Highball Bar Crawl: Discovering the Best Whisky Soda in New York

The adventure started strong at EN Japanese Brasserie in the West Village with kick ass Shiso (Japanese mint) highballs served alongside crispy fried chicken and shrimp dumplings. EN's well curated saké list is as impressive as their Japanese whiskies, and the cozy tables are perfect for date night.

The next stop was Danté NYC in Little Italy. Their award winning bar crew's classic riff began with a crystal-clear plug of ice, a fat wedge of grapefruit peel, and a good hit of alcohol. The extra whisky amped up the typical 1:3 water/booze ratio, providing a more bracing quaff. Prepare to wait if you roll in for dinner, especially during peak hours. But drinks at the bar are always flowing.

There's only one reason people wait for hours to be seated at Ippudo—Ramen. But it turns out the most famous tonkotsu ramen shop in the world also makes a strong whiskey-soda, too. The crisp classic served with a slice of lemon peel dovetailed beautifully with the silky noodles and rich broth. But let's face it, the drinks were an afterthought once the food came.

After stuffing ourselves at Ippudo, the evening's swan song was light bites and yes, more whisky, at The NoMad Hotel's Elephant Bar, a major player in the NYC nightlife scene. A charcuterie board and raw veggies paired beautifully with the evening's last Highball, which they spiked with Toki, Jasmine, peach essence, and verjus—the juice from unripe, unfermented grapes for a hint of acid.