemp: ColdCost: $2–$5Glass: HighballBatch-friendlyHome bar friendly

Flavor

Taste profile

This is a dry, crisp, and highly carbonated drink that puts the whisky front and center while making it incredibly easy to drink. The soda water opens up the grain and oak notes of the Scotch, letting a subtle smokiness come through on the finish. It has no sweetness or sourness to hide behind, so the quality of the spirit really matters. The bubbles keep it lively and refreshing from start to finish.

Finish: The finish is dry and clean, with a lingering warmth and a faint trace of peat smoke.

Primary tastes

earthysmoky

Secondary

floralnutty

Aroma

maltcitrus oilpeat smoke

Bitternesslow bitterness
The drink is mostly dry, with just a faint bitter edge from the soda water and lemon peel.
Strengthmoderate-low strength
The soda water stretches the Scotch down to a very manageable, sessionable alcohol level.
Refreshingvery refreshing
Cold, carbonated, and low in sugar, this is one of the most thirst-quenching whisky drinks you can make.
Smokinesspresent smokiness
The smokiness depends heavily on the Scotch used, but a standard blended Scotch gives a noticeable peat smoke background.
Complexitylow complexity
It's a two-ingredient drink, so the flavor is straightforward, showing the Scotch's character in a simple frame.

Recipe

Make it at home

Built · Highball · equal parts on Scotch Whisky. Blended Scotch recommended, single malt if you prefer more character

Before you start

Make sure your soda water is well chilled and your glass is cold if you have room in the freezer. Fresh, bubbly soda is the whole point of this drink.

Ingredients

Scotch WhiskyBase SpiritBlended Scotch recommended, single malt if you prefer more character50ml
Soda WaterSodaChilled, freshly opened for maximum carbonation100ml
Lemon PeeloptionalGarnishExpressed over the drink for aroma1 twist

Garnish: Lemon twist

Tools

Highball glass · Serving
Holds the drink and ice, keeping it tall and carbonated
At home: Any tall straight-sided glass
Jigger · Measuring
Measures the Scotch accurately
At home: Small measuring cup or shot glass
Bar spoon · Mixing
Stirs the drink gently without killing the fizz
At home: Long handled spoon or chopstick

Steps

1
Fill a highball glass to the top with ice. Big, solid cubes work best because they melt slower and keep the drink from watering down too fast.
!Using small, cloudy ice that melts immediately and dilutes the Scotch.
2
Pour 50ml of Scotch Whisky over the ice. Let it settle to the bottom of the glass.
!Pouring the soda first, which makes it hard to mix without stirring aggressively.
3
Top up with 100ml of chilled soda water. Pour it gently down the side of the glass to keep as much fizz in the glass as possible.
!Pouring the soda roughly from high up, which flattens it instantly.
4
Take a bar spoon and give it one or two gentle lifts from the bottom to mix the Scotch and soda. You're not stirring hard—just bringing the whisky up through the water so it's evenly mixed without killing the bubbles.
~5s
!Stirring vigorously like a mixed drink, which knocks all the carbonation out.
5
Take a lemon peel, give it a good twist over the drink so the oils spray across the surface, then drop it in. This adds a bright, fragrant top note to the malty Scotch.
!Squeezing the pith into the drink, which makes it bitter instead of aromatic.

Serve

Serve it right away while the soda is still highly carbonated. The glass should be frosty and sweating from the ice.

Variations

Ingredient substitutions

Each row shows what you can swap in place of an original ingredient, and how the drink changes.

Swap options for Scotch Whisky

Scotch WhiskyIrish Whiskey
Match
Common availability
Scotch Whisky → Irish Whiskey: Lighter and fruitier, with less smoke and a smoother finish.
Scotch WhiskyJapanese Whisky
Match
Specialty availability
Scotch Whisky → Japanese Whisky: More delicate and floral, with a cleaner, slightly drier profile.

Swap options for Soda Water

Soda WaterGinger Ale
Match
Common availability
Soda Water → Ginger Ale: Adds sweetness and a spicy ginger warmth that changes the drink into a Whisky Ginger.
Soda WaterTonic Water
Match
Common availability
Soda Water → Tonic Water: Adds bitterness and sweetness, making the drink sharper and more astringent.

Similar cocktails

Cousin drinks that share DNA with this one — each profile stands on its own.

Similar cocktail

Rusty Nail

The Rusty Nail adds Drambuie, making it a sweet, short, and heavy sipper instead of a tall, dry refresher.

Match

The Highball is crisp and effervescent where the Rusty Nail is heavy, sweet, and syrupy.

In common: spirit-forward, scotch base

Ingredients

Both share

Scotch Whisky

Only in Scotch Highball

Soda Water, Lemon Peel

Only in Rusty Nail

Drambuie

The Scotch Highball uses soda to stretch the spirit, while the Rusty Nail uses a sweet liqueur to concentrate and enrich it.

Flavor

Shared flavors

Malty, smoky Scotch backbone

How Rusty Nail differs

Drier, lighter, carbonated, less sweet

View recipe & details →

Similar cocktail

Bourbon and Soda

Uses Bourbon instead of Scotch, swapping the smoky, earthy notes for sweeter vanilla and caramel.

Match

The Bourbon version is rounder and sweeter on the palate, lacking the earthy peat smoke of the Scotch version.

In common: built, long_drink, effervescent, dry

Ingredients

Both share

Soda Water

Only in Scotch Highball

Scotch Whisky, Lemon Peel

Only in Bourbon and Soda

Bourbon Whiskey

The base spirit changes entirely from a smoky, grainy Scotch to a sweeter, oak-driven Bourbon.

Flavor

Shared flavors

Crisp carbonation, dry finish, refreshing profile

How Bourbon and Soda differs

Sweeter base, vanilla notes, no smoke

View recipe & details →

Similar cocktail

Mamie Taylor

The Mamie Taylor adds lime juice and ginger ale, making it sour and spicy rather than just dry and fizzy.

Match

The Mamie Taylor is a brighter, punchier drink with a lime tartness and ginger bite that the straightforward Highball lacks.

In common: scotch base, long_drink, built

Ingredients

Both share

Scotch Whisky, Soda Water

Only in Scotch Highball

Lemon Peel

Only in Mamie Taylor

Lime Juice, Ginger Ale

The Mamie Taylor introduces acidity and ginger spice, completely shifting the flavor balance from dry to sour-sweet.

Flavor

Shared flavors

Scotch forward, effervescent

How Mamie Taylor differs

tart, spicy, sweeter

View recipe & details →

History

Origin

The highball emerged in late 19th-century British and American bars as railway dining cars and soda fountains popularized mixed drinks with carbonated water. The term 'highball' originally referred to a railroad signal indicating a clear track, which bartenders adopted for a quick, tall drink.

Era: 1890s
Confidence

The ratio of Scotch to soda varies by preference, typically ranging from 1:2 to 1:4.

Practical

Tips & pitfalls

What works at home and what to skip when making this drink.

Tips

Worth knowing before you pour

Use a blended Scotch for a balanced flavor that mixes well.
Keep your soda water in the fridge so it stays fizzy longer.
Stir gently to mix without flattening the drink.

Avoid

Common mistakes

Using a heavily peated single malt unless you love intense smoke.
Stirring too hard and destroying the carbonation.
Using flat soda water.