Highballs

A highball is a mixed drink consisting of a base spirit and a larger proportion of a non-alcoholic mixer, typically served over ice in a tall glass known as a highball glass. The term refers to the preparation style rather than a specific recipe. Common base spirits include whiskey, gin, rum, vodka, tequila, and mezcal, with the mixer often a carbonated beverage such as soda water, tonic, soda, or ginger ale.

Preparation is straightforward: fill a highball glass with ice, pour the spirit, add the mixer, and gently stir to combine. Carbonation should remain lively, so the drink is usually built rather than shaken. Garnishes are common but optional, with lemon or lime wedges, a twist, or a cherry sometimes used.

Popular examples include the whiskey highball (often whiskey plus soda), the Scotch highball, the gin and tonic (often treated as a highball), vodka with soda or ginger ale, and rum and Coke. The category also encompasses tequila and soda and other long drinks that mix a base spirit with a carbonated beverage. Some lists include Moscow Mule or other ginger beer-based drinks as highballs, given the spirit-plus-mixer formula.

The highball arose in the late 19th to early 20th century and gained popularity in American bars, with styles evolving in different regions, including Japan, where the whisky highball became especially popular. The format emphasizes refreshment, simplicity, and the ability to showcase a base spirit while maintaining drinkability.