The Green Tea Highball is a refreshing and easy-to-make cocktail that combines the flavors of lightly-smoky Japanese whiskey and cooled green tea, topped off with soda water. As an expert sommelier and brewer, I appreciate the simplicity and balance of this drink. Let me share with you all the details about this delightful concoction.
The main components of a Green Tea Highball are Japanese whiskey and green tea. Japanese whiskey is known for its smoothness and delicate flavors, often with a hint of smokiness. It pairs wonderfully with the earthy and grassy notes of green tea. When choosing a Japanese whiskey for your highball, I recommend opting for a lighter and less peaty variety, as it will allow the flavors of the green tea to shine through.
Now, let's talk about the green tea itself. While you can certainly use any type of green tea you prefer, I find that a high-quality sencha or genmaicha works particularly well in a Green Tea Highball. Sencha is a classic Japanese green tea with a rich and slightly vegetal taste, while genmaicha combines green tea leaves with roasted brown rice, adding a nutty and toasty flavor to the mix. Whether you opt for sencha or genmaicha, make sure to brew it according to the instructions on the packaging and let it cool completely before using it in the cocktail.
To assemble the Green Tea Highball, you'll need equal parts whiskey and cooled green tea. I usually use about 1.5 ounces (45 ml) of each, but you can adjust the proportions to your personal preference. To enhance the effervescence and add a refreshing fizz, top it off with soda water. The amount of soda water can vary depending on how strong you want your highball to be. I recommend starting with a small amount and gradually adding more until you reach your desired taste.
Now that we have the basic recipe covered, let me share a personal experience with the Green Tea Highball. I remember enjoying this drink on a warm summer evening, sitting on my balcony with a book in hand. The combination of the smooth whiskey, the subtle smokiness, and the crispness of the green tea made for a truly delightful sip. The soda water added a lightness that made the drink incredibly refreshing, perfect for cooling down after a long day.
The Green Tea Highball is a simple yet sophisticated cocktail that brings together the flavors of Japanese whiskey and green tea. Its balance of smokiness, earthiness, and effervescence makes it a delightful choice for any occasion. So go ahead, mix yourself a Green Tea Highball, sit back, and enjoy the harmonious blend of flavors in this refreshing libation.