Sun, Sea & Wind Highball
The coast has always shaped the character of whisky. Salt-laden air, fresh sea breezes and long summer evenings inspired this Highball, pairing whisky with a premium coastal-style tonic to create a serve that’s bright, aromatic and effortlessly refreshing. The addition of fresh strawberries and rosemary adds a subtle seasonal twist without ever overshadowing the whisky itself.
Sun, Sea & Wind celebrates everything the Highball does best: lengthening whisky, enhancing its natural flavours and creating a drink that’s made for warm afternoons, sea views and good company.
The Highball has never been confined to soda water alone. As premium tonic waters have evolved, bartenders have discovered that carefully chosen tonics can enhance fruit, spice and herbal notes within whisky just as successfully as they do with gin.
Double Dutch Sun & Sea Tonic is an excellent example. With bright citrus, gentle herbal notes and refreshing bitterness, it complements lighter whiskies whilst adding a distinctly coastal character.
Ingredients:
50ml whisky
150ml Double Dutch Sun & Sea Tonic (or any premium coastal-style tonic water)
- Large ice cubes
2 fresh strawberries, sliced
Small sprig of rosemary
Preparation:
Fill a chilled Highball glass completely with large ice cubes.
Add the sliced strawberries before pouring in the whisky.
Slowly top with chilled tonic water and stir gently once or twice.
Finish with a small sprig of rosemary.
Hardware:
Glassware:
Highball glassTools:
Jigger or measuring cup
Bar spoon
Flavour Profile & Experience
Fresh strawberries provide gentle sweetness, whilst rosemary introduces subtle herbal aromas that complement the tonic’s botanical profile. The whisky remains the foundation of the drink, contributing vanilla, orchard fruit and gentle spice beneath layers of bright citrus and refreshing carbonation.
The result is vibrant, aromatic and unmistakably summery.
Variations & Modern Twists
Substitute the strawberries with fresh raspberries to produce a slightly sharper berry profile. A twist of grapefruit peel can introduce additional citrus complexity.
Premium tonic waters with citrus and herbal profiles will all work well if Double Dutch Sun & Sea is unavailable.
Whiskies with orchard fruit, vanilla, citrus and gentle spice work particularly well in this serve. The aim is to complement the tonic rather than compete with it, allowing both the whisky and garnish to shine.
🥃 Summerton Recommends
Mackmyra Sweden Rock
Inspired by the Swedish coast, Mackmyra Sweden Rock delivers bright orchard fruit, citrus, gentle oak and subtle spice that pair beautifully with coastal-style tonic waters. Fresh strawberries and rosemary lift the whisky’s natural fruit character, creating a Highball that’s refreshing without losing sight of the spirit at its heart.
🥃 Alternative Whisky Recommendation
Ceredig Blended Welsh Malt Whisky
Created on the Ceredigion coast, Ceredig is a bright, fruit-forward blended Welsh malt with notes of red berries, vanilla, custard, gentle oak and a distinctive savoury freshness. Those vibrant fruit notes work beautifully alongside a coastal-style tonic, while the rosemary and strawberries echo the whisky’s herbal and berry character without overwhelming it. The result is a Highball that feels fresh, balanced and unmistakably summery.
Keep the strawberries beneath the ice rather than floating on top. This lightly infuses the drink whilst keeping the presentation clean and elegant.
Perfect alongside grilled seafood, fish tacos, summer salads, charcuterie and picnic food.
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.
“`
