Highball cocktails are the unsung heroes of the mixology world. Simple, elegant, and effortlessly refreshing, these drinks are all about letting quality ingredients shine. The highball category is broad—essentially any spirit mixed with a non-alcoholic ingredient, served in a tall glass with plenty of ice. But within this simplicity lies a world of possibilities.
Think about your favorite movies or TV shows—how many times have you seen a sleek, well-dressed character sipping a tall, fizzy drink? Whether it’s James Bond trading his usual martini for a refreshing Tom Collins or Don Draper casually sipping a Moscow Mule, highball cocktails have long been associated with effortless sophistication and good taste.
Here’s your ultimate guide to ten must-try highball cocktails that bring both ease and elegance to your drinking experience with your best glassware.
Vodka Highball – The Ultimate Blank Canvas
A staple in any bartender’s arsenal, the Vodka Highball is all about minimalism and versatility. Typically, this drink consists of vodka mixed with club soda or tonic water, served over ice, and finished with a fresh lemon or lime wedge. It’s crisp, clean, and allows the vodka’s subtle nuances to take center stage.
If you’ve ever watched Sex and the City, you know that Carrie Bradshaw and her friends popularized the cosmopolitan. But off-screen, Sarah Jessica Parker has been known to favor a simple vodka highball—a testament to its timeless appeal.
Tom Collins – A Vintage Classic
The Tom Collins is an old-school favorite that has been gracing cocktail menus since the 19th century. Made with gin, fresh lemon juice, simple syrup, and club soda, it’s a bright and citrusy drink with just the right amount of fizz. Served in a tall glass with ice, it’s a classic refresher for hot days.
Why You Should Try It: If you love a well-balanced drink that’s neither too sweet nor too tart, the Tom Collins is your best bet. Think of it as a sophisticated lemonade with a grown-up twist. This cocktail was a favorite in the roaring ’20s, frequently appearing in The Great Gatsby—so if you want to channel your inner Jay Gatsby at your next gathering, this is the drink to go for.
Long Island Iced Tea – The Rebel’s Choice
For those who like their drinks strong but dangerously smooth, the Long Island Iced Tea is a must-try. Despite its innocent-sounding name, this cocktail is a potent blend of vodka, rum, gin, tequila, triple sec, lemon juice, and cola.
Why It Stands Out: It delivers a serious kick while remaining refreshingly drinkable. If you’re looking for a high-energy party drink, this one won’t disappoint. This is the drink of choice in countless coming-of-age films—think Superbad or The Hangover. It’s bold, it’s messy, and it’s a rite of passage.
Gin Rickey – The No-Sugar Highball
The Gin Rickey is an ultra-refreshing, sugar-free highball made with gin, fresh lime juice, and club soda. It’s an ideal pick for those who like their cocktails dry and crisp. It was the drink of choice for F. Scott Fitzgerald, so if you want to sip like a literary legend, this is the cocktail for you.
Why You Should Try It: It’s light on calories, high on refreshment, and perfect for gin lovers who prefer a more botanical-forward drink.
Sea Breeze – A Beach Vacation in a Glass
The Sea Breeze Cocktail is a tropical yet balanced mix of vodka, cranberry juice, and grapefruit juice. It’s tart, sweet, and effortlessly refreshing, evoking images of lounging by the beach on a breezy summer day. Featured heavily in Sex and the City, this drink was a favorite among the fashionable elite of New York’s social scene.
Why You Should Try It: If you love fruity drinks but don’t want them overly sugary, the Sea Breeze strikes the perfect balance.
Southside Fizz – The Hidden Gem
A lesser-known gem, the Southside Fizz is made with gin, fresh mint, lemon juice, simple syrup, and club soda. The minty freshness combined with gin’s botanical depth makes it an incredibly sophisticated highball.
Why You Should Try It: If you love mojitos but prefer gin over rum, this is the drink for you.
Rumored to be a favorite among Chicago gangsters during Prohibition, the Southside Fizz carries an air of mystery and old-school glamour.
Americano – The European Elegance
The Americano Cocktail is a bittersweet blend of Campari, sweet vermouth, and soda water. Originally popular in Italy, it has a light bitterness that makes it a great aperitif before dinner. This was the first cocktail James Bond ever ordered in Casino Royale before he switched to his famous martini.
Why You Should Try It: If you enjoy Negronis but want something lighter, the Americano is your go-to.
Moscow Mule – The Spicy Star
The Moscow Mule is a staple at every cocktail bar, made with vodka, ginger beer, and lime juice. Traditionally served in a copper mug, this drink is zesty, spicy, and incredibly refreshing.
Why You Should Try It: If you love the fiery kick of ginger beer, this is the highball for you. A favorite among Hollywood celebrities, it’s the cocktail of choice at many red-carpet after-parties.
Vodka Cranberry – The Club Classic
Simple yet iconic, the Vodka Cranberry Cocktail is a mix of vodka and cranberry juice, often garnished with a lime wedge. It’s the go-to drink in countless nightclub scenes in movies and TV shows.
Why You Should Try It: Easy to make, easy to drink, and always a safe bet at any bar.
Rum & Ginger Ale – The Underrated Hero
The Rum & Ginger Ale is as simple as it gets, rum mixed with spicy-sweet ginger ale over ice. Pirates drank rum. If Captain Jack Sparrow were around today, he’d probably be sipping on one of these.
Why You Should Try It: It’s a fantastic introduction to rum-based cocktails and pairs beautifully with dark or spiced rum.
Highball cocktails prove that great drinks don’t have to be complicated. Whether you prefer bold and boozy or light and refreshing, there’s a highball for every taste and occasion. So next time you’re at a bar—or better yet, making drinks at home—try one of these classics and sip like a pro.
If movies and pop culture have taught us anything, it’s that a well-made cocktail can be the ultimate accessory to a great night. So, raise your highball glass and drink like a legend!