London's best: 5 of the capital's freshest highballs

The days are getting shorter so keep your drinks long. Embrace simplicity with a highball: an easy mix of a base spirit with fresh flavours and a little fizz.

Here are five of the tastiest:

Apricot highball at Bull in a China Shop

A drink to convert any whisky sceptic: this is made with Japanese whiskey, apricot jam and apricot brandy, topped with soda. It’s sweet but not sticky.

£11, 196 Shoreditch High Street, E1, bullinachinashop.london

Bourbon and Coke at Gilly’s Fry Bar

Try a fun mix of bourbon, cacao, fernet and Coke at newly opened Gilly’s Fry Bar in Finsbury Park, where cocktails are served alongside fish and chips with an Asian twist — that means light tempura batter and zinging sauces.

£5, 4A Clifton Terrace, N4, gillysfrybar.com

Lime cocktail at Duck & Waffle

Savour the highest of highballs 40 floors up. D&W’s classic lime cocktail is served long, fluffy and over ice, with Bombay Sapphire gin, lime cordial and egg white.

£14, Heron Tower, EC2N, duckandwaffle.com

Fear of the Jungle at the Gong

The Gong’s fruity Fear of the Jungle cocktail is inspired by Jurassic Park director Steven Spielberg and is served in an ivy-covered clay highball, garnished with an edible scorpion preserved in alcohol.

£18, Shangri-La Hotel, SE1, gong-shangri-la.com

Dark ’n’ Stormy at Billy and the Chicks

For a highball without the high price, try a classic Bermudan concoction of dark rum and ginger beer with fresh lime at Billy and the Chicks in Soho.

£5, 27-28 St Anne’s Court, W1, billyandthechicks.com