The Poetry Of Pouring: Japanese Highballs With The House Of Suntory

Somewhere between ritual and refreshment, the Japanese highball finds its quiet brilliance. It isn’t built on excess, but on precision, how a spirit meets water, how flavours unfold, how every element holds its place without overpowering the other. At the heart of it all is The House of Suntory, where craftsmanship is guided by seasonality, balance, and a deeply considered approach to flavour, resulting in drinks that feel both effortless and exacting.

Across these cocktails, that philosophy takes on different expressions. Floral notes of sakura, the gentle warmth of ginger, the earthy depth of matcha, and the bright lift of yuzu come together in serves that are light yet layered, simple yet expressive. Each glass is a study in harmony, subtle, refined, and quietly complex, inviting you to slow down and savour the nuance in every sip.

Here are a few highball recipes that showcase this harmony in its most refreshing form.

1. Roku Sakura Bloom Highball

A refreshing and refined serve that celebrates the delicate harmony of Roku® Gin Sakura Bloom Edition. The subtle floral notes of cherry blossom pair beautifully with the warmth of fresh ginger, creating a balanced and vibrant expression of Japanese seasonality.

Ingredients:

Roku® Sakura Bloom Gin 50ml

Premium Tonic Water 150ml

6 Fresh Ginger Matchsticks

Method:

Slice fresh ginger into long, even matchsticks.

Fill a highball glass to the rim with ice and add 4 ginger matchsticks.

Pour Roku® Sakura Bloom Gin into the glass.

Top with chilled tonic water and stir gently to balance the flavours.

Garnish with 2 remaining ginger matchsticks for a fragrant finish.

Garnish: Fresh Ginger Matchsticks

About Roku Sakura Bloom

Roku Gin - Sakura Bloom Edition captures the essence of Japanese spring through the delicate Sakura flower and the centuries-old Hanami tradition. Crafted by The House of Suntory’s master distillers, it blends six signature Japanese botanicals, Sakura Flower, Sakura Leaf, Sencha Tea, Gyokuro Tea, Sansho Pepper, and Yuzu Peel, each harvested at peak seasonality, to create a multi-layered gin with sweet floral notes, subtle saline undertones, and a touch of spice. Rooted in the philosophy of Shun, this limited-edition expression evokes the fleeting beauty of cherry blossoms, offering a sophisticated, refined, and celebratory drinking experience.

2. Roku Matcha Vanilla G&T

Vibrant concoction that marries the earthy richness of matcha with the smooth elegance of Roku Gin.

Finished with a refreshing splash of tonic and a zesty lemon peel garnish, this drink invites you to savour the art of Japanese mixology in every sip.

Ingredients:

Roku Japanese Craft Gin 50ml

Matcha Vanilla Syrup 15ml

OR made with:

Matcha Tea: 1⁄2 teaspoon

Sugar syrup: 10ml

Vanilla Extract: 5ml

Lemon juice 10ml

Tonic water to top up

Ice Cubes/Clear Ice

Method:

Warm Sugar syrup & whisk in Matcha tea & vanilla extract. Add Ice to a highball glass or

goblet. Add Roku Japanese Craft Gin, matcha vanilla syrup, & Lime. Stir gently & top up with Tonic.

Garnish with Lemon Peel.

About Roku®Gin

A Japanese Gin crafted by subtle Japanese artisanship artfully balances 6 unique Japanese botanicals to create a perfectly balanced, multi-layered gin. The blend of six unique Japanese botanicals includes Sakura Flower or Yae-sakura and Sakuna Leaf or Oshima-sakura, which add the floral hints, Sencha Tea and Gyokoru Tea, for the full-bodied aroma, Sansho pepper or Bu-do Sansho, for the spicy notes, and Yuzu Peel, for the sweet citrus fruitiness. Roku® is a flavourful masterpiece crafted by Japanese artisans to artfully balance trademark Japanese aromas and flavours to create a perfectly balanced, multi-layered gin. To the nose, it is sweet, floral, with a delicate aroma of Japanese cherry blossoms along with green tea. The extract of yuzu peel is the top note that one tastes followed by a complex, multi-layered yet harmonious flavour of various botanicals to finish off with a little spiciness from the crisp Japanese sansho pepper.

