We get it, the spring months are made for tequila, gin, rum, and vodka-based cocktails. When it comes to seasonal mixed drinks, light, floral, and refreshing are the keywords. Sadly, this means that our beloved whiskey (specifically, bourbon) sometimes gets left out in the (not so) cold from May until August.
We understand why you might shy away from the woody, rich, caramel-meets-vanilla flavors of bourbon on a sunny day. But we can’t abide ignoring the spirit for four months. We’ve already given the mint julep love this spring and more shine for the whiskey sour is on the way. But there’s another cocktail — a crazy easy one! — that ticks all the spring (and summer) boxes.
The whiskey highball. This thirst-quenching, simple cocktail begins with an ice-filled highball glass. Add your favorite whiskey (Japanese whisky and Scotch are great, but we’re using bourbon today). Top it with ginger ale or soda water and add a citrus wedge garnish to complete the drink.
“The whiskey highball is a very simple cocktail,” says Robert Kidd, head bartender at Le Cavalier in Wilmington, Delaware. “But that doesn’t mean finding the right ingredients is easy. This time of year, I prefer a nice wheated bourbon for my highballs. The sweet, soft flavors you get from a wheated bourbon are great for a refreshing highball in the spring and summer.”
While wheated bourbons are well-suited for highballs, there are other bourbons with differing mash bills that work well, too. To find a few seasonal gems, we turned to the experts behind the bar, asking our favorite bartenders to tell us the best bourbons to mix into a May highball. Check their answers below!
Angel’s Envy
Juyoung Kang, lead bartender at The Dorsey inside The Venetian Resort in Las Vegas
ABV: 43.3%
Average Price: $50
Why This Bottle?
I would have to go with Angel’s Envy and Frey Ranch. Angel’s Envy because it has a balanced hint of sweetness and banana finish that will not get lost in the soda water nor dull the taste. Frey Ranch is a local Nevada bourbon with great depth in flavor and spice. It shines through in the highball even when you add other flavors to heighten the highball experience.
Four Roses Single Barrel
Piero Procida, food and beverage director at The London West Hollywood in Los Angeles
ABV: 50%
Average Price: $45
Why This Bottle?
I prefer to stay with something that’s flavors are not going to be drowned out by the soda water. I typically look for a full-bodied, aged (seven to nine years) and higher proofed bourbon — like Four Roses Single Barrel select. It’s decently priced and is a high-quality 100 proof Bourbon. It has hints of spice, chocolate, vanilla, and a unique maple character on the nose with an amazing plum and cherries on the palate.
The soda opens up these flavor profiles even more, and it’s incredibly smooth yet remains a beautiful full-bodied bourbon that qualities remain ever-present despite dilution.
Wild Turkey 101
Young Kim, director of spirits education and bar manager at Fine & Rare in New York City
ABV: 50.5%
Average Price: $25
Why This Bottle?
I would use a higher-proof bourbon with less rye content in a mash bill like Wild Turkey 101. When mixing with soda, pronounced vanilla, caramel, and wood tones don’t disappear with 50.5 % alcohol. If you want to level up, add a premium brand of club soda and orange peel.
Woodford Reserve
Andy Shannon, bartender and co-founder of Candra Drinks in London
ABV: 45.2%
Average Price: $35
Why This Bottle?
Woodford Reserve has strong dry fruits on the nose with spice, toffee, and cinnamon on the palate. My garnish preference for a Woodford highball is a couple of sprigs of mint, but it also carries well simply garnished with a lemon wheel for extra citrus and freshness.
Old Grand-Dad Bonded
Jeff Rogers, bar director of Jester Concepts in Minneapolis
ABV: 50%
Average Price: $25
Why This Bottle?
Old Grand-Dad Bonded is great for highballs. Spicy and full-flavored, it holds up to that amount of dilution. The flavors are enhanced, and the underlying flavors of baking spices and vanilla come out. For a bold and delicate cocktail.
Russell’s Reserve 10
Mark Phelan, beverage director of 16” on Center in Chicago
ABV: 45%
Average Price: $30
Why This Bottle?
Russell’s Reserve 10-Year-Old Bourbon. This is one of my favorites from the Wild Turkey lineup for its versatility, depth of flavor, and availability in stores. The barrel notes really shine through here: rich vanilla, caramelized oak, whispers of stone fruit. Sipping it neat or in a stirred cocktail is great, but it really shines in a highball with an orange peel expression.
The carbonation lengthens and balances those deeper flavors for a perfectly balanced drink that pairs well with any meal.
Maker’s Mark 101
Aaron Lambert, bartender at Whiskey Kitchen in Durham, North Carolina
ABV: 50.5%
Average Price: $40
Why This Bottle?
Depending on the drinker, I have a lot of go-to’s. The wheat heavy bourbons tend to dilute easily and — whether disappearing into a cocktail or relaxing into some rocks and water — sort of just become delightful, refreshing, and mellow, even though they technically broke down in total flavor. In the summer heat, that might be what someone is looking for. Not everyone wants their drink to be an argument with all of their senses.
The Maker’s line is perfect for this type of drinker. They have over-proofed labels now, like the Makers 101 and the Makers Cask strength that still remind you you’re drinking bourbon but have all the wheated softness.
Wild Turkey Rare Breed
Ethan Skaggs, bar manager at Gris-Gris in New Orleans
ABV: 58.4%
Average Price: $50
Why This Bottle?
My favorite bourbon to mix into a highball is Wild Turkey Rare Breed. At 112.8 proof, adding soda water and lemon extends the bolder spice and oak notes that you get when tasting the product neat. Adding Japanese shiso (or a small amount of mint) adds to the subtle complexity of the bourbon, pairing nicely with the sweeter caramel and vanilla wood notes that you receive on the finish.
Koval Single Barrel
Brenna Gay, bartender at Bradford House in Oklahoma City
ABV: 47%
Average Price: $40
Why This Bottle?
The best bourbon to mix for a highball cocktail is the Koval Single Barrel, out of Chicago. If you’re only using two ingredients in a drink or a dish, they have to be quality items. Koval has a moderate price point, but is high-quality, which makes it perfect for a home or professional bartender. It is smooth, lightly sweet, with notes of caramel, honey, vanilla, and summer grass.
Buffalo Trace
Myles Holdsworth, director of food and beverage at The Ritz-Carlton in New Orleans
ABV: 45%
Average Price: $40
Why This Bottle?
There are so many great bourbons to mix into highballs, but Buffalo Trace always stands out as a fantastic addition to cocktails. It is a deep rich whiskey with molasses and vanilla notes but is not harsh and is very approachable.
Wilderness Trail Single Barrel
Robert Kidd, head bartender at Le Cavalier in Wilmington, Delaware
ABV: 50%
Average Price: $50
Why This Bottle?
I prefer to use Wilderness Trail Bourbon. The mash bill is 64% corn, 24% wheat, and 12% Malted barley. The sweet flavors of caramel come through in the highball, and the carbonation really lifts the subtle allspice to the nose while you sip. Generally, if you are drinking a highball, you want something refreshing, so I tend to shy away from anything that’s going to be too spiced.
Henry McKenna 10
Hadi Ktiri, beverage manager at Four Seasons Hotel and Private Residences in New Orleans
ABV: 50%
Average Price: $100
Why This Bottle?
Bonded Bourbons tend to work best in a highball because the added proof lessens the effect of the extra water. I like Henry McKenna 10 Year, a good quality sparkling mineral water, and a twist of lemon for my highballs.
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