Summerton Smash Highball
Whisky is not always the first spirit people reach for when the sun comes out, but perhaps it should be. The Summerton Smash Highball combines fresh berries, mint, whisky and sparkling water to create a serve that is bright, refreshing and packed with seasonal flavour.
Inspired by classic Smash cocktails, this Highball variation leans into summer fruits whilst keeping the whisky firmly at the heart of the drink. The result is colourful, approachable and dangerously easy to enjoy on a warm afternoon.
The “Smash” family of cocktails dates back to the nineteenth century and traditionally combines spirit, mint, sugar and seasonal fruit. Whilst Bourbon Smashes have long been popular in America, the concept works equally well with many styles of whisky.
The Summerton Smash Highball takes that idea and lightens it further. By adding sparkling water instead of sugar syrup or liqueurs, the drink becomes fresher, less sweet and more suited to long summer evenings.
Like many great Highballs, it is less about strict rules and more about making the most of good ingredients.
Ingredients:
50ml whisky
4 strawberries, hulled
A small handful of raspberries
8 fresh mint leaves
25ml fresh lemon juice
100ml chilled soda water
Large ice cubes
Extra berries and mint sprig to garnish
Preparation:
Place half the berries and mint leaves into the bottom of a Highball glass and gently muddle to release their flavour.
Add the whisky and lemon juice, then fill the glass with ice. Top with chilled soda water and stir gently once or twice.
Garnish with the remaining berries and a fresh mint sprig before serving.
Hardware:
Glassware:
Highball glassTools:
Jigger or measuring cup
Bar spoon
Muddler
Flavour Profile & Experience
The Summerton Smash Highball is fresh, fruity and highly refreshing.
The berries provide sweetness and vibrant fruit character, whilst the mint adds cooling freshness. The whisky contributes structure and depth, preventing the drink from becoming overly sweet or one-dimensional.
Expect notes of summer berries, citrus, soft vanilla and fresh garden mint, all carried by lively carbonation.
Variations & Modern Twists
Blackberries work particularly well in late summer and bring a slightly richer fruit character to the drink.
For a sharper serve, increase the lemon juice slightly or use a mix of soda water and premium lemonade. Alternatively, try sparkling water.
A bourbon cask matured whisky tends to produce the most approachable result, but lighter blended whiskies can work equally well.
For larger gatherings, the recipe can easily be scaled into a pitcher and prepared in advance, adding the soda water just before serving.
Fruit-led whiskies tend to work best here, particularly those showing vanilla, honey, citrus and orchard fruit notes. Ex-Bourbon matured whiskies are especially effective, providing enough sweetness and character to support the berries without dominating them.
🥃 Summerton Recommends
Small Batch 03 English Single Malt Whisky
Distilled by Adnams and matured for 10 years in first-fill ex-Bourbon casks, this exclusive Small Batch release delivers vibrant notes of vanilla, honey, citrus and soft orchard fruit with a beautifully creamy texture. Its bright, elegant character makes it a natural Highball whisky, where sparkling mixers enhance the fresh fruit and gentle oak without overshadowing the spirit itself.
Resist the temptation to over-muddle the fruit. You want fresh berry flavour, not berry puree. A gentle press is enough to release the juices whilst keeping the finished drink bright and refreshing.
The Summerton Smash Highball pairs beautifully with barbecue food, grilled chicken, summer salads, strawberries and cream, charcuterie boards and lighter desserts. Its combination of fruit and mint also makes it a natural companion to garden parties and outdoor entertaining.
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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