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Highball Glasses
A highball glass is the vessel for tall, ice-filled drinks that are built directly in the glass. It's long enough to give a sparkling topper room to breathe, wide enough that you can add ice without a funnel, and short enough to hold comfortably. The Mojito, the Mule, the Paloma — these are highball drinks.
Why it earns its place
Tall drinks need a tall glass. A drink built on ice with a sparkling topper requires volume — both to accommodate the ice and to let the carbonation release properly. A rocks glass is too short; a pilsner is too narrow. The highball is proportioned correctly for the format.
When I reach for it
Anything built over ice with a sparkling component: Mojitos, Mules, Palomas, Dark & Stormies, Gin & Tonics.
Where people usually go wrong
Glasses that are too narrow — carbonation needs horizontal space to release into, and a narrow glass concentrates CO2 in an unpleasant way.
"I like to use a simple, heavy-bottomed highball because the weight makes it comfortable to hold for a long drink and it doesn't tip."
If you're only going to buy one
Libbey Heavy Base Drinking Glasses, 15.5 oz
Heavy, clear, and properly proportioned. Set of eight covers most hosting needs.
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Questions I hear a lot
What drinks belong in a highball glass?
Any drink built over ice with a sparkling component — Mojitos, Moscow Mules, Palomas, Dark & Stormies, any AF Cocktail with ginger beer or sparkling water as a topper. The highball format gives the carbonation room to release, keeps the ice from crowding out the drink, and is comfortable to hold for a long, leisurely drink.
What's the difference between a highball glass and a Collins glass?
They're nearly interchangeable for most home use. A Collins glass is technically taller and slightly narrower than a highball — designed for the Tom Collins, which is a longer drink than a standard highball. In practice, a 12 oz highball glass handles both formats well, and the distinction matters more to professionals than to home cocktail makers.
What should I look for when buying highball glasses?
A 10-12 oz capacity, a weighted bottom that resists tipping, and a mouth wide enough to add ice comfortably. Clear glass shows the drink and its layers. Avoid glasses so narrow they restrict carbonation or so lightweight they feel insubstantial. A set of six is ideal for hosting.