When setting up your home bar, selecting the right glassware is as important as the ingredients you use in your drinks. A great place to start is identifying the right cocktail glassware for different drinks and stocking up appropriately. In this guide, we will learn the differences between two popular types of glassware, highball vs. lowball glass.

What Is a Highball Glass?

A highball glass is tall, typically holding 8 to 12 ounces, and has a relatively simple, cylindrical shape. This glass is designed for drinks that are mixed with a larger proportion of non-alcoholic mixer and served with ice.

Best Uses for Highball Glasses

Highball glasses are perfect for serving layered or carbonated drinks where you want the mixer to blend gradually with the spirit as you sip. They are ideal for:

• Sodas and Tonics: Long drinks like gin and tonic or scotch and soda are perfect in a highball because they require a lot of ice and carbonated water, which need room to fizz without spilling.
• Juicy Cocktails: Drinks that contain a significant amount of juice, such as Bloody Marys or Screwdrivers, also work well in highball glasses.

When to Choose a Highball

The height of the highball glass keeps your drink cool while its narrow shape slows the dilution of the ice, making it perfect for drinks that are meant to be enjoyed slowly.

What Is a Lowball Glass?

Also known as an Old Fashioned glass or rocks glass, the lowball is shorter than the highball, typically holding between 6 to 8 ounces. It has a wide brim and a thick base, which makes it ideal for muddled drinks and those served on the rocks.

Best Uses for Lowball Glasses

Lowball glasses are best for stronger spirits that are either neat, with ice, or with a small mixer component. They are great for:

• Spirit-Forward Cocktails: Classic cocktails like the Old Fashioned, Whiskey Sour, or any spirit on the rocks fit perfectly into a lowball due to their concentrated flavors that are best enjoyed slowly.
• Muddled Drinks: The wide base allows ample room for muddling ingredients directly in the glass, a key step in making drinks like the Mojito or Caipirinha.

When to Choose a Lowball

The lowball glass is ideal for drinks where the flavor of the spirit should take center stage. Its wide mouth also enhances the aroma of the contents, enriching the overall tasting experience.

Highball Vs. Lowball: Making the Right Choice

Choosing between a highball and a lowball glass often comes down to the type of drink you are preparing. If your cocktail contains more mixer than liquor and is best served cold over a longer period, go for a highball. If your preference leans towards a stronger, more flavor-focused drink that may include muddled ingredients or ice, the lowball is your best bet.

Our cocktail experts at Tipsy Cocktail Supply Co. understand the role of glassware in achieving the optimal drinking experience. We provide both lowball and highball glasses, along with everything else that is necessary to make delicious homemade cocktails and mocktails.

Our glasses are handmade and feature unique, fun designs that add a memorable touch to your drinking experience. We create each piece in our collection with care, offering plenty of character to brighten up your home bar.

Understanding when to use a highball vs. a lowball glass is fundamental for any home bartender as it affects the presentation and enjoyment of the drink. Explore our collection and find the perfect glassware to complement your favorite cocktails.