Highland Cooler
A long, refreshing Scotch highball with ginger ale, bitters, and citrus
- 2 ozscotch whisky
- ½ ozfresh lemon juice
- ½ ozsimple syrup
- 2 dashesangostura bitters
- 4 ozginger ale
- lemon wheelgarnish
- 1Add Scotch, lemon juice, syrup, and bitters to a Collins glass
- 2Fill with ice and top with ginger ale
- 3Stir gently to combine
- 4Garnish with a lemon wheel
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The Highland Cooler belongs to the cooler cocktail category — spirit, citrus, ginger beer or ginger ale, and ice in a tall glass — a format that gained popularity in American and British bars from the late 19th century onward. The first historical reference to Scottish whisky production appears in the 1494 Exchequer Rolls of Scotland, and the Highlands region has since become synonymous with single malt production. The Mamie Taylor — Scotch whisky and ginger beer, created in 1899 — established a template that evolved into the Highland Cooler. Adding lemon juice and serving over ice in a tall glass transforms the intense character of Highland Scotch into a longer, more approachable drink suited to summer consumption. The cooler format opened Scotch to drinkers who found neat drams too intense, broadening the spirit's appeal significantly while preserving its core character.
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Everything you need to make a great Highland Cooler at home.
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