# Smoky Highball Trend Drives India’s Monsoon Cocktail Craze 2026-08-10T11:30:56+00:00 | India | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet Times Now reports that smoky highballs are becoming India’s biggest monsoon cocktail trend, with bars in Mumbai, Bengaluru, Goa and Delhi serving variations. The drink combines soda, citrus and ginger with a subtle peat smoke from lightly peated whisky, smoked citrus oils or glass-smoking techniques. Bartenders are moving away from sugary cocktails toward this lighter, Instagram-friendly serve. Gen Z drinkers, seeking premium but not intimidating experiences, are driving demand. Master distiller Michael D’Souza of Paul John Whisky says the highball lets the whisky’s character shine. Popular versions include the Soda Highball with grapefruit peel and the Penicillin Highball with honey-ginger syrup and a smoky float. The monsoon connection is deliberate: the cold fizz feels quenching in humid weather, while ginger and smoke create a cosy rainy-evening mood. ## Coverage - timesnownews.com Tags: cocktail trend, Gen Z, Indian whisky, Monsoon, premium drinks, smoky highball Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/smoky-highball-trend-drives-indias-monsoon-cocktail-craze/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/smoky-highball-trend-drives-indias-monsoon-cocktail-craze/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes.