Understanding the Highball: A Cocktail of Simplicity and Potential
If there’s one drink style that perfectly embodies the “less is more” philosophy, it’s the highball. At its core, a highball consists of a base spirit (typically whisky, gin or rum) and a bubbly, non-alcoholic mixer, served over ice in a tall glass. But don’t let the simplicity fool you — the nuances lie in the mixer, and today we’re diving deep into a spirited face-off: Double Dutch tonic water vs ginger beer. Each brings a distinct character to the glass, and depending on your cocktail intentions, one may shine over the other.
So, which mixer offers more creativity, complexity, or health-conscious flair in a highball format? As always, I’ve put both to the test in my home bar lab, experimented with classic pairings, consulted flavor chemistry notes, and sipped (a little too much, perhaps) in the name of research. Let’s stir this up.
Profiling the Contenders: What We’re Really Tasting
Double Dutch tonic water is no ordinary tonic. Founded by twin sisters and flavor enthusiasts, it aims to elevate the traditional quinine-heavy mixer into something more sophisticated. Think combinations like cucumber & watermelon or pomegranate & basil — these are tonics with bold personalities.
Meanwhile, a high-quality ginger beer brings heat, spice, and intensity. Unlike ginger ale, which tends to be sweeter and milder, ginger beer is fermented (or at least formulated to taste that way), giving it a richer mouthfeel and assertiveness. Think dried ginger root, earthy heat, that satisfying back-of-the-throat tingle.
Before we go too far, let’s define what we’re actually detecting in these mixers:
- Double Dutch tonic water: Balanced bitterness from quinine, fused with layered botanicals and fruit flavor combinations.
- Ginger beer: Spicy warmth, peppery depth, sometimes a bit of fermented tang or molasses sweetness (depending on the brand).
Both mixers bring complexity. But it’s how they interact with your base spirit that makes or breaks the cocktail.
Pairing Strategies: Which Spirits Work Best With Each Mixer?
Let’s consider their dance partners — your spirits of choice. The goal in any highball is not just refreshment, but harmonious layering.
Best spirits for Double Dutch tonics:
- Dry gins: Classic pairing, but the flavored variations of Double Dutch allow for surprising twists. Try the Indian Tonic with a London dry gin for a crisp G&T, or the cranberry & ginger tonic with a berry-infused gin for a fruit-forward profile.
- Vodka: Particularly good with their cucumber & watermelon variant. It brings garden-fresh crispness to otherwise neutral vodka.
- Tequila blanco: The citrusy base notes in some tonics highlight agave’s grassy, peppery notes beautifully.
Best spirits for ginger beer:
- Dark rum: The classic Dark & Stormy. Molasses-rich rum meets zesty ginger for a warming twist.
- Mezcal: Earth meets fire — mezcal’s smokiness enhances ginger’s spice in a dramatic yet balanced highball.
- Whisky (especially bourbon or rye): Ginger cuts through the caramel and spice, creating a bold, comforting cocktail.
In short, Double Dutch tonic tends to brighten and lift, while ginger beer adds depth and fire. Think of tonic water as your zesty soprano — and ginger beer your smoky baritone.
From Balance to Boldness: Flavor Impact in the Glass
When designing highballs, I look at three critical dimensions: brightness, body, and backbone.
- Brightness: Double Dutch tonics easily excel here. Variants like the Pomegranate & Basil version are especially sharp, offering an upper-register lift that plays well with herbs or fresh fruit garnishes.
- Body: This is where ginger beer wins. Its viscosity, tiny bubbles, and rounded sweetness offer a more satisfying texture — particularly important when the spirit is bold.
- Backbone: This dimension is about structure. Here again, ginger beer commands attention. Its heat cuts through richer alcohol bases, giving your drink presence and persistence.
If you’re looking to tantalize with contrast and verve, choose the tonic. But if you’re building an experiencesome sip with depth and character, the ginger beer is your ally.
Nutritional Considerations: A (Slightly) Healthier Pour
A growing segment of mixology enthusiasts — myself included — are looking for cocktails that don’t sabotage health goals. So how do these mixers stack up nutritionally?
Double Dutch tonic water — the edge in lightness:
- Calories: Roughly 66 kcal per 200ml bottle
- Sugar: Around 4.5g per 100ml, significantly less than traditional tonic waters
- Botanical benefits: Some flavor variants incorporate ingredients like basil, citrus, or cucumber, offering trace phytonutrients and antioxidants
Ginger beer — richer, but spicier for a reason:
- Calories: Typically ranges from 80–120 kcal per 200ml, depending on brand and sweetness
- Sugar: Often higher — 8g to 12g per 100ml
- Functional edge: Real ginger (where used) has well-known digestive and anti-inflammatory properties. Good for gut and immunity?
In terms of everyday sipping, Double Dutch tonic feels more sessionable. But in moderation, a ginger beer highball delivers both boldness and warming gingerols, which are compounds associated with stomach-soothing effects. Win-win, if you ask me — just keep an eye on the label.
Tinkering With Templates: Tested Cocktail Concepts
Cucumber & Watermelon Gin Fizz Highball (with Double Dutch)
Ingredients:
- 50ml dry gin (try Sipsmith or Roku)
- 10ml fresh lime juice
- Top with Double Dutch Cucumber & Watermelon tonic
- Optional: fresh mint sprig and cucumber ribbon for garnish
Light, garden-fresh, refreshingly modern. You’ll be amazed how cucumber aromatics lift the gin beyond the ordinary.
Smoky Ginger Mezcal Mule
Ingredients:
- 50ml joven mezcal (like Del Maguey Vida)
- 15ml agave syrup
- 15ml lime juice
- Top with spicy, cloudy ginger beer (look for brands using real ginger root)
- Sliced jalapeño for heat, lime wheel for garnish
Essentially a twist on the Mule, this cocktail blazes with richness and smoke. Perfect with smoky grilled dishes or as a winter warmer.
Highball Hack: Layering with Both
Yes, you can mix ginger beer and tonic water. Not in the same glass (unless you’re bold), but across a flight of variations based on the same spirit. Try using gin in three different mixers: classic Indian tonic, pomegranate tonic, and then ginger beer. Note how drastically the base spirit’s perception shifts. It’s a flavorful reminder that mixers carry just as much creative weight as the liquor.
Final Shake: Which Mixer Wins?
As ever, it depends on your mood, your spirit base, and your audience. Double Dutch tonic water is clean, contemporary, and delivers depth without heaviness. It suits low-ABV sessions, afternoon aperitifs, and adventurous botanical pairings. Ginger beer, by contrast, brings fire and friction. It leans toward richness, spice, and sultry bravado — ideal for autumn cocktails or when you’re wearing a cable-knit sweater and feeling moody.
Personally, I reach for Double Dutch when my palate wants precision. But when I want to feel something kick, ginger beer is unbeatable. Choose your path wisely — and never underestimate the power of the mixer.