Elderflower Highball
Delicate, floral and effortlessly refreshing, the Elderflower Highball demonstrates a side of whisky that many drinkers rarely experience. By combining whisky with elderflower tonic, the resulting serve becomes light, aromatic and remarkably elegant, making it an ideal choice for warmer weather.
Whilst elderflower is more commonly associated with gin, its subtle floral sweetness can work beautifully with the right whisky. The key is choosing a whisky with enough fruit and citrus character to complement the elderflower rather than compete with it.
Elderflower has enjoyed a remarkable rise in popularity over the last two decades, becoming a staple ingredient in everything from cocktails to soft drinks.
Its appeal lies in its subtlety. Unlike many floral flavours, elderflower brings gentle sweetness and aroma without becoming overpowering. That restraint makes it surprisingly compatible with whisky, particularly lighter styles matured in ex-Bourbon casks.
The Elderflower Highball borrows the simplicity of the classic Japanese Highball whilst introducing a fresh floral twist that feels perfectly suited to spring and summer drinking.
Ingredients:
50ml whisky
150ml elderflower tonic water
Large ice cubes
Lemon twist
Optional: fresh mint leaf
Preparation:
Fill a chilled Highball glass completely with large ice cubes.
Add the whisky before slowly pouring over the chilled elderflower tonic water. Stir gently once or twice to combine.
Garnish with a lemon twist and, if desired, a fresh mint leaf.
Hardware:
Glassware:
Highball glassTools:
Jigger or measuring cup
Bar spoon
Flavour Profile & Experience
The Elderflower Highball is elegant, crisp and highly aromatic.
The whisky contributes notes of vanilla, orchard fruit and citrus, whilst the elderflower introduces delicate floral sweetness and freshness. The carbonation lifts the aromas beautifully, creating a serve that feels lighter than its ingredients might suggest.
Expect notes of pear, lemon, honey, elderflower and soft vanilla, with a clean, refreshing finish.
Variations & Modern Twists
For a slightly drier serve, replace part of the elderflower tonic with soda water.
A thin slice of cucumber can introduce additional freshness and works particularly well on warmer days.
Those looking for a slightly richer profile can experiment with whiskies carrying gentle honey and stone fruit notes.
The Elderflower Highball works best with lighter, fruit-forward whiskies displaying notes of pear, apple, honey, citrus and vanilla. Delicate Speyside malts, lighter Highland whiskies and ex-Bourbon matured expressions are all excellent choices.
🥃 Summerton Recommends
Fielden Hazybower Rye Whisky
Inspired by the wildflowers and herbs that flourish amongst Fielden’s regenerative grain fields, Hazybower is a wonderfully bright English rye whisky bursting with citrus, blossom, lemon tart and gentle rye spice. Matured predominantly in American oak with a touch of Tokaji wine cask influence, it creates an elegant, refreshing Highball where fresh floral notes and vibrant citrus shine through while the whisky retains its distinctive character.
Choose an elderflower tonic rather than an elderflower pressé or cordial. The bitterness of the tonic helps maintain balance and prevents the drink becoming overly sweet.
Fever-Tree Elderflower Tonic Water works particularly well.
The Elderflower Highball pairs beautifully with smoked salmon, grilled chicken, summer salads, goat’s cheese and lighter seafood dishes. It is also an excellent aperitif before a meal.
With Thanks
The #SummertonHighballRevival was created to showcase just how versatile whisky can be, and we’d like to extend our sincere thanks to two companies who helped bring this project to life.
Double Dutch Drinks
A great Highball deserves a great mixer. Double Dutch kindly supplied a selection of their premium tonics, sodas and mixers for our photoshoot, allowing us to explore flavour pairings that complement, rather than overpower, the whisky. Their range demonstrates just how much difference a thoughtfully crafted mixer can make to a Highball.
Glencairn Crystal
Beautiful drinks deserve beautiful glassware. Glencairn generously supplied a selection of their stunning Highball glasses for the campaign, including the Edinburgh and Jura collections. Their expertly crafted crystal allowed every serve to be presented exactly as it should be—elegant, timeless and made to be enjoyed.
Explore more recipes in the #SummertonHighballRevival and discover just how refreshing whisky can be.
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