Matcha Whiskey Highball

This matcha whiskey highball is a simple Japanese-inspired cocktail made with matcha powder, Japanese whiskey, soda water, and ice. It’s light, refreshing, and easy to pair with salty snacks, grilled foods, and izakaya-style small plates.

Highballs are one of the easiest drinks to find in Japan. Walk into an izakaya, yakitori shop, casual bar, or chain restaurant, and there is a good chance you will see one on the menu. It is usually made with whiskey, soda water, and ice, served tall and cold, and meant to be enjoyed with food.

This whiskey highball recipe is flavored with a little matcha powder. The matcha gives the drink a subtle grassy taste and a clean, earthy finish. It is a quick cocktail to make at home and a fun drink with Japanese snacks, or to serve at your next dinner party.

What is a Japanese Highball?

A Japanese highball is a simple whiskey and soda drink served over ice. While the highball didn’t originate in Japan, it became a big part of their drinking culture after whiskey became more accessible in the postwar years. It started to pop up more often in bars and izakayas, and patrons favored it over a whiskey served neat or on the rocks, because of its refreshing and quenching properties.

Today, the highball is everywhere in Japan, from old-school izakayas to convenience store cans. It’s easy to drink with a meal, which is a big reason why it has stayed so popular.

Why it’s Popular in Japan

Highballs fit naturally into Japanese drinking culture because they work well with food. They sit in the same casual drinking category as lemon sours, umeboshi sours, and chuhai, which are all common drinks served in izakayas. In Japan, drinking is often not just about the drink itself. It’s about sitting down with friends, coworkers, or family, and sharing a variety of dishes over several rounds.

At an izakaya, people usually order small plates throughout the evening instead of one large meal. A highball works in that setting because it does not overpower the food. It can be served with fried chicken, grilled skewers, gyoza, sashimi, tofu dishes, and salty snacks without feeling too heavy.

Another reason highballs are popular is that they are lighter than many cocktails. The soda water dilutes the whiskey, so it can be enjoyed more slowly and feels closer to a beer or chuhai in the way it is consumed.

Matcha Whiskey Highball Ingredients

• Matcha powder: Use plain matcha powder, not a sweetened matcha latte mix. Culinary grade matcha is fine for this recipe since it’s not the main and only flavor of the drink.
• Japanese whiskey: Use a Japanese whiskey you enjoy drinking. I’m using Torisu which is a very popular Japanese whiskey used for making highballs in Japan. Fun fact: Japanese bottles are often labeled “whisky,” without the “e, because they follow the Scottish distilling techniques.
• Soda water or sparkling water: Use very cold soda water or sparkling water. The colder it is, the better the bubbles will hold.
• Ice cubes: Plenty of ice cubes to keep this cocktail chilled.

How to Make a Matcha Whiskey Highball

Scroll down to the recipe card for the full recipe.

Start by adding the matcha powder to a highball glass or a medium size glass. Pour in the whiskey and whisk until the matcha is smooth. Add the ice cubes, top with soda water, and serve immediately.

What to Serve with Matcha Whiskey Highball

This drink goes well with the kind of food you would order at an izakaya: salty, savory, grilled, fried, or lightly dressed dishes. Think of it as something to serve with snacks and small plates rather than with greasy foods or main dishes.

A few good pairings are:

• Edamame
• Yakitori
• Karaage
• Agedashi tofu
• Nasu dengaku
• Tempura
• Okonomiyaki
• Japanese fried rice
• Yaki udon
• Grilled fish

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