What Does It Mean To Order A Highball Cocktail?

One of the great things about cocktails is that they come in all shapes and sizes. There are the classics, like a smooth Old Fashioned, and some more modern concoctions, like a refreshing spicy pineapple lemonade summer cocktail. 

You may prefer to keep it traditional, try something new, take your drink with alcohol or without for the mocktail. No matter how you like them, though, you will probably agree that presentation is an essential component of the sipping experience. While colors, garnishes, and even ice cube shapes are all important aspects of the sensory experience, the type of glass containing the cocktail is especially critical. It is the vessel that brings every component of the drink together, and its volume determines how much of a beverage you can enjoy at once. 

Enter, the appeal of the highball. This cocktail category features a tall, narrow glass, and it's just as aesthetically pleasing as it is refreshing.

While, technically, you can order any kind of drink in a highball glass, the serving style is best suited to diluted booze, aka mixed drinks. Take, for instance, a vodka soda, rum and coke, or gin and tonic. These straightforward, refreshing classics fall into the highball category, as they are comprised of a shot or two of a spirit and a non-alcoholic carbonated mixer poured over ice.

In the growing world of craft cocktails, one might wonder what else appeals about the highball cocktail, and that's also that they're generally easy to throw together (though no need to actually throw). A classic highball cocktail requires no shaker, muddler, or strainer. The no-frills, pour-and-enjoy process makes a highball easily accessible. On the other hand, their simplicity makes them customizable too. You can easily add a twist or change the soda flavor to create your ideal highball — with a few extra ingredients you can turn a basic G&T into a bold one. Whether or not you prefer to dress it up, the highball is a reliable formula and vessel for a timelessly popular class of cocktails.