CRAFTING an exceptional whisky takes time and skill but mixing the perfect drink at home is simple thanks to locally inspired highball mixers from Three Ships Whisky.
A whisky highball is as simple to make as it is delicious to drink, which is one of the reasons it’s at the top of the drinks trends list this year. It’s a great drink to serve at home while entertaining friends and family over the festive season, and with the right mixer, your highball could be the talk of the town.
South Africa’s Three Ships Whisky produces expertly distilled globally awarded whiskies at the James Sedgwick Distillery in Wellington, outside Cape Town – and with a versatile range that appeals to the local palate, it’s the perfect base for delectable highballs. To celebrate the rise of the whisky highball, the team has created four South African inspired highball mixers that are simple to make and perfect to try out over the summer holiday season.
Local mixologist Peter Lebese aka #thegintleman of sipexclusive has had a hand in designing these so that they appeal to the South African palate, with each mixer perfectly matched with variants from the Three Ships Whisky core range – the Three Ships Whisky Select, 5 Year Old and 10 Year Old 2007 Vintage.
“Crafting an exceptional whisky takes time and skill,’’ explains Lebese. ‘’That doesn’t mean making a great whisky highball needs to be time-consuming or complicated. The Three Ships Whisky highball mixer recipes have been created to be fun and simple to make, using some of the finest local ingredients that can be found in the kitchen, garden or fridge in most of our homes.
“The secret to making a world-class whisky highball is using an expertly distilled whisky for your base and the Three Ships Whisky range meets all the credentials with a versatile range catering to different taste profiles. Only an expert can create an award-winning whisky, but with the right mixer, anyone can make the perfect whisky highball.”
The Three Ships Whisky Select is a high-quality, smooth-tasting blend of the finest malt and grain whiskies, distilled in both pot and column stills that have been left to mature for a minimum of three years. Add fiery ginger ale and naartjie and to create the refreshing Kasi Flame (pictured above).
If ginger ale is not for you, try the Pineapple Slinger, a blend of Three Ships Whisky 5 Year Old with a splash of pineapple-flavoured sparkling water, a slice of pineapple and a sprig of mint – the perfect drink for relaxing on the patio on those hazy summer days. The Timeless 10 is definitely for you if your palate leans towards the slightly exotic: Three Ships Whisky 10 Year Old and a splash of soda garnished with thinly sliced beetroot, it’s also bound to impress your guests.
KASI FLAME
35-50ml Three Ships Whisky Select
Top with ginger ale
Garnish with a naartjie wedge
LEMON SELECT
35-50ml Three Ships Whisky Select
Top with lemon flavoured sparkling water (or soda)
Garnish with bashed lemongrass
PINEAPPLE SLINGER
35-50ml Three Ships Whisky 5 Year Old
Top with pineapple flavoured water
Garnish with a long slice of pineapple and a mint sprig
TIMELESS 10
35-50ml Three Ships Whisky 10 Year Old
Top with soda
Garnish with thinly sliced beetroot