Retro Cocktails: The Highball

by Bob Sassone (Subscribe to Bob Sassone's posts)
Posted Jan 31st 2006 3:56PM
Filed under: Whisky, Magazines, Cocktails, Retro cookery

Print Email More

Do people still drink this? It's a classic drink (I remember it was a mainstay in my family years ago, when we had any kind of holiday party), but I don't think I've heard anyone order one in 20 years. Esquire has the classic recipe. It sounds simple, but if you get the mix wrong, it just won't come out right:

use a tall, narrow mouth glass, at least 12 oz.
put in two or three ice cubes
pour in whiskey (you can use something else, but it's what is usually used)
pour in seltzer or club soda.

Should be served cold so the ice doesn't melt. And don't stir it!

Tags: booze, club soda, drinking, esquire.com, highball, seltzer, whiskey, whisky

Comments [2]

Permalink

Print Email Twitter Facebook Digg AIM Share

Related Headlines

Butterscotch and Whiskey Bars - Feast Your Eyes (24 days ago - 6 Comments)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

1-31-2006 @ 4:38PM

Peter said...

Another "retro" cocktail is the classic 'Old Fashioned' and I only recently "discovered" it. My recipe after some tweaking of a few classic recipes is as follows.

- 1/2 orange slice with rind (Valencia orange preferred)
- maraschino cherry
- 1 tsp superfine sugar
- 3-4 dashes Angostura bitters
- 3 oz bourbon (Maker's Mark preferred)
- club soda
- plenty of ice

Place the orange chunk and maraschino cherry into an Old Fashioned glass, top with sugar, bitters and a teeny, tiny splash of club soda. Muddle the mixture making sure to break up the orange flesh and disolve the sugar. (I HIGHLY recommend getting the Rosle Fruit Muddle - http://www.cooking.com/products/shprodde.asp?SKU=212484 - the best muddle/pestle I have found!) Let the mixture sit for about 2-3 minutes to allow all the ingredient to get cozy with one another and then fill the glass with ice, add the bourbon and top with about an once of club soda. Gently stir to combine being careful not to let the "fizz" out of the club soda. Garnish with an orange chunk and maraschino cherry... or if you are brave and skilled, garnish with a flamed orange peel!

It sounds complicated, but it takes about 5-6 minutes total and makes a very smooth, refreshing bourbon cocktail. :)

1-31-2006 @ 5:07PM

Jon Rubin said...

Uh, people drink highballs all the time. Rum & Coke, Gin & Tonic, etc. It's a class of drink, not one particular recipe.

And technically, a highball is not a cocktail.

Cocktails, at least traditionally (see: the first written reference to the cocktail in 1806), contain: spirits, sugar, water, and *bitters*.

Add your comments

Please keep your comments relevant to this blog entry. Email addresses are never displayed, but they are required to confirm your comments.

When you enter your name and email address, you'll be sent a link to confirm your comment, and a password. To leave another comment, just use that password.

To create a live link, simply type the URL (including http://) or email address and we will make it a live link for you. You can put up to 3 URLs in your comments. Line breaks and paragraphs are automatically converted — no need to use <p> or <br> tags.

#	Blogger	Posts	Cmts
1	Slashfood Editor	83	0
2	Alexa Weibel	52	2
3	Sarah LeTrent	36	0
4	Hanna Raskin	30	0
5	Emily Farris	20	0
6	Jennifer Lawinski	17	0
7	Sara Bonisteel	14	0
8	Michael Thomas Hastings	10	0
9	Jennifer Iserloh	7	0
10	Jose Ralat Maldonado	7	1
11	David Koeppel	7	0
12	Max Shrem	5	0
13	Sarah Christine	5	0
14	LeNell Smothers	5	0
15	Erin Meister	5	0
16	Joshua M. Bernstein	5	2
17	Mike Pomranz	5	1
18	John Devore	4	0
19	Kristine Hansen	4	0
20	Monika Bartyzel	4	0

Blogger

Posts

Cmts

Michael Thomas Hastings

Beyond John and Priscilla: Surprising Names of the Mayflower Pilgrims Surprise: Your Biological Father May Be Charles Manson Book Report: Penguin Classics	Can You Think Yourself Thin? Should BMI Trump GPA as a Graduation Requirement? The Biggest Loser: Suze Orman and the Obesity Money Pit
Victoria Beckham Relaunching Denim Line EasyJet Apologizes for 'Inappropriate' Fashion Shoot at Holocaust Memorial Kate Moss Plans to Become 'Eating Machine' to Fight Skinny Backlash	Girls on Pop: Thanksgiving Shenanigans Why You're Searching "Vicki Kennedy," "Laura Wasser," and "Allen Iverson Retired" Forgotten Celebrity Playboy Spreads
The First White House State Dinner Serves Up Modern Design Good Deal Alert: Snapfish Photo Books Now 50% Off Fresh Window Treatments: Drapes Made With Doilies	Shih Tzu Puppy Party! The Brains Behind The National Dog Show Cat Earns Soccer Goalie a Penalty