3. Toki Highball

Suntory Whisky Toki was made to mix with soda water. For as simple as this cocktail is, you'll be

surprised by the complexity of the flavours. Soda water brings out the fresh, crisp notes of the whisky

for a refreshing cocktail that pairs with any meal.

Ingredients:

Toki Suntory Whisky 50ML

Chilled Soda 150ML

Block Ice - 1 long block

About Suntory Whisky Toki®

Toki signifies "time" in Japanese. The House of Suntory’s fourth Chief Blender, Shinji Fukuyo, brought the grain component of the blend from the Chita distillery, where the heavy-type grain whisky is distilled only twice on column stills, and is sweet and vanilla-rich in its unblended state. He sourced the malt component from the Hakushu distillery, which produces light, fruity malt similar to many Speyside distilleries. These seemingly dissimilar but deeply accordant whiskies, together with select Yamazaki malts for additional depth and complexity, gave rise to the exquisite, silky taste, distinctive character and bold innovation of the blended Suntory Whisky Toki.

Toki Suntory Whisky has been honoured with a prestigious Gold in the Japanese Whisky category at the International Spirits Challenge 2024, further solidifying its legacy with over 20 international awards.

4. Haku® Yugen Highball

A bright and refreshing highball that brings together Haku® Vodka, citrusy yuzu, and a splash of soda for a crisp and zesty sip.

Ingredients:

Haku Japanese Craft Vodka 50ml

Triple Sec 10ml

Monin Yuzu Purée 20ml

Lemon Juice 15ml

Soda

Lemon peel

Ice cube or clear column ice

Method:

Add Haku Japanese craft vodka, triple sec, yuzu purée and lemon juice to the highball glass. Stir.

Add clear ice cubes and top up with soda. Stir.

Garnish: Garnish with a lemon peel

Glassware: Highball Glass

About Haku Vodka

Haku® Vodka, crafted by master distiller Kazuyuki Torii, goes beyond the ordinary. It embodies the vision of founder Shinjiro Torii, combining the riches of Japanese nature with exquisite craftsmanship. As a remarkable addition to Suntory's esteemed portfolio, Haku® pays tribute to the devotion and ingenuity of Japanese craftsmanship. The name itself holds significance as the kanji (Japanese character) for Haku means "white." However, the beauty of the Japanese language lies in its subtlety, allowing kanji to have multiple readings. When read as "shiro," it simply means white, but when read as "haku," it is intentionally rooted and elevated. "Haku" vodka finds its roots in "Hakumai," the renowned Japanese white rice, capturing its essence flawlessly. This exceptional vodka pays tribute to its origin and carries the essence of "Junpaku," meaning "untainted" and "brilliant." It is a testament to the wonder that can be crafted from the simplest of ingredients, embodying the spirit of Japanese craftsmanship.

5. Toki™ Matcha Haiboru

The Toki™ Matcha Haiboru, shared by Shibani Surkund, Portfolio Advocate - West, Suntory Global Spirits, is a refreshing highball cocktail that blends the smooth, crisp notes of Toki™ Suntory Whisky with the earthy richness of matcha.

Ingredients:

Toki™ Suntory Whisky - 45ml

Granulated Sugar - 10g

Warm Water - 10ml

Matcha Tea - 5g

Fresh Lemon Juice - 20ml

Tonic Water - 100ml

Clear Pencil Ice - 1 amount.

Lemon Peel - 1 amount

Method:

Dissolve granulated sugar in warm water.

Sift the Matcha Green Tea and add it to the sugar solution, and whisk.

In a highball glass, add the clear Ice, Toki Suntory Whisky and stir.

Add the tonic water and top up the glass with the Matcha Sugar solution.

Squeeze lemon peel over the drink, Stir, Garnish and Enjoy.

Glassware: Highball Glass

Garnish: Lemon Peel