Cold brew highballs and sours
How cold brew is used as a base for refreshing highball cocktails and balanced sour-style drinks in modern coffee mixology.
- Coffee Basics Nerds
- 2 min read
Article 3 of 12 in Coffee Cocktails & Mixology/
Why Cold Brew Works in Cocktails
- Smooth, low-acidity profile integrates well with spirits.
- Shelf-stable for batching, easy to prepare in advance.
- Offers versatility: refreshing in highballs, complex in sours.
Cold Brew Highballs
- Style: Tall, refreshing, carbonated drinks.
- Base: Cold brew concentrate diluted with soda or tonic.
- Spirits Pairing:
- Vodka (neutral, lets coffee shine).
- Rum (sweetness complements coffee).
- Whiskey (adds depth).
- Example Recipe (Coffee Tonic Highball):
- 45 ml cold brew concentrate.
- 30 ml gin.
- Top with tonic water.
- Serve over ice in a highball glass with citrus garnish.
Cold Brew Sours
- Style: Shaken, balanced cocktails using citrus for brightness.
- Base: Cold brew concentrate or cold brew syrup.
- Spirits Pairing:
- Whiskey → Coffee Whiskey Sour.
- Mezcal → Smoky Coffee Sour.
- Amaro → Herbal depth.
- Example Recipe (Coffee Whiskey Sour):
- 45 ml whiskey.
- 30 ml cold brew concentrate.
- 20 ml lemon juice.
- 15 ml simple syrup.
- Shake with ice, strain into rocks glass, garnish with orange peel.
Key Balance Principles
- Highballs: Effervescence + dilution lighten coffee’s intensity.
- Sours: Acidity from citrus balances coffee’s natural bitterness.
- Sweetness: Essential to round out the drink—use simple syrup or liqueurs.
Summary
Cold brew cocktails excel in two formats: highballs for light, sparkling refreshment, and sours for balanced, spirit-forward drinks. Both highlight coffee’s versatility in mixology, blending smoothness with either fizz or acidity for engaging flavor contrasts.