Highball

Style

A highball is a spirit lengthened with a chilled carbonated mixer, served over ice in a tall glass.

Also called: highball drink

Spirit to mixer: 1 part to 2 or more parts
Japanese whisky highball: 1 part whisky to 3 or 4 parts soda
Formula: 1.5 to 2 oz (44 to 60 ml) spirit, 4 to 6 oz (120 to 180 ml) chilled carbonated mixer, over ice in a tall glass

What highball means

The point of this drink is a light spirit. The mixer does most of the work, at 1 part spirit to 2 or more parts mixer, such as soda water or tonic. Ask for a whisky highball, a gin and tonic or a vodka soda, and you get the same build with a different spirit and mixer. Gin and tonic and Cuba Libre are well-known examples.

The drink's origin is unsettled, but Japan has its own word for the whisky version. Haibōru means whisky and soda specifically, usually 1 part whisky to 3 or 4 parts soda. That ratio is a sensible starting point for a whisky highball, and you can adjust it to taste.

You may have heard that the name comes from a railroad signal ball. That story is popular, but another theory points to the highball glass, the tall glass the drink is served in. Treat the railroad story as a good tale, not a fact.

How to make a highball

Build it cold: spirit over ice in a tall glass, topped with chilled mixer poured down the side.

1.Chill the soda, tonic or other mixer before you start.
2.Fill a tall glass with ice to the top.
3.Add 1.5 to 2 oz (44 to 60 ml) spirit over the ice.
4.Pour 4 to 6 oz (120 to 180 ml) mixer down the side of the glass.
5.Give it one gentle stir, since more stirring knocks out the bubbles.

Highball compared

CollinsA Collins adds lemon juice and sugar to the spirit and soda. A classic highball is only spirit and mixer.
BuckA buck is a highball with citrus added, using ginger ale or ginger beer as the mixer.
Long drinkLong drink is the broader term for any tall mixed drink. A highball is the simplest kind.
Highball glassThe highball glass is the tall glass. The highball is the drink served in it.

Examples

Whisky Highball
Scotch and Soda
Gin and Tonic
Cuba Libre
Seven and Seven
Vodka Soda
Paloma
Moscow Mule

Related terms

Ingredients

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Garçon explains every step as you make the drink.