A highball glass is a common type of drinking glass used to serve mixed drinks or cocktails. But what exactly makes a glass a “highball” glass? There are a few key features that distinguish a highball glass from other types of drinkware.
What is a highball glass?
A highball glass is tall and slender, with straight, gently sloping sides. It typically holds between 8 and 12 ounces of liquid. Highball glasses are designed to showcase liquors or spirits mixed with other ingredients, such as sodas, juices, or ice. They allow the drink to be gently stirred and aerated to bring out aromas and flavors.
Highball glasses get their name from the classic “highball” cocktail, which traditionally combines whiskey and ginger ale or soda water. The tall shape provides space for the carbonation and effervescence in mixed drinks. While highball glasses are strongly associated with simple, refreshing highballs, they can also accommodate many other cocktails.
What are the key characteristics of a highball glass?
- Tall height typically between 6 and 8 inches
- Slender cylindrical shape with straight, gently sloping sides
- Thin walls
- Holds between 8 and 12 ounces
- Often made from clear glass to showcase the drink’s color
- May have a weighted or thickened base for stability
- The rim diameter is smaller than the base diameter
The tall, slim profile provides sufficient mixing space for ingredients while maintaining the carbonation. The wide mouth allows for ice cubes and garnishes. The weighted base gives it a sense of balance and stability. While dimensions can vary slightly, these are the typical attributes that define a highball glass.
How does it differ from other drinkware?
Highball glasses have some noticeable differences from other common types of drinkware:
Old Fashioned glass
- Short and stout
- Holds 6-10 oz
- Used for “on the rocks” drinks
Highball glasses are much taller and slimmer than old fashioned glasses. Old fashioned glasses are intended for spirits sipped slowly “on the rocks,” while highball glasses allow more mixer and dilution.
Collins glass
- Cylindrical with straight sides
- Holds 10-14 oz
- Used for “long” drinks like Tom Collins
Collins glasses share the tall cylindrical highball shape but have a larger capacity. Collins glasses are tailored towards longer drinks that are shaken with ice and strained into the glass.
Pilsner glass
- Narrow at the bottom but widens towards the top
- Holds 12-16 oz
- Used for serving beer, especially lagers and pilsners
Pilsner glasses have a tapered, inverted cone shape designed to maintain and accentuate carbonation in beers. Highball glasses have straight, angled sides better suited for capturing aromas in cocktails and mixed drinks.
Rocker glass
- Curved, sides gently slope inward then back out
- Holds 8-12 oz
- Used for cocktails that are gently stirred
Rocker glasses share a similar capacity to highball glasses but have elegantly curved sides instead of straight angles. The inward slope helps concentrate aromas. Highball glasses have straight sides that allow more freedom when mixing cocktails.
So in summary, the tall, slim highball form factor serves a specific purpose that makes it optimal for serving blended drinks and cocktails, distinguishing it from other glass types designed for different beverages and preparation methods.
What drinks are traditionally served in a highball glass?
Here are some classic cocktails and mixed drinks that are typically served in a highball glass:
Highball
As the namesake drink, a classic highball combines 2 oz whiskey with 4-6 oz ginger ale or soda water, garnished with a citrus wedge. The highball glass shows off the drink’s layers and carbonation.
Gin & tonic
The gin & tonic also demonstrates the highball glass’s virtues. The glass allows space for ice, slices of lime, a tall pour of tonic water, and aromatic juniper notes from the gin.
Vodka soda
A crisp and refreshing vodka soda nicely fills a highball glass. The vodka’s purity and the soda’s bubbles are both displayed.
Rum and Coke
The famous Cuban cocktail of rum and cola is perfectly structured in a highball, with the dark rum contrasting against the black cola.
Mojito
A mojito traditionally combines rum, lime, sugar, mint, and soda water. A highball glass can accommodate all the ingredients and allow the aromas to concentrate.
Pimm’s Cup
The classic British Pimm’s Cup is a fruit and herb-infused cooler topped with lemonade or ginger ale. A highball glass shows off the layered red color.
