Highball


A highball is a mixed alcoholic drink composed of an alcoholic base spirit and a larger proportion of a non-alcoholic mixer. Examples include the Seven and Seven, Scotch and soda, and rum and Coke. A highball is typically served over ice in a large straight-sided highball glass or Collins glass.

Etymology

The name may refer to the practice of serving drinks in tall glasses, on the dining cars of trains powered by steam locomotives, where the engine would get up to speed and the ball that showed boiler pressure was at its high level, known as "highballing". Alternatively, the name may have come from early railroad signals with raised globes meaning "clear track ahead".

History

Initially, the most common highball was made with Scotch whisky and carbonated water, known simply as a 'Scotch and soda'.
There are many rivals for the fame of mixing the first highball, including the Adams House in Boston. New York barman Patrick Duffy claimed the highball was brought to the U.S. in 1894 from England by actor E. J. Ratcliffe.
Highballs are popular in Japan, often made with Japanese whisky as a, or mixed with shōchū as a. Various mixers can be specified by suffixing with, as in oolong highball. These are consumed similarly to beer, often with food or at parties.