Last Updated on: 23rd April 2024, 04:54 pm
J Highland
J Highland is a certified sommelier with 30 years in the liquor industry, owning a pub, a liquor store, and moonlighting as a spirits distiller.
Written by: J Highland
With the assistance of Scotch expert Neil Coleman and valuable customer insights, I have created a list of top Scotches for Highball.
Choose your next favorite!
Key Takeaways
- Recommended whiskies are Chivas Regal 12, Johnnie Walker Double Black, J&B, Monkey Shoulder, Dewar’s, Pig’s Nose, and Cutty Sark, selected for their compatibility with highball cocktails.
- Each whisky is reviewed in detail, including notes on the nose, palate, finish, and alcohol content.
- The ideal characteristics of a highball Scotch are slightly bitter, peppery, and warm flavors.
- Affordability is emphasized, with all recommended whiskies being reasonably priced.
- Quick Note: Running a pub and liquor store provides me ample access to various spirits, in addition, I moonlight as a spirits distiller. I assess them using customer feedback, expert opinions and online research.
Quick Look at the Best Scotch Whiskies for Highball
Prices are approximate and stated in USD:
| Whisky | Price |
| Chivas Regal 12 | $27 |
| Johnnie Walker Double Black | $29 |
| J&B | $20 |
| Monkey Shoulder | $30 |
| Dewar’s | $19 |
| Pig’s Nose | $32 |
| Cutty Sark | $20 |
Chivas Regal 12: Basic But Balanced (Good for Highballs)
- Nose: Apple, vanilla, lemon curd
- Palate: Apple, malt, oak, caramel, pepper
- Finish: Short, pepper
- Alcohol content: 80 proof (40% ABV)
- How to drink: Highball
Chivas 12 offers a light and simple profile. The nose hints at apple juice, vanilla, and lemon curd. The palate is light with oak, caramel, green apple, and a touch of cinnamon and pepper. The finish is short and peppery, with mild heat.
Not complex, but it hits the essential Scotch notes. Chivas 12 shines in highballs thanks to its affordable price and easy-mixing nature, states whiskey expert Neil Coleman.
Johnnie Walker Double Black: Smoke Enhances the Highball
- Nose: Smoke, vanilla, tar, barbecue sauce, citrus, malt
- Palate: Charred oak, peat, caramel, vanilla, salted butter
- Finish: Charred, oak, peat, vanilla, citrus
- Alcohol content: 80 proof (40% ABV)
- How to drink: Rocks, Highball
Smokier than Black Label, Double Black elevates the highball experience.
The nose starts with bold smoke, then reveals vanilla, orange, and malt with hints of tar and BBQ. The creamy palate offers a burst of charred oak and peat, followed by caramel, vanilla, and salted butter. The long, warm finish features lingering peat, oak, vanilla, and a touch of orange zest.
This smoky dram is a great introduction to peated Scotch at a nice price.
J&B: Highball Hero
- Nose: Alcohol, fruit, oak, citrus
- Palate: Oak spice, black pepper, toffee, vanilla
- Finish: Oak spice, black pepper, toffee
- Alcohol content: 80 proof (40% ABV)
- How to drink: Cocktails
J&B wasn’t my mentor’s favorite whisky, but he knew it made fantastic highballs.
The nose has a touch of fruit and oak behind some alcohol, while the palate is spicy and oaky with hints of vanilla.
This affordable blend isn’t for sipping neat, but its bold peppery notes add a welcome kick to cocktails.
Monkey Shoulder: Smooth & Easy (Perfect for Newcomers)
- Nose: Marmalade, vanilla, nutmeg, clove, cinnamon
- Palate: Malt, vanilla, orange, honey, oak
- Finish: Caramel, oak spice
- Alcohol content: 80 proof (40% ABV)
- How to drink: Cocktails
Monkey Shoulder offers a welcoming nose of marmalade, vanilla, and warm spices. The palate is smooth and creamy with vanilla, orange, and honey, balanced by a touch of oak spice. The finish is short, but water brings out sweetness.
This affordable whisky is perfect for new drinkers – easy to sip neat or enjoy in a highball or cocktail.
Dewar’s White Label: Sweet Surprise for Value (Smooth & Easy)
- Nose: Apple, peach, oak
- Palate: Honey, cereal, vanilla, smoke, oak
- Finish: Caramel, vanilla, oak spice
- Alcohol content: 80 proof (40% ABV)
- How to drink: Rocks
Dewar’s White Label punches above its price. The nose whispers apple, peach, barley, and oak. The palate surprises with remarkable smoothness and sweetness – honey, caramel, vanilla, toasty barley, a touch of smoke, and a hint of oak. The finish is short, leaving caramel, vanilla, and oak spice.
While simple, it avoids harshness and offers excellent value for the budget-minded highballs.
Pig’s Nose: Fruity & Peaty (Cocktail Hero)
- Nose: Peach, apple, apricot, peat
- Palate: Peach, apple, apricot, peat, oak spice
- Finish: Short, peat, oak, spice
- Alcohol content: 86 proof (43% ABV)
- How to drink: Cocktails
Pig’s Nose surprises with a fruity nose (peach, apple, apricot) and a touch of peat. The taste echoes the fruit, with smoke and oak spice joining in. While short on the finish, the lingering peat makes it a cocktail hero. Affordable and ideal for experimenting with Highballs and Rob Roys.
Cutty Sark: Budget-Friendly Highball Booster (Not for Sipping)
- Nose: Sour apples, pepper, alcohol
- Palate: Lemon, honey, black pepper, alcohol
- Finish: Short-lived, fruity, black pepper
- Alcohol content: 80 proof (40% ABV)
- How to drink: Highball
Cutty Sark’s strength lies in its highballs. The nose hints at sour apple, pepper, and alcohol. The thin palate offers lemon, honey, pepper, oak, and strong alcohol. Though not great neat, its peppery character cuts through soda in a highball, making it a budget-friendly mixer.
How to Choose a Good Scotch for Highball
- Flavor Profile: The taste of the Scotch will significantly influence the overall flavor of the highball. Scotch whiskies range from light and floral to rich and peaty. For a highball, you might want a Scotch that is not too overpowering so that it can blend well with the subtleness of the carbonated water. A lighter, fruitier single malt or a smooth blended Scotch often works well.
- Single Malt vs. Blended: Blends make a better choice as they are more affordable while Single Malts are better suited for sipping.
- Age and Quality: While a high-quality, aged Scotch can certainly make a fine highball, it’s not necessary to use an expensive or aged Scotch for this cocktail. Mid-range Scotches are often recommended because they provide a good balance of flavor and value. Using a very expensive Scotch in a highball might be seen as wasteful by some, as the nuances of an aged Scotch can be lost when mixed.
- Brand Reputation: Well-known brands often provide a consistent quality, but don’t overlook smaller distilleries.
- Experimentation: As with any cocktail, don’t be afraid to experiment. Try making a highball with a couple of different Scotches to see which one you prefer. Each Scotch can bring a unique character to the drink.