Classic Cocktails: The Highball

HIGHBALLS

By Josh Gandee, Beverage Director at Watershed Kitchen & Bar

It might not be an emergency, but there are certainly times that call for a little more haste when it comes to drink making. While we don’t necessarily recommend mixing vodka and Mountain Dew, it certainly has the ratio right when it comes to the rapidity needed to pull off a tasty mix without any time for prep. A cocktail secret to keep in your bar apron is the Highball. With a history reaching back to the 1890s, the simple mix of spirit and carbonate is easily put together, but attention to finer details will really make it shine. Here we’ve included some recipes that are easily executable at home with some tips on how to wow guests and even yourself. *insert pat on the back*

To give a little more credit to a bourbon and soda, you must first give a little more attention to your vessel, your carbonate and your spirit. One way of elevating these simple concoctions is to think cold! By placing your spirit, and glassware in the freezer, and making sure your carbonate stays icy cold in the fridge, you’ll get the perfect chill, the perfect bubbles and, most importantly, less dilution. If you pour room-temperature spirit and carbonate over ice it will begin to dilute much quicker, which will dissolve a lot of the flavor from your preferred spirits.

If you are pulling your recipes from the 1890s, when the highball was first introduced, then you’ll notice they don’t include citrus, unlike Collinses or Rickeys. That isn’t to say that they might not include a little citrus here and there, but a few things have changed since 1890, so live it up and add a dash. If you feel like getting wild, start playing around with different flavored seltzers such as grapefruit or lime with bourbon or vodka. Want to really get a party started? Pour a shot of gin into the bottom of a Collins glass and top it off with pilsner or a radler for a shandy riff that’s sure to delight. If you’re pressed for time, you’re not pressed for creativity.

Red Delicious Highball

1½ ounces Watershed Bourbon
4 ounces Mundel Apple Soda
Ice
Apple slice, for garnish

In a well-chilled Collins glass, pour bourbon and apple soda over ice, and garnish with sliced apple.

Coco Loco

1½ ounces Watershed Vodka
½ ounce lime juice
½ ounce simple syrup
Coconut La Croix
Ice
Lime wheel, for garnish

In a well-chilled Collins glass, pour first ingredients over ice, topping with coconut La Croix. Garnish with lime wheel.

Four Peel Radler

1½ ounces Watershed Four Peel Gin
Ice
4 ounces Stiegl Radler Grapefruit
Grapefruit peel, for garnish

In a well-chilled Collins glass, pour gin over ice, top with grapefruit radler and garnish with grapefruit peel.