Highball Glasses

A highball glass (also known as a long drink glass) is the classic choice for “long” cocktails: tall, straight-sided, with just the right amount of room for ice, bubbles, and a generous garnish. It’s the glass that lets you serve cleanly and quickly, with a polished result at the bar or at home.

Why Choose a Highball Glass

The highball is designed for long, mixed drinks: it better preserves effervescence, lets aromas breathe, and keeps an elegant visual structure (ice + color + garnish). For professional service, it’s also a highly efficient format: easy to hold, stable, and often available in sturdy or stackable versions.

Which Cocktails It’s Perfect For

The highball glass is ideal whenever you have a spirit + a mixer (or a base) and plenty of ice: Mojito, Gin & Tonic, Cuba Libre, Whisky Highball, and more broadly, fresh and sparkling long drinks.

What’s the Right Capacity for a Good Highball

In practice, a highball glass typically holds around 24 to 35 cl (depending on the model and use), striking the right balance between ice, dilution, and drinking comfort. Some “long drink” glasses can hold more, but the core highball range stays within this zone.

How to Choose the Right Highball Glass

For a truly consistent (and effective) selection, focus on these 4 key criteria:

Durability for service: thick glass, heavy base, good resistance to everyday knocks.

Shape: straight sides and enough height for ice, citrus wheels, mint, and more.

Material: tempered/reinforced glass for high-volume service, or lead-free crystalline/crystal for a more premium look at the table or in a cocktail bar.

Care: dishwasher compatibility and stackability if you’re catering to professional use.

The Highball Glass Within a Cocktail Glassware Range

The highball is often the first glass to stock in bulk, since it covers so many recipes. To round out your range, pair it with a “rocks” glass (short) and a coupe/cocktail stemware glass: together, they cover 80% of customer needs without spreading yourself too thin.