| Drink | Whisky tonic, a highball |
| Base | Peated single malt and tonic |
| In our recipe | 2 parts Talisker, 6 parts tonic (1 to 3) |
| Garnish | Lemon peel and freshly ground black pepper |
| Served | Over ice in a tall glass, preferably a Riedel |
| Whisky | Talisker, Isle of Skye |
| Drink family | Highball: a spirit and a larger measure of mixer |
Whisky tonic history: a highball with smoke
Whisky tonic belongs to the large family of highballs. Who first poured tonic over whisky, nobody knows. We haven't been able to find a documented inventor or a year, and we'd rather say so than guess. The family around the drink, though, is well described.
What is a highball?
A highball is a spirit and a larger measure of mixer, typically two or three parts mixer to one part spirit. The mixer is often carbonated, and the drink is served over ice in a tall glass. The first and most common highball was Scotch and soda, known as a Scotch and soda. One dated trace is a New York Times article from 25 March 1904 titled "The Scotch Highball". In Japan the word haibōru has become another word for whisky and soda.
Tonic instead of soda
Our recipe is 2 parts whisky to 6 parts tonic, that is 1 to 3, right at the edge of a classic highball. Tonic adds sweetness and a slightly bitter edge that soda doesn't have. The best-known highball with tonic is the gin and tonic, and whisky tonic borrows the idea.
| Scotch and soda | Whisky and soda, the classic highball |
| Whisky tonic | Whisky and tonic, the recipe on this page |
| Gin and tonic | Gin and tonic, the best-known highball with tonic |
| Talisker Storm Highball | Talisker Storm, soda water and a pinch of white pepper |
Talisker: peated whisky from Skye
Talisker was founded in 1830 by Hugh and Kenneth MacAskill and opened in 1831 at the village of Carbost on the Isle of Skye. The water comes from springs at Cnoc nan Speireag, also called Hawk Hill, and runs over peat before it reaches the distillery. The malt is peated to around 18 to 22 ppm, and today Talisker is owned by Diageo. You can read more about the distillery on Wikipedia. Here is the full Talisker range.
Pepper in the glass
Pepper and peated whisky are a well-known pair. In Diageo Bar Academy's recipe for the Talisker Storm Highball, soda water and a pinch of white pepper are used to bring out the whisky's spicy side. That fits the method above, where the drink finishes with freshly ground black pepper.
How to make a better whisky tonic
Keep everything cold, and use plenty of ice so the drink doesn't go thin. Stir only a few times so the fizz survives. Twist the lemon peel over the glass so the oils land in the drink. A good tonic matters as much as the whisky, since it makes up three quarters of the glass.
Frequently asked questions about the whisky tonic recipe
What is a whisky tonic?
A whisky tonic is whisky and tonic over ice in a tall glass. The drink is a highball.
What goes in a whisky tonic?
In our recipe it's 2 parts Talisker whisky and 6 parts tonic, with lemon peel as garnish.
How much whisky and tonic should you use?
We use 1 part whisky to 3 parts tonic. A highball typically has two or three parts mixer to one part spirit.
Which whisky goes with tonic?
We use Talisker, which is peated and comes from Skye. The smoke works well with tonic, but you can also try other whiskies to taste.
Is a whisky tonic the same as a Whisky Sour?
No. A Whisky Sour is a different drink. The recipe on this page is a whisky tonic. Find the Whisky Sour recipe here.
What is a highball?
A highball is a spirit mixed with a larger measure of mixer, often carbonated, and served over ice in a tall glass.
Who invented the whisky tonic?
We don't know. We haven't been able to find a documented inventor or year for the drink.
What is the difference between a whisky tonic and a Scotch and soda?
The mixer. Scotch and soda uses soda water, whisky tonic uses tonic.
Why use pepper in a whisky tonic?
The method ends with freshly ground black pepper. In Diageo's Talisker Storm Highball a pinch of white pepper is used to bring out the whisky's spicy side.
How do you serve a whisky tonic?
Over ice in a tall glass, garnished with lemon peel twisted over the glass.
Want to make a whisky tonic yourself?
You'll need Talisker whisky, tonic and a Riedel glass. And if you want more ideas, the other drink recipes are collected here.
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