Highballs are a very different category of cocktail from what we’ve looked at so far on this blog. They have a much lower concentration of alcohol, making them appropriate and enjoyable for those who don’t like more ‘boozy’ drinks. They’re also nice with dinner, since they don’t need to be sipped.
In general, a highball consists of a liquor and a non-alcoholic mixer, such as soda or juice. They’re served in a tall glass on the rocks. A typical ratio is 4:1 to 6:1. Classic examples include the Screwdriver (vodka and orange juice), Rum and Coke, Whiskey Sour, and a gin and tonic. They’re extremely easy to make: fill the glass with ice, add the liquor, fill with mixer, and stir. The mixer is not usually measured carefully.
Tonight I used a little of my mint syrup to make an unnamed pre-dinner highball.
- 1 1/2 oz Bourbon
- 3/4 oz mint syrup
- fill with sparkling water
Also worth noting is that I used homemade sparkling water courtesy of my Sodastream.
