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Best Whiskies for a Highball: 20 Picks
Whisky topped with soda water is easy to pair with food and softens the alcohol. This page lists the whiskies we recommend for highballs, starting with those that suit it best.
How to choose and enjoy
Chill the glass and soda well and use about 1 part whisky to 3–4 parts soda. Pour the soda gently down the side (not onto the ice) and stir just once to keep the bubbles.
- 1
Ardmore Legacy
Scotland / Highlands / Single Malt / NAS / 40%
From Ardmore, a rare peated Highland distillery. A mix of peated and unpeated malt — honeyed sweetness with gentle smoke.
HighballOn the rocksNeat - 2
Big Peat
Scotland / Islay / Blended Malt / NAS / 46%
A blended malt of Islay whiskies only — Ardbeg, Caol Ila, Bowmore and even Port Ellen. Robust peat smoke and salt.
SmokyHighballNeatWith water - 3
Black Nikka Clear
ブラックニッカ クリア
Japan / Blended / NAS / 37%
Black Nikka's everyday staple, made with unpeated malt for a clean, easy-drinking style. Soft aromas and mellowness for daily highballs.
HighballWith waterOn the rocks - 4
Bowmore 12 Year Old
Scotland / Islay / Single Malt / 12 yrs / 40%
The core expression from Bowmore, one of Islay's oldest distilleries (1779). Honeyed lemon and gentle, driftwood-ember smoke.
HighballNeatWith water - 5
Bushmills Original
Ireland / Northern Ireland / Blended / NAS / 40%
The core blend from Northern Ireland's Bushmills Distillery. A high malt content gives fruity sweetness and smoothness in a light style.
HighballOn the rocksCocktails - 6
Canadian Club
Canada / Blended / NAS / 40%
Created by Hiram Walker in 1858, the archetypal Canadian whisky. Blending before ageing gives a light, clean style.
HighballCocktailsOn the rocks - 7
Caol Ila 12 Year Old
Scotland / Islay / Single Malt / 12 yrs / 43%
The core expression from Caol Ila, Islay's largest distillery. Islay peat smoke brightened by floral, peppery and citrus notes in a light, approachable style.
SmokyHighballNeatWith water - 8
Chita
知多
Japan / Grain / NAS / 43%
Suntory's single grain whisky from Chita Distillery in Aichi. Light with a gently sweet aroma, it truly blooms in a highball.
HighballOn the rocksWith water - 9
Connemara Peated Single Malt
Ireland / County Louth / Single Malt / NAS / 40%
A rarity in Ireland: a single malt made with peat-smoked barley. Gentle smoke and honeyed sweetness, with an Irish lightness of touch.
HighballNeatWith water - 10
Dewar's White Label
Scotland / Blended / NAS / 40%
A "double-aged" blended Scotch built on Aberfeldy malt, marrying up to 40 whiskies and resting them again in cask. Smooth honey and vanilla.
HighballOn the rocksCocktails - 11
Glenfiddich 12 Year Old
Scotland / Speyside / Single Malt / 12 yrs / 40%
One of the world's best-known single malts. Fresh, pear-like fruit with gentle butterscotch and cream.
FruityHighballNeatOn the rocks - 12
Hakushu
白州
Japan / Single Malt / NAS / 43%
The no-age-statement single malt from Hakushu, the "forest distillery". Fresh young-leaf aromas, gentle smoke and a crisp, lively finish.
HighballNeatOn the rocks - 13
Hakushu 12 Year Old
白州 12年
Japan / Yamanashi / Single Malt / 12 yrs / 43%
A 12-year-old single malt from the "forest distillery". Fresh green-leaf and fruit aromas with a soft, sweet smokiness.
FruityHighballNeatWith water - 14
Ichiro's Malt & Grain White Label
イチローズモルト&グレーン ホワイトラベル
Japan / Blended / NAS / 46%
A world blend with Chichibu malt at its heart, combining whiskies from the five great whisky nations. Fresh and elegant — great in a highball.
HighballOn the rocksWith water - 15
Iwai Tradition
岩井トラディション
Japan / Blended / NAS / 40%
A blend named after Kiichiro Iwai, who guided Hombo Shuzo's early whisky making. Easy-going and affordable for everyday highballs and mizuwari.
HighballWith waterOn the rocks - 16
Jack Daniel's Old No.7
USA / Tennessee / Tennessee / NAS / 40%
From Lynchburg, Tennessee, one of the world's best-known American whiskeys. Sugar-maple charcoal mellowing gives a smooth sweetness.
HighballCocktailsOn the rocks - 17
Jameson
Ireland / Blended / NAS / 40%
The world's best-selling Irish whiskey. A smooth, approachable blend of triple-distilled pot still and grain whiskey.
HighballCocktailsOn the rocks - 18
Jim Beam White Label
USA / Kentucky / Bourbon / NAS / 40%
The world's best-selling bourbon. Based on the Beam family's 1795 recipe and aged at least four years in new oak — light and easy-drinking.
HighballCocktailsOn the rocks - 19
Johnnie Walker Black Label 12 Year Old
Scotland / Blended / 12 yrs / 40%
The benchmark blended Scotch: around 40 malts and grains from across Scotland, each aged 12 years or more. Smoke, dried fruit and caramel in harmony.
HighballOn the rocksWith water - 20
Johnnie Walker Double Black
Scotland / Blended / NAS / 40%
Built on Black Label with more peaty West Coast and Islay malts, matured in heavily charred casks for a smokier blend.
HighballOn the rocksNeat
Order and flavour profiles are our editorial guide.