Average
Sweet, Sour & Fruity
3 minutes
Highball Glass
Ingredients
Our version mixes vanilla-flavored vodka, lemon juice and strawberry syrup, topped with soda water – crisp, bubbly and only subtly sweet despite its indulgent name.
The Strawberry and Cream Highball is a drink that works just as well at a summer party as it does on a quiet afternoon.
How to Make a Strawberry and Cream Highball
Bar tools you’ll need
Jigger
Citrus Press
Bar Spoon
Knife
How to Mix
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Fill a highball glass with ice cubes.
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Cut a Lemon in half, then use a citrus press (or citrus elbow) to juice the Lemon halves.
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Use a jigger to measure and pour the Lemon Juice into the glass.
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Measure and add Strawberry Syrup.
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Measure and add Absolut Vanilia.
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Use a bar spoon to give the drink a gentle stir.
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Top with Soda Water.
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Garnish your drink by adding a Lemon Twist to the glass and using a bar spoon to push it down so that it spirals inside of the glass.
All about the Strawberry and Cream Highball
The Strawberry and Cream Highball is an easy-to-make built cocktail – vanilla-flavored vodka, lemon juice and strawberry syrup topped with crisp soda water, served in a highball glass over ice and garnished with a lemon twist.
Contrary to what you might expect, the Strawberry and Cream Highball is not a dessert cocktail, and not overly sweet either.
The strawberry syrup adds a gentle sweetness, the vanilla-flavored vodka brings warm vanilla notes without tipping into richness, and the lemon juice adds a sourness and acidity that keeps everything in check. Soda water ties it all together with a clean, effervescent finish.
The Strawberry and Cream Highball is a modern cocktail and a twist on classic highball drinks, which are said to have originated in the 1890s. It also draws inspiration from the traditional British pairing of strawberries and cream, a beloved combination dating back to the early 1500s.
The exact history and origin of this Strawberry and Cream Highball is unknown but it’s most almost certainly a 21st century creation, which is also when Absolut Vanilia was launched.
- Always use fresh lemon juice
The vibrancy, acidity and sourness of fresh lemon juice are essential to any highball. Bottled juice simply can’t replicate it. Grab a couple of lemons and a citrus press and you’re halfway there. - Choose a premium bottled soda water
While carbonated tap water works in a pinch, a premium bottled soda water is worth the upgrade. It typically contains purified water, carbon dioxide and added mineral salts, giving the drink a subtle mineral quality and a cleaner, crisper effervescence. - Make your own strawberry simple syrup Even if you can find strawberry simple syrup in a store, make your own. Nothing beats real strawberries – imitation strawberry flavor results in something artificial that no amount of good vodka can fix. Jump to the FAQ below to see how to make strawberry simple syrup.
Strawberry, lemon or vanilla – the garnish is yours to choose.
- Glassware
The name says it all. Serve in a Highball glass – the natural home for any built cocktail. - Lemon twist
Push a long strip of lemon zest down into the glass to create a spiral twist. It looks elegant and adds a subtle citrus aroma that complements the lemon juice in the drink. - Strawberry garnish
To accentuate the strawberry flavors, place a couple of strawberry halves directly in the glass or cut a slit into a whole strawberry and perch it on the rim. - Vanilla pod
Want to highlight the vanilla notes instead? A vanilla pod in the glass is all it takes — understated, aromatic and a nod to the vanilla-flavored vodka at the heart of the drink.
Strawberry and Cream Highball FAQ
Making homemade strawberry simple syrup is easy. Here’s how to do it:
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Grab some fresh strawberries, remove the stems and slice them in half. You can also use frozen strawberries if you can’t find fresh ones.
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Place the strawberries into a saucepan and add equal parts sugar and water.
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Cook the mixture for about 20 minutes, until the strawberries soften and the liquid turns a deep red.
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Pour the syrup through a fine mesh strainer.
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Transfer the syrup to a container and chill it in the refrigerator until you’re ready to use it.
No, not technically. But if you plan to make strawberry syrup, which we highly recommend, you’ll need fresh strawberries. However, if you decide to use store-bought strawberry syrup, then no, you don’t need fresh strawberries.
However, to garnish your drink, you may like to use a fresh strawberry or two.
Nope. No, muddling is required to make a Strawberry and Cream Highball.
