This machine churns out elegant, simple whiskey highballs

CHICAGO - I'll admit that when I was first introduced to a whiskey highball, I was confused as to why fancy characters on TV made it a big deal. I mean, it's just a whiskey soda right?

But as I learned more about the drink, I found out that the Japanese have made a ritual out of crafting this simple cocktail, executing each step with nearly scientific care and precision. The quality of the ice matters, the whisky matters (the Japanese spelling of "whisky" is the same as the Scottish spelling, not the American "whiskey"), the technique matters, the temperature matters.

So what is a highball exactly? Traditionally, the drink is made with an alcoholic spirit and a nonalcoholic mixer, and the best known version pairs whiskey and soda water.

The Japanese style is called "mizuwari,"