Whisky Highball
the recipe to start with
Fill a highball glass completely with ice and stir for ten seconds to chill the glass. Discard the melting water.
Pour the whisky over the ice and stir around five more times.
Top up with ice-cold sparkling water: pour it along the inside of the glass, then stir once from bottom to top.
Squeeze a lemon zest over the glass and serve immediately.
Bourbon, rye or Scotch
Bourbon contains at least 51 percent corn, making it sweet, full-bodied and vanilla-like — the safe choice for an Old Fashioned, Whiskey Sour and Mint Julep. Rye is made from rye, drier and spicier, and cuts through sweet vermouth more effectively — which is why it is the classic choice for a Manhattan and a Sazerac. Scotch varies the most: a smooth blend works anywhere, while a smoky Islay completely transforms a cocktail and suits a Penicillin and a Rusty Nail. One rule applies everywhere: do not use whisky you would not also drink neat, but save your most expensive bottle for drinking neat.
The right glass
Whisky cocktails fall into two camps. Strong, stirred cocktails without a mixer—Old Fashioned, Manhattan, Rusty Nail—belong in a low, wide whiskey glass of 30 to 38 cl with a thick base: room for one large ice cube and a wide opening for the aromas. Long drinks such as the highball, on the other hand, call for a tall, narrow glass that keeps the bubbles in. Invest in heavy glass; with whisky, you feel its weight in your hand just as much as you taste the drink.
Onis Icon Tumbler 35 Cl (6 pieces)
RCR Etna Tumbler 33 Cl (6 pieces)
€64.90 together, so shipping is free.
Eight whisky cocktails
Frequently asked questions
Which glass do you use for whisky cocktails?
A 30 to 38 cl whiskey glass or tumbler for stirred cocktails, and a tall glass for highballs. View our whiskey glasses.
Whisky or whiskey—which is the difference?
Only the spelling, which reveals its origin: Scotland and Japan write whisky, while Ireland and the United States write whiskey. Both appear in cocktail recipes.
Should you use expensive whisky in cocktails?
No. A good mid-range bottle costing around thirty euros is ideal. In a cocktail with sugar, bitters, and citrus, the subtleties of an expensive single malt would be lost anyway.
Why are whisky cocktails stirred instead of shaken?
Cocktails without juice or egg are stirred—this chills them without incorporating air bubbles, keeping the drink clear and silky smooth. Shaking makes it cloudy and foamy.
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