Disarmingly simple and tall, it is a measure of whiskey lengthened with cold ginger ale over ice, the spirit's grain warmth riding the mixer's sweet, peppery fizz. A lime wedge sharpens the finish and rye's spice is the natural partner, though any whiskey obliges — picture a gentler Moscow Mule, with whiskey where the vodka was and softer ginger ale in place of ginger beer.
Garnish: Lime Wedge
Built · Highball · On the Rocks
build
Fill a highball glass with cubed ice.
add
Pour the whiskey over the ice.
top
Top with chilled ginger ale.
stir
Give a single gentle stir to combine without knocking out the carbonation.
garnish
Garnish with a lime wedge.
No single bartender or bar is credited with the Whiskey Ginger; it is a convergent, genericized pairing rather than one house's creation. It grew out of the turn-of-the-century buck and Horse's Neck families — tall drinks in which ginger ale became a handy way to stretch whatever spirit was poured. Pared down to just two ingredients, it is essentially the whiskey buck, and it has settled into the highball repertoire as one of its plainest members.