Whiskey Highball

Prep: 3 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Total: 3 mins
Serving: 1 serving
Yield: 1 cocktail

The whiskey highball is a simple, classic, and popular way to enjoy your favorite whiskey. This recipe is one that every aspiring bartender should know, and it is quite simply, whiskey and ginger ale. That makes it very easy to memorize. And you don't even really need to mix it, because the carbonation of the soda naturally mixes in the alcohol.

Classic highball cocktail in a glass with ice

The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

Why is it Called a Highball?

Cocktail origin stories are sometimes difficult to sort out, and the highball falls into that category. The drink emerged in the late 1890s, and several sources indicate that bartenders in England called whiskey drinks "balls," and tall or "high" glasses were used for such drinks. Another theory says the name comes from a 19th-century railroad signal. When the ball was high or raised on the signal post, the train could pass through without stopping. In "The Joy of Mixology," Gary Regan writes that the drink mimics the train signal that it was time to go: two short whistles followed by one long one, as the drink consists of 2 ounces of whiskey and a long pour of ginger ale or soda.

A Word About Whiskey

This tall mixed highball drink is a refreshing way to enjoy any style of whiskey. Blended, bourbon, Canadian, and rye whiskeys all work very well. If you pour Irish whiskey, you'll have a drink called the Irish buck (sometimes called whiskey ginger).

Ginger Ale or Club Soda?

The highball was originally mixed with plain soda water in the late 1800s, but ginger ale is the most common mixer used today. The soda's sweet and snappy flavor is a nice accent to whiskey and ginger ales can vary. Between the two ingredients, you can create a nearly endless array of tastes, which is one of the reasons it's so popular.

Mistaken Identity

This mixed drink, however, should not be confused with the class of drinks called "highballs," which include most tall drinks that combine a shot of a base spirit and one or two nonalcoholic mixers—think of timeless combos such as rum and Coke. To take it a step further, the word "highball" is also used when referring to the tall glasses that these drinks are served in.

Tips for a Great Highball

  • Go with a classic—Always select a classic whiskey so your highball will always be consistent.
  • Ginger ale options—With so many ginger ale varieties on the market today, it's best to test a few to find one you like best.
  • Size matters—Use the correct size glass so your highball won't taste too weak or too strong.

"The highball is probably the simplest drink you can make and the most satisfying. A high-quality mixer makes a big difference, so be sure to measure it. Or at least have a sense of how big your glass is. A 16-ounce water glass is probably too big!" —Tom Macy

Whiskey Highball in a glass with ice
A Note From Our Recipe Tester

Ingredients

  • 2 ounces whiskey

  • 4 to 6 ounces ginger ale, or club soda, more as needed

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Classic whiskey highball ingredients gathered

    The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

  2. Fill a highball glass with ice.

    Highball glass filled with ice

    The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

  3. Pour 2 ounces whiskey into the glass.

    Whiskey poured into glass with ice

    The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

  4. Add 4 to 6 ounces ginger ale, or club soda. Add more, if needed, to top off glass. Serve and enjoy.

    Whiskey topped with ginger ale in a glass

    The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

Feeling Adventurous? Try This:

  • Add lime—and you'll have a Mamie Taylor.
  • Half 'n half—For a drink that's not quite as sweet as the highball, try a mix of ginger ale and club soda, also known as the Presbyterian.
  • It's complicated—For a more complex highball, mix Irish whiskey, peach schnapps, and orange juice for an Irish gold.
  • Japanese whiskey—For a boldly different taste experience, swap the whiskey for Japanese whiskey.

How Strong Is the Highball?

The highball can be a very light drink, and that's why it is ideal for happy hour. It all depends on how much soda and whiskey you pour. For example, if you pour an 80-proof whiskey and follow the recipe as given, your drink will have an alcohol content of about 9 percent ABV (18 proof). Then again, if you double up on the whiskey, opt for a high-proof whiskey, or pour less ginger ale, the drink can almost double to 18 percent ABV. 

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
191 Calories
0g Fat
16g Carbs
0g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories 191
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 0%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 13mg 1%
Total Carbohydrate 16g 6%
Dietary Fiber 0g 0%
Total Sugars 16g
Protein 0g
Vitamin C 0mg 0%
Calcium 5mg 0%
Iron 0mg 2%
Potassium 3mg 0%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)