Best Whiskies for a Smoky Highball: 13 Picks

Topping a smoky whisky with soda lifts the smoke right out of the glass — a great match for fried or smoked food. These whiskies are rated 4 or more out of 5 for smokiness and also work well in a highball.

1. 1

   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
2. 2

   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
3. 3

   Laphroaig 10 Year Old

   Scotland / Islay / Single Malt / 10 yrs / 40%

   An Islay malt famous for its love-it-or-hate-it medicinal peat. Behind the intense smoke and iodine lie seaweed salinity and gentle sweetness.

   SmokyHighballNeatWith water
4. 4

   Nikka Frontier

   ニッカ フロンティア

   Japan / Blended / NAS / 48%

   A malt-led blend (51%+ malt) keyed on Yoichi's heavily peated malt. Non-chill filtered at 48%, weighty and smoky.

   SmokyRichHighballOn the rocksNeat
5. 5

   Talisker 10 Year Old

   Scotland / Islands (Isle of Skye) / Single Malt / 10 yrs / 45.8%

   Maritime, smoky and bursting with black-pepper spice. Some like it as a highball with a twist of cracked pepper.

   SmokySpicyHighballNeatWith water
6. 6

   Talisker Storm

   Scotland / Islands (Isle of Skye) / Single Malt / NAS / 45.8%

   A no-age-statement Talisker with more smoke and maritime character than the 10. Peppery spice balanced with warm sweetness.

   SmokySpicyHighballNeatWith water
7. 7

   Kilchoman Machir Bay

   Scotland / Islay / Single Malt / NAS / 46%

   The core expression from Kilchoman, Islay's farm distillery that grows, distils and bottles on site. Peat smoke with raisin, citrus and butterscotch.

   SmokyNeatHighballWith water
8. 8

   Lagavulin 8 Year Old

   Scotland / Islay / Single Malt / 8 yrs / 48%

   Released for Lagavulin's 200th anniversary in 2016 and now a core expression. Youthful, vivid smoke and sweetness — a contrast to the 16.

   SmokyNeatHighballWith water
9. 9

   Ardbeg Ten

   Scotland / Islay / Single Malt / 10 yrs / 46%

   Ardbeg's flagship, among the peatiest of Islay malts. Behind the intense smoke lie citrus and toffee sweetness.

   SmokyNeatWith waterHighball
10. 10

    Laphroaig Quarter Cask

    Scotland / Islay / Single Malt / NAS / 48%

    Laphroaig given extra time in small casks about a quarter the usual size. More wood contact adds coconut and banana sweetness to the intense peat.

    SmokyRichNeatWith waterHighball
11. 11

    Ledaig 10 Year Old

    Scotland / Islands (Isle of Mull) / Single Malt / 10 yrs / 46.3%

    The peated malt from Tobermory Distillery on the Isle of Mull. Sweet, briny smoke with hints of medicine, wax and mint chocolate.

    SmokyNeatWith waterHighball
12. 12

    Port Charlotte 10

    Scotland / Islay / Single Malt / 10 yrs / 50%

    A heavily peated (40ppm) Islay malt from Bruichladdich, made from 100% Scottish barley. Barbecue-like smoke balanced with heather.

    SmokyRichNeatWith waterHighball
13. 13

    Yoichi Single Malt 10 Year Old

    シングルモルト余市 10年

    Japan / Hokkaido / Single Malt / 10 yrs / 45%

    A powerful, weighty single malt from coal-fired Yoichi, aged at least 10 years. Ripe banana and pear meet smoky peat.

    SmokyRichNeatWith waterHighball

Order and flavour profiles are our editorial guide.