Tom Collins
A Tom Collins merges gin, lemon juice, sugar, and club soda. The tall highball glass lets you appreciate the blend of sweet and sour.
Greyhound
The refreshing Greyhound mixes vodka and grapefruit juice. The highball glass displays the gorgeous pinkish hue.
How to choose the right size highball glass
Highball glasses come in a range of sizes, usually between 6 to 8 inches tall. How do you determine the right size highball glass for your needs? Here are some tips:
- 8-9 ounce size works for simple 2 ingredient drinks like rum and cola or gin and tonic
- 10-12 ounce size accommodates more ingredients like mojitos or vodka sodas with fruit garnish
- Narrower diameter maintains carbonation in fizzy drinks
- Wider diameter allows more aromatics to concentrate
- Taller height shows off layered colors
- Weighted bottom provides stability
Consider the ingredients, proportions, and presentation when selecting glass size. Barware sets often include 8, 10, and 12 ounce highball glasses to allow versatility. For commercial bars, choose one consistent size for efficiency. Highball glasses in the 10-12 ounce range offer flexibility for most cocktails and mixed drinks.
How to use a highball glass properly
Using proper technique when making and serving drinks in a highball glass is important:
- Fill glass with ice before pouring liquid ingredients to prevent dilution
- Pour spirits or liquors first, then finishing with non-alcoholic mixers and garnish
- Mix ingredients directly in the glass by stirring gently to combine
- Tall glasses require extra care when transporting to avoid spilling
- Hold stem or base when serving, not the bowl which can transfer warmth
- Refrain from squeezing citrus garnishes against the glass to avoid breaking it
The order of pours, gentle stirring, and proper carrying makes for an optimal drinking experience.
Highball glassware material guide
Highball glasses are commonly made from these materials:
Glass
Soda-lime glass is typical. Glass allows clarity to see drink color and bubbles. May be thinner lightweight glass or more durable tempered glass. Glass breaks if dropped.
Acrylic
Plastic acrylic is shatter-resistant and inexpensive but can scratch over time. Acrylic is clear to mimic real glass.
Stainless steel
Rust-resistant stainless steel has good durability. Insulated varieties keep drinks colder longer. Not as transparent as glass.
Copper
Copper has an elegant look and is great for heat retention but requires polishing to maintain shine. Not see-through.
For home use, glass highball glasses are ideal for aesthetics and authenticity. Commercial bars may opt for plastic acrylic or stainless steel for increased durability. Copper creates visual appeal for custom drinks like a Moscow Mule.
Are highball glasses necessary for a home bar?
While highball glasses aren’t essential, they’re very useful to have for these reasons:
- Great for simple, classic highballs cocktails
- Allow you to properly build and mix a wide range of drinks
- Showcase the aesthetic layers and colors of cocktails
- Tailored for carbonation of fizzy drinks
- Versatile size for many common recipes
- Affordable glassware option
Compared to specialty cocktail glasses, highballs are inexpensive, everyday drinkware. For a well-equipped home bar, having a set of 6-8 highball glasses provides flexibility to make both simple two-ingredient highballs and more complex mixed drinks in a standard glass format. They’re useful additions for cocktail enthusiasts.
Highball glassware sets
When choosing a highball glass set, options include:
- Sets of 4, 6, or 8 glasses
- Sizes from 6 oz up to 12 oz
- Clear glass or colored glass
- Etched, faceted, or plain glass
- Stemmed or stemless
- Thin lightweight or durable tempered glass
For cost savings, basic 8 to 12 oz clear, stemless highball glasses are ideal starter sets. Size, thickness, decorative patterns, and stems offer design choices. Buy quality glasses with sturdy construction.
Cocktail recipes perfect for highball glasses
Any cocktails that blend spirits with other liquors, mixers, and ice will be right at home in a trusty highball glass. Here are some delicious recipes to try:
Whiskey Highball
- 2 oz blended Scotch whisky
- 4-6 oz ginger ale or soda water
- Lemon wedge garnish
Build in a highball glass over ice. Top with ginger ale and garnish.
