August 18, 2025
Meet The Two-Ingredient Irish Whiskey Cocktail That’s Making A Statement
Crisp effervescence, bursting citrus, and Ireland’s most awarded single malt whiskey—that’s what awaits in this year’s biggest cocktail trend. With a history that dates back to the 1800s and a recent resurgence in the whiskey scene, this libation has long earned its reputation as summer’s refreshment, but it’s past time we named it the refreshing whiskey drink of the season.
We are, of course, talking about the Whiskey Highball.
If you haven’t been acquainted, allow us the honor. This classic drink has championed quality over complexity since its inception in the late 1800s. Made only with whiskey and soda (plus any desired garnishes), its simplicity is what makes it a bold, confident statement.
Light, refreshing, and more social than your extroverted friend, the Bushmills Irish Highball might just be summer’s most coveted cocktail. Its minimalist attitude and citrus flair are unapologetic and honest—you’re tasting our award-winning Irish Whiskey in every sip, with only a few seasonal accents to balance the palate.
Whiskey Highball’s Cultural Revival: Why Tradition Endures
For years, craft cocktails and maximalist whiskey drinks dominated the bar scene. Powerful flavors, bursting with bitters and vermouth. Today, we’re seeing drinkers adopt a less-is-more preference when it comes to cocktails, including drinks that complement whiskey’s intricate palate.
First appearing in the late 1800s, the Highball cocktail was ahead of its time. Practical and easy to make, it harkens back to a more traditional drinking philosophy, in which ingredients embellish the existing taste of a whiskey expression. Subtlety can never be overstated. In this resurgence, we see whiskey’s quality uplifted and its mastery revealed—a simple cocktail composition where Irish heritage can take center stage.
In a season made for lighter pours, the Bushmills Highball proves that sometimes the best ways to drink whiskey are also the simplest—crisp, balanced, and unmistakably Irish.
Bushmills Highball: What We’re Made of
The Highball may have been born in the late 1800s, but its appeal feels timeless. What once graced polished bar tops in Victorian-era lounges now slips seamlessly into today’s sunlit afternoons and rooftop evenings. It’s a reminder that tradition doesn’t have to sit still. It can evolve, lighten, and refresh itself without losing its soul.
Which brings us to the Bushmills® Irish Highball—an effervescent masterclass in how refreshing whiskey drinks should taste, and proof that history and modernity can share the same glass.
Craft Your Own Whiskey Highball This Summer
The Highball may have been born in the late 1800s, but its appeal feels timeless. What once graced polished bar tops in Victorian-era lounges now slips seamlessly into today’s sunlit afternoons and rooftop evenings. It’s a reminder that tradition doesn’t have to sit still. It can evolve, lighten, and refresh itself without losing its soul… or its award-winning ingredients.
Which brings us to the Bushmills® Irish Highball—an effervescent masterclass in how refreshing whiskey drinks should taste, and proof that history and modernity can share the same glass.
Balance: Bushmills® Original Whiskey brings depth and smoothness from years spent maturing in bourbon and Oloroso sherry casks. Add a splash of club soda, and those layers open up—vanilla, honey, soft spice—lifted by bubbles and brightened by contrast. The balance is effortless. You might even discern notes that are more easily missed in a neat pour.
Freshness: Served chilled and sparkling, the Highball amplifies some of the more delicate flavors (vanilla, honey, spice) in our award-winning Irish whiskey, while citrus and fresh herbs add a bright, invigorating edge.
Lightness: The beauty of a Highball lies in its restraint. Lighter than whiskey neat or on the rocks, it can serve long afternoons and sunlit parties without sacrificing flavor or quality. Poolside, seaside, or on the patio, it brings the breeze to you.
Versatility: Adaptability is an attractive quality in a cocktail. Being able to swap in a single malt whiskey for a blended whiskey, depending on your (or your guests’) preference, grants you a nice layer of customization. If you’re looking for velvety vanilla and honeyed sweetness in your Highball, keep the recipe the same with Bushmills® Original Blended Whiskey. But, if you’re looking for something more nuanced, a single malt whiskey like Bushmills® 10 Year Old Single Malt can bring out soft vanilla and toasted wood character.
Craft Your Own Whiskey Highball This Summer
If you’ve read this far, we consider this your unofficial certificate of Bushmills® Irish Highball Mastery. Even if you’re only recently discovering how to drink Irish whiskey or you consider the spirit an old friend, this beloved summer whiskey cocktail is a good one to be well acquainted with.
Try the recipe now.
Discover The Best Way to Drink Whiskey with Bushmills® Cocktails
The whiskey cocktail scene is always finding new expressions. This crash course in the Bushmills® Irish Highball may well endure for seasons to come, but the common thread is this: start with quality. And for that, Ireland’s most awarded single malts are an exceptional place to begin.
Join the Bushmills family and get first pour on exclusive recipes, limited releases, and stories worth savoring — because some moments deserve more than a drink. They deserve a legacy.
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