Jura Coast Highball
Island whiskies have a unique ability to evoke a sense of place. Honeyed malt, gentle spice, hints of sea air and soft smoke all combine to create a style that feels perfectly suited to long, refreshing serves. The Jura Coast Highball celebrates exactly that character.
Combining Jura whisky with premium ginger beer and fresh lime, this Highball balances sweetness, spice and citrus in a way that allows the whisky to remain firmly centre stage. It is approachable enough for newcomers, yet offers plenty for seasoned whisky drinkers to appreciate.
Whilst the Highball is most commonly associated with soda water, bartenders have been experimenting with alternative mixers for decades. Ginger ale quickly became one of the most popular, thanks to its ability to complement whisky rather than overwhelm it.
Island whiskies are particularly well suited to this approach. Their combination of honeyed sweetness, coastal character and gentle spice naturally complements the warmth of ginger and the freshness of citrus.
The Jura Coast Highball takes inspiration from the rugged coastline of the Isle of Jura itself, creating a serve that feels equally at home overlooking the sea or enjoyed in the garden on a summer evening.
Ingredients:
- 50ml whisky
150ml premium ginger beer
10ml fresh lime juice
Large ice cubes
Orange peel
Preparation:
Fill a chilled Highball glass completely with large ice cubes.
Add the whisky and fresh lime juice, then slowly pour over the chilled ginger beer. Stir gently once or twice to combine.
Express the oils from a strip of orange peel over the drink before dropping it into the glass.
Hardware:
Glassware:
Highball glassTools:
Jigger or measuring cup
Bar spoon
Vegetable peeler or citrus knife
Flavour Profile & Experience
The Jura Coast Highball is rich, refreshing and gently warming.
The whisky brings notes of honey, vanilla, citrus and soft oak, whilst the ginger beer introduces warming spice and sweetness. Fresh lime provides balance, preventing the drink from becoming overly rich.
The result is a Highball with more depth and texture than a traditional soda-based serve, whilst remaining bright and highly drinkable.
Variations & Modern Twists
For a lighter style, use a premium ginger ale instead of ginger beer.
A dash of Angostura bitters can add additional complexity and spice.
Try replacing the orange peel with a grapefruit twist for a slightly sharper citrus profile.
For those who enjoy a touch more smoke, experiment with lightly peated island whiskies in place of Jura.
Island whiskies are the natural choice here, particularly those offering notes of honey, citrus, vanilla and gentle coastal character. The whisky needs enough flavour to stand alongside the ginger beer, but not so much peat that the balance is lost.
Summerton Recommends
Summerton Whisky Club Jura 18 Year Old
Created in collaboration with Jura, this exclusive bottling showcases the rich, honeyed and gently coastal character that makes island whiskies work so well in Highballs. Notes of dried fruit, vanilla, citrus and oak provide enough depth to stand alongside ginger ale, whilst remaining balanced and refreshing.
Choose a quality ginger ale or ginger beer. The mixer represents three quarters of the drink, so it has a significant impact on the finished result. Fever-Tree, Double Dutch and Franklin & Sons all work particularly well.
The Jura Coast Highball pairs beautifully with grilled seafood, fish tacos, smoked salmon, barbecue chicken and lighter summer dishes. The ginger and citrus also make it an excellent partner for Asian-inspired cuisine, particularly dishes featuring ginger, soy or chilli.
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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