Sneakeater Posted May 29 Share Posted May 29 So just to sum up, we’re saying that more than two ingredients aren’t necessary, but they have to be more than just a base liquor and soda or tonic (or water; for that matter)? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sneakeater Posted May 29 Share Posted May 29 I agree that it can’t be dispositive whether the drink happens to have been served tall or short. That’s usually just a function of what the maker happens to have on hand. A Burgondy doesn’t stop being a Burgundy if you don’t serve it in a Burgundy glass; and wine doesn’t turn into water when it’s served in a tumbler. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
joethefoodie Posted May 29 Share Posted May 29 I think a highball also must be served on the rocks. And I don't think it's ever shaken, probably not stirred either, at least not by the preparer. Or did we already decide that? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Wilfrid Posted May 29 Share Posted May 29 On the rocks, yes, and in most cases the mixer is carbonated so you don’t want to agitate the drink. I think it’s also characteristic of a highball that the mixer is non-alcoholic. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sneakeater Posted May 30 Share Posted May 30 See, what I'm more interesting in isn't what makes a Highball a Highball, but what makes a Highball not-a-cocktail. It can't be that it's served over ice, cuz lots of cocktails are served over ice. It may be that, as @Wilfrid suggested a while ago, the division is a totally arbitrary tradition that defies explanation. But I'm curious. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Wilfrid Posted May 30 Share Posted May 30 I said that? A highball is a shot of liquor with non-alcoholic fizz filling up the (short or tall) glass over rocks. Maybe there are borderline cases, but the difference most if the time is surely obvious. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
joethefoodie Posted May 30 Share Posted May 30 8 hours ago, Wilfrid said: A highball is a shot of liquor with non-alcoholic fizz filling up the (short or tall) glass over rocks. Does it have to be a fizzy thing filling up the glass over rocks? Like a vodka/oj, or vodka/cranberry isn't a highball? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sneakeater Posted May 30 Share Posted May 30 That’s just what I’m getting at. Cuz if you think a Cape Codder is a Highball rather than a cocktail, why is a Gimlet a cocktail? What do you think is the difference? (All I’m saying is that being served over ice can’t be a differentiating factor, as it’s a characteristic both categories share.) (I think a Cape Codder is a cocktail, FWIW.) (Cuz while I don’t think being served over ice is a differentiating factor between Highballs and cocktails, I do think it’s a necessary characteristic of a Highball.) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
joethefoodie Posted May 30 Share Posted May 30 So, back to Wondrich again: it's apparent that a highball is simply a spirit, sparkling water, and ice. Anything else kinda moves it into cocktail territory. Which means things like gin and tonic are cocktails, whereas gin and soda water is a highball. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sneakeater Posted May 30 Share Posted May 30 That’s kind of what I thought to begin with. Although I guess someone could argue if they wanted that tonic is akin to sparkling water (although I’d argue that the relevant distinguishing factor there is flavoring). (This would also move Fernet con Cocas back into the cocktail category, where it seems to me they belong.) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sneakeater Posted May 30 Share Posted May 30 Wait a minute. Quick research shows that G&Ts are considered Highballs. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
joethefoodie Posted May 30 Share Posted May 30 39 minutes ago, Sneakeater said: Wait a minute. Quick research shows that G&Ts are considered Highballs. I'm gonna have to settle on Wondrich as being the final arbiter of this. He even says that before Scotch and soda was called Scotch and soda, it was called a Scotch Highball. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
joethefoodie Posted May 30 Share Posted May 30 Of course, then Dale had to go and name a cocktail the Añejo Highball! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
joethefoodie Posted May 30 Share Posted May 30 And... https://bevvy.co/glassware/highball-glass What is a Highball Glass? The highball glass is a tall glass tumbler that is most commonly used for cocktails served on the rocks, often with a high ratio of non-alcoholic mixer to spirit. The name is derived from the classic Highball cocktail, which is a simple combination of scotch whisky and soda water. However, "highball" is also a large and loosely-defined category of drinks. For some bartenders, a highball can only be a spirit (it doesn't have to be scotch) mixed with soda water, but for others it can include any cocktail served in a highball glass, like the Dark 'n Stormy, Mojito, Americano, Tom Collins, or Fernet and Coke. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
joethefoodie Posted May 30 Share Posted May 30 Or could we say (or have we said) all highballs are cocktails, but not all cocktails are highballs? Or something to that effect? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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