Vodka Cranberry Spritzer
- 2 oz vodka
- 4 oz cranberry juice
- 1 oz club soda
- Lime wedge garnish
Mix vodka and cranberry over ice in a highball glass. Top with club soda and garnish.
Gin Apple Fizz
- 2 oz gin
- 1 oz apple juice
- 1/2 oz lemon juice
- 3-4 oz soda water
- Apple slice garnish
Shake gin, apple juice, and lemon juice with ice. Strain into a highball glass over fresh ice. Top with soda water and garnish.
Dark and Stormy
- 2 oz dark rum
- 4-6 oz ginger beer
- Lime wedge garnish
In a highball glass filled with ice, add dark rum and top with ginger beer. Garnish with lime.
Paloma Cocktail
- 2 oz tequila
- 1 oz lime juice
- 2-3 oz grapefruit soda
- Lime slice garnish
Rim half the glass with salt. Add tequila, lime juice, and ice. Top with grapefruit soda. Garnish with lime.
So mix up your favorite spirits or liquors and enjoy them in a highball glass!
Origin and history of the highball glass
The origins and history of the classic highball glass:
1800s
– Term “highball” first referenced railroad signals indicating “full speed ahead”
– Later referred to spirituous liquors mixed with water as “highballs”
1890s
– Highballs appear as popular cocktails combining liquor and bubbly soda water
– Derived from the Scottish tradition of mixing Scotch whisky and carbonated water
– Highball glasses developed as tall whiskey glasses to accommodate the mixture
Early 1900s
– Highballs and matching slim highball glasses surge in popularity in America
– Often consumed during Prohibition era to mask poor bootleg liquor
– Highball glasses used to serve first mass-produced mixed drink: gin and tonic
Mid-1900s
– Post-war period sees revival of classic cocktails like Whiskey Highball
– Vodka Highballs become popular in postwar Japan
– Highball glass becomes standard glassware for mixed drinks and cocktails
– Various sizes emerge from 6 oz to 12 oz capacity
Today
– Highballs and highball glasses remain icons of cocktail culture
– Recent resurgence of classic cocktails boosts popularity of the glasses
– Consumers embrace nostalgic and vintage barware styles
– Traditional and modern varieties of highball glasses widely available
So the simple and versatile highball glass has endured as a quintessential glass for cocktails.
Highball glass FAQs
How many ounces is a highball glass?
Highball glasses typically range from 8 ounces on the smaller end up to 12 ounces on the larger end. The most common standard size is 10 ounces.
What’s the difference between a highball and Collins glass?
Collins glasses are slightly taller and narrower than highball glasses and hold 10-14 ounces. They are tailored towards “long” cocktails that are shaken and strained into the glass.
Are highball and old fashioned glasses the same?
No. Old fashioned glasses are short and stout, meant for spirits served “on the rocks.” Highball glasses are tall and slender to accommodate more mixers.
What classic cocktails use a highball glass?
Iconic highball glass cocktails include the Whiskey Highball, Gin & Tonic, Moscow Mule, Mojito, Rum and Coke, Tom Collins, and Paloma.
Can highball glasses go in the dishwasher?
Yes, but hand washing is recommended to prevent damage and abrasion over repeated dishwasher cycles. Wash gently and avoid extreme temperature changes.
Conclusion
The highball glass earns its iconic status through its versatile design that elegantly showcases many mixed drinks and cocktails. Key features like its tall, slender shape, weighted base, and generous 8-12 ounce capacity make it the perfect vessel for everything from a simple rum and cola to more elaborate blends. A set of highball glasses is a useful and affordable addition to any home bar. While styles and sizes vary, the classic highball endures as the go-to glass for serving up delicious highballs, fizzes, punches, and other cocktails. Its streamlined profile encapsulates the balance, effervescence, and enjoyment of a well-crafted drink.