Mixlio
01What it is
A highball is one spirit and a lot of mixer, like soda, tonic, ginger beer, cola or juice, built straight in a tall glass full of ice.
They are the easiest cocktails to enjoy: lighter, longer and refreshing. Gin and tonic is a highball. So is a Cuba Libre, a Moscow Mule and an Americano.
02A short history
Spirit-and-soda drinks took off in the late 1800s, once bottled soda water was easy to get. Over the 20th century every spirit found its favourite partner: rum and cola, vodka and ginger beer, Campari and soda.
The Collins and the Fizz sit at the edge of this family. They start as a sour, then get topped with soda to make them long.
03The base recipe
One part spirit to two or three parts mixer. More mixer makes it lighter, less makes it punchier.
04Why it tastes this way
Bubbles carry flavour
Carbonation lifts the aroma of the spirit and the garnish up to your nose, so a simple drink tastes bright.
More ice, less water
A glass packed with ice stays colder and actually melts more slowly than a glass with a few cubes. That's why bars fill it right up.
Built, not shaken
The drink is made in the glass and stirred gently, so the bubbles stay in.
05The family tree
Same family, small changes. Each of these is one swap away from the next.
Cuba LibreRum, cola and lime.
Moscow MuleVodka, ginger beer and lime, often in a copper mug.
Dark ‘N’ StormyDark rum floated on ginger beer.
PalomaTequila with grapefruit soda, lime and a pinch of salt.
AmericanoCampari and sweet vermouth with soda. Low and bitter.
Horse’s NeckBrandy and ginger ale with a long spiral of lemon peel.
MojitoRum, lime, mint and sugar, topped with soda.
Tom CollinsA gin sour made long with soda.
Gin FizzA gin sour topped with soda, served without ice.
Bloody MaryVodka with spiced tomato juice. A savoury highball.
GaribaldiCampari and fresh orange juice.
FernanditoFernet and cola, Argentina's favourite.06Spot it on a menu
Look for these words. Tap one to see what it means.
Two ingredients with an ampersand, or anything served "long" or "tall", is a highball.
07How to order it
- Just name the spirit and the mixer: "rum and cola, with lime".
- Ask which tonic or ginger beer they use. The mixer is most of the drink.
- Perfect when you want something easy to pace through a long evening.
08Mistakes to avoid
Too little ice
A half-full glass melts fast and turns watery. Fill it up.
Flat mixer
Use a freshly opened, cold bottle.
Stirring hard
One gentle stir is enough. More just kills the bubbles.
09Start with these three
Moscow MuleVodka and lime topped with ginger beer, served in a copper mug that keeps it freezing. Crisp, spicy and hard to put down.
MojitoMint, lime and sugar in the glass, white rum over ice, soda to finish. Press the mint, do not shred it.
PalomaTequila with lime and a pinch of salt, filled up with grapefruit soda. Mexico drinks far more of this than it does Margaritas.10All 16 highball classics
AmericanoCampari · 8.8%Bloody MaryVodka · 10%Cuba LibreRum · 9%Dark ‘N’ StormyRum · 9%Gin FizzGin · 7.3%
Long Island Iced TeaVodka · 40%MojitoRum · 11%Moscow MuleVodka · 10.8%PalomaTequila · 10.1%Tom CollinsGin · 12.1%FernanditoFernet · 9.2%GaribaldiCampari · 5.3%Horse’s NeckCognac · 9%
John CollinsGin · 12.1%
Ramos FizzGin · 12%
Suffering BastardCognac · 9.5%11Browse them in the library
See every highball classic as photo cards, next to the other lists in the cocktail library.