Johnnie Walker Black Label with Ginger

The term ‘Highball’ has been used for over a century to describe a specific type of cocktail, but its exact origins are somewhat unclear. The first known written mention of the term appears in a play called My Friend From India by Ha Du Souchet, which was written in 1894. In the play, a character named Erastus orders a ‘Highball of whiskey’ from a bartender.

According to cocktail expert Gary "Gaz" Regan, the term ‘Highball’ may have originally been a railroad term. In the early days of steam trains. The explanation is there was a ball indicator connected to a float inside the water tank that would tell the conductor when there was enough water in the tank to proceed. When the train was ready to depart, the conductor would signal with a highball - two short whistle blows followed by one long whistle blow. This term was later applied to cocktails that consisted of two shots of liquor and a long pour of mixer, as the proportions were similar to the highball signal used by railroad conductors.

Today, the Highball is a classic cocktail that typically consists of a base spirit (such as whiskey, gin, or vodka) and a non-alcoholic mixer (such as soda water or ginger ale). The cocktail is served over ice in a tall glass and is often garnished with a slice of lemon or lime.