Barsys
Ace Highball
About
Every Diwali card party starts the same way. The table is set, the cards are shuffled, someone is already arguing about the rules, and the host is being asked, “So, what are we drinking?” The Ace Highball is the perfect answer to that question.
It’s a simple whisky highball with a fresh twist: whisky, apple juice and a tall top of chilled soda. Apple adds a gentle, natural sweetness that makes whisky feel smooth and easy, and the soda keeps the drink light, so it lasts through round after round. It’s the kind of Diwali cocktail that suits everyone at the table, from the serious whisky drinker to the friend who usually asks for “something light.”
Crisp, refreshing and ready in seconds, it’s the drink that opens the game. Deal the cards, pour the Ace, and let the night begin.
Shaken or Stirred?
Built in the glass and stirred gently. A highball doesn’t need shaking. The whisky and apple juice go straight over ice, the soda goes on top, and one slow stir brings everything together. Keeping it gentle protects the bubbles, which is what makes this drink feel fresh even an hour into the game.
What You'll Need
For one Ace Highball:
- 50 ml Whisky
- 60 ml Apple juice
- Ice Cubes
Glass: Highball
Garnish: Thin apple slice and Soda, to top (about 90 ml)
Pro tip: Fill the glass all the way to the top with ice before anything goes in. More ice means the drink stays colder for longer and melts more slowly, which is exactly what you want when people are holding their glass through a long hand. Keep the soda in the fridge until the last second for the liveliest fizz.
How to Make It
Prep time: 1 minute
Skill level: Easy
- Fill a highball glass with ice.
- Pour in the whisky and apple juice.
- Top up with chilled soda and stir gently once.
- Garnish with a thin apple slice, and serve.
Using Barsys Cocktail Machine?
On card night, the host’s biggest problem is leaving the game to make drinks. The Barsys 360 Smart Cocktail Maker fixes that. Load the whisky and apple juice into its canisters before guests arrive, and they stay cold for up to six hours. When someone needs a refill, set the glass in the centre and the 360 pours the exact measure in seconds. Add a splash of soda, drop in the apple slice, and you’re back at the table before the next hand is dealt.
For the full recipe, download the Barsys Ai app.
Tasting Notes
The Barsys Edge
At a card party, drinks get made in a hurry. One glass gets too much whisky, the next gets mostly apple juice, and by midnight nobody’s drink tastes the same. It’s not a big deal until someone says, “Why is mine so strong?”
The Barsys 360 pours to a tenth of an ounce, so the first Ace Highball of the night and the twentieth taste exactly alike. Everyone gets the same easy, balanced drink, and the host can actually enjoy the game.
Sip Setting
Picture the living room on Diwali night. Lamps glowing on the windowsill, fireworks popping outside, and a table full of friends and family deep in a game of cards. The Ace Highball is the drink sitting next to every player. Light enough to sip slowly, refreshing enough to keep the mood up, and simple enough that nobody has to think about it.
Garnish Game
A single thin apple slice is all this drink needs. Tuck it into the glass so it sits against the ice, and it hints at the fresh apple inside while adding a clean, pretty look. It won’t get in the way of sipping, which matters when your other hand is holding your cards.
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FAQs
What is a whisky highball?
A whisky highball is a tall, refreshing drink made with whisky and a fizzy mixer like soda, served over plenty of ice. This version adds apple juice for a fruity twist.
Which whisky works best for this Diwali cocktail?
A smooth blended whisky is ideal. It mixes easily with apple and soda, and keeps the drink light enough for a long evening.
Can I prepare it before guests arrive?
Yes. Keep the whisky, apple juice and soda chilled, then build each glass fresh when someone asks, so the soda stays lively.
Can I make it a little sweeter?
Yes. Add a little more apple juice and a little less soda. The drink stays light but tastes fruitier.
Is the Ace Highball a strong drink?
Not at all. With apple juice and plenty of soda, it’s a light, easy-drinking cocktail made for sipping over several hours.