Hannah

What is Hannah?

The Hannah is a contemporary highball built around Izarra Green, a Basque herbal liqueur produced in the Pays Basque region of southwestern France that has been made to largely the same recipe since 1835. Izarra — which means "star" in the Basque language — was developed by Joseph Grattau, a pharmacist in Bayonne who drew on the tradition of alpine herbal liqueurs popular across France and the Alps at the time, blending armagnac with a proprietary mixture of around 16 aromatic herbs and plants including mint, anise, and mountain flowers. The green expression is the more intensely herbal and minty of the two Izarra variants, with a character that sits somewhere between Chartreuse Verte and a fresh mint liqueur. Using Izarra Green in a simple vodka highball with soda is a modern, low-effort way to showcase a liqueur that deserves considerably more attention than it typically receives outside the Basque region, letting its herbal complexity carry the drink without the need for additional modifiers.

If you enjoy bright, herbaceous cocktails, this one sits comfortably alongside classics like the French 75, but with a greener, more alpine personality. It’s approachable enough for casual drinkers, yet interesting enough to impress your cocktail-obsessed friends.

Don't forget to see what other drinks you can make with the ingredients you already have in your bar.

Taste profile

The Hannah is light, botanical, and cleanly refreshing with a herbaceous character that unfolds gradually as you drink. Vodka provides a neutral, clean spirit base that allows Izarra Green to express itself fully without competition — the liqueur's mint and anise notes lead the palate, supported by a complex herbal depth that includes floral, slightly medicinal, and mountain herb characteristics that are difficult to pin down individually but combine into something unmistakably distinctive. The soda water extends the volume and adds a gentle carbonation that lifts the aromatic compounds and makes each sip feel fresh and aperitivo-like in character. The finish is cool, slightly sweet, and lingering — more interesting and complex than the three-ingredient simplicity of the recipe would suggest.

Serving suggestions

Build directly in a tall highball glass over plenty of ice — no shaker needed, and the simplicity of the build is part of the drink's appeal. Pour the vodka and Izarra Green over ice first, then top slowly with chilled soda water and give one gentle stir to combine without losing the carbonation. A lemon twist expressed over the surface and dropped in works beautifully — the citrus oil brightness complements the herbal character of the Izarra and adds an aromatic lift to the first sip. A sprig of fresh mint makes an equally good garnish and reinforces the liqueur's mint notes visually. For a slightly more complex variation, substitute the vodka for gin — a London dry style works particularly well, with its juniper and citrus botanicals amplifying the herbal depth of the Izarra considerably. If Izarra Green is unavailable, Chartreuse Verte is the closest widely available substitute, though it is considerably more intense and the measure should be reduced to half an ounce.

Why You'll Love It?

Ingredients for Hannah

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Step‑by‑Step Instructions

1. In a highball glass with ice add vodka and Izarra Green.
2. Top with soda water.
3. Gently stir to combine, and garnish with a lemon twist or mint sprig.