Tract · Cocktails

Highball · Built in glass · Historical · complexity 1/5

Whiskey Float

Applegreen's Whiskey Float is the whiskey extension of the brandy-over-seltzer float service.

spirit-forward · refreshing · dry · casual · refreshing · nightcap

Served in Thin whiskey glass.

Family

Variants (2)

Applegreen's Bar Book by John Applegreen (1904, p.62) — Applegreen 1904

1 ponyrye whiskey — whiskeybase
0.5 glassSoda water — seltzerdilution
  1. Prepare as for the brandy float, substituting whiskey for brandy.
  2. Leave the whiskey floating on top of the seltzer and serve.
Nose
Whiskey rises first, ahead of the soda.
Palate
This is a neat service-history entry because it preserves a now-unfamiliar floating highball presentation rather than an ordinary mixed long drink.
Finish
The finish is direct, fizzy, and spirit-led.
Summary
A floated-whiskey seltzer service from the plain long-drink fringe.

Jack's Manual by J. A. Grohusko (1910, p.89)

0.5 glassSoda water — fizz waterbase
1 portionWhiskey — Pour whiskey slowly on top.base
  1. Fill the glass half full with fizz water.
  2. Pour the whiskey slowly on top and serve.

See also: Brandy Float, Whiskey Sling