Yellow Birdie Highball (Vodka, Banana & Lemon-Lime Soda)

A sunny, playful drink that combines banana sweetness with citrus sparkle. The Yellow Birdie Highball shows how simple ingredients can create serious fun.

Background

A modern favorite among fruity vodka cocktails, the Yellow Birdie evolved from tiki-inspired highballs. It swaps syrupy mixers for a lighter, carbonated twist—balancing banana liqueur’s sweetness with crisp lemon-lime soda.

What You’ll Need

Ingredients

• Vodka – smooth and neutral, providing the clean base.
• Crème de banane – adds a golden tropical note and gentle sweetness.
• Lemon-lime soda – provides fizz and brightness.
• Ice – chills and dilutes for balance.
• Garnish – lemon wheel or cherry for a pop of color.

Equipment

• Collins glass
• Bar spoon

Why It Works

Banana and citrus make a surprisingly balanced pairing: the banana’s soft sweetness rounds out the soda’s sharpness. The result is light, aromatic, and sessionable.

Substitutions & Variations

• Swap the spirit: Try white rum for a tropical tone or gin for herbal depth.
• Dial down sweetness: Use club soda with lemon and lime juice instead of soda.
• Add fruit: A splash of pineapple or orange juice turns it tiki.
• Go frozen: Blend with ice for a vacation-style slush.
• Zero-proof: Replace vodka with sparkling water and crème de banane with banana syrup.

Helpful Tips

• Ice smart: Large cubes keep carbonation longer.
• Serve tall: The Collins glass highlights the drink’s color and bubbles.
• Batch easily: Mix spirits ahead; top with soda when serving.
• Pair well: Excellent with salty snacks or grilled shrimp.

Conclusion: A fizzy tropical highball that’s quick to make and hard to forget.