Gin-and-tonic, whisky (or rum)–and-Coke, Scotch-and-soda: These are just a few examples of the single-liquor cocktail known as a “highball,” which is served in a tall, narrow, straight-sided glass of the same name. Highball glasses (also called hi-ball or Collins glasses, as in the cocktail Tom Collins) are intended for larger-volume drinks with a ratio of two (or sometimes three) ounces of mixer to one ounce of spirit. They hold lots of ice to slowly dilute the liquor.
You would generally look for a simple, clear highball glass that’s roughly six inches tall and two or three inches wide and that holds about eight to 12 ounces. A range of options fits that description. For this guide, I spoke to a dozen bartenders about their favorites. While handwashing with hot, soapy water is preferable for these thinner, more delicate glasses, I have included a couple that are dishwasher safe. If you’re looking for other essential barware, we also have guides to the best coupe glasses, cocktail strainers, and cocktail muddlers.
This glass’s curved bottom gives it a distinctive look. It comes recommended by Michael McCaulley, beverage director at Schulson Collective in Philadelphia. “It is the perfect size and has a sleek shape and a contoured texture that feels great in your hand. The rim is thin (which helps with effortless sipping), and the weight is just right,” he says. “It’s a good Goldilocks size — neither too small nor too large. The glass is faceted so it catches the light well in the bar.”
Jordan Deis at the Saint-Germain wine bar in New Orleans looks for versatility in his glassware and swears by these Duralex glasses. “They’re reasonably priced and durable and boast a classic design that elevates the presentation of any drink,” says Deis, who uses these tumblers for highballs, sodas, or even water and juices. The Picardie line comes in various sizes, but opt for 12 ounces or higher for highballs. They’re a bit thicker, and therefore stronger, than the ordinary highball glass, and they’re stackable for convenient storage as well as dishwasher safe.
If you’ve ever wanted to re-create the ambiance of a nice hotel bar at home, these glasses run a little on the pricey side but are “beautifully crafted and have an amazing look and feel,” says Ricardo Rodriguez, beverage director of New Jersey’s Lita and its cocktail bar, La Otra. He prefers thin and minimalist highball glasses for a Scandinavian design aesthetic.
To use at home, Kraig Rovensky, owner of the Seattle bar Life on Mars, prefers the Japanese brand Usuhari’s glasses. “They’re incredibly thin, light, and durable,” he says. “Generally, I find Usuhari highball glasses work best with a cocktail that’s a little bit of a showman: tall and colorful with great garnishes and some crushed ice.”
Jason Kaminski is an avid vintage-barware collector and caterer who appreciates upcycled glassware. Mixed drinks are one of the biggest requests at his events, and in his line of work, he expects highball glasses to break. So buying dishwasher-safe glassware on a budget is important. He loves these Remark cups, made in Philadelphia from discarded kombucha bottles, for higher-quality highball glasses. “They’re easy to hold, especially when you’re standing for hours at a cocktail event, and are slim enough not to take up too much cabinet space,” he says. “They also don’t take up a lot of table space and can be easily placed next to the wineglasses.”
These Riedel crystal glasses have cool vertical ridges that make them visually appealing. They come recommended by Bar Bastion creative bar director Maxwell Britten, who likes their “elegant design, high-quality crystal construction, and excellent durability. They are perfect for showcasing the clarity and color of the drink while providing a sophisticated look,” he says. With these more expensive glasses, you should avoid harsh detergents that could damage the crystal. Britten advises drying them with a lint-free cloth to prevent water spots and storing them upright.
Adrienne Gomez-Saddler, bartender at the Four Seasons Philadelphia, also takes meticulous glassware care and storage seriously. “I enjoy a highball or Collins glass that has a clear finish for a drink with effervescence,” she says. She appreciates Riedel’s symmetrical design, which allows for “even sipping” — meaning you get a blend of both the spirit and the mixer with each sip, unlike with shaped glasses (martini, pilsner, or flutes) in which ingredients can settle at the bottom.
Tyler Chauvin, assistant general manager of food and beverage at Swingers, the Crazy Golf Club, recommends this option from Williams Sonoma for a classic home bar. “The sleek lines and slim shape give it a sexy aesthetic that is both modern and timeless,” she says. “The vertical weaved lines draw the eye up to the shape of the glass.” She uses highball glasses for drinks like mojitos or Dark and Stormys. The 16-ounce volume is a bit larger than the standard highball glass but works during the summer as the extra space allows for more ice.
Rollin Colmenares says a highball is the most used glass at the RT60 Rooftop Bar at the Hard Rock Hotel New York. He considers this JoyJolt Faye highball glass an essential piece of equipment for its midrange size and solid base. “They’re sturdier and harder to break, are comfortable to hold, contain a lot of volume, and allow the aromas of garnishes to be concentrated at the top,” he says. The small surface area also keeps drinks effervescent for much longer than a lowball would.
My Loup bar manager Jillian Moore needs a highball glass that can handle the “wear and tear of restaurant life” but that’s great for a range of drinks. “At My Loup, we use a basic Collins glass since it’s all-purpose and economical.” The lack of embellishment is key, she says, as “I like using ridiculous garnishes like silly straws, mini-clothespins, or disco-ball cocktail picks.”
Being economical is also a requirement for Hospitality HQ director of operations Steven Escobar. These Libbey Chicago glasses are “durable and inexpensive, have a nice shape, and work well as a specialty-cocktail glass,” he says.
Dean Hakim, bar manager at Heirloom @ the St. Laurent, is fond of Nude glassware because of the brand’s thin, durable highball glasses with solid bases. “They’re extremely elegant,” says Hakim. “They have gorgeous ridges in the glass, the height is tall, and the glass fits well in your hand.”
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