Highball Glass
Tall, narrow tumbler — the traditional service vessel for whisky-and-soda or whisky-and-water in long-drink form.
The highball glass is a tall, narrow tumbler — typically 240–360 ml capacity — used for highball-style mixed drinks. The whisky highball (whisky topped with sparkling water or soda, over ice) is a long-drink format that dominates whisky service in Japan, where Suntory's post-2008 highball marketing campaign drove a substantial domestic revival of the format. The glass shape preserves carbonation (narrow opening) while providing room for a large quantity of mixer and ice. The highball format originated in 19th-century Britain — the term 'high ball' referred to a tall drink — and was popular in Anglo-American bars before Prohibition and again after. Highball is the default format for Suntory Kakubin (Yellow Label) whisky in Japan.
Quick facts
- Type
- Glassware
Origin of the Term
The term 'highball' appears in late 19th-century American bartender's manuals referring to whisky-and-soda served in a tall glass. Several etymologies have been proposed, including from railway signalling (a 'high ball' signal indicated all-clear and full speed) and from the simple description of a tall mixed drink. The format was popular in pre-Prohibition America and remained a standard of British and Commonwealth bar service throughout the 20th century.
The Japanese Highball Revival
Suntory's post-2008 Kakubin highball marketing campaign drove a substantial revival of whisky-and-soda service in Japan. Suntory promoted the highball as a younger, more refreshing format for consumers who found neat whisky inaccessible. The campaign succeeded in expanding whisky's consumer base in Japan and the highball remains the dominant Japanese whisky service format outside connoisseur tasting contexts.
Sources & further reading (1)
- encyclopedia — accessed 2026-05-15
Frequently asked questions
Why is the highball so popular in Japan?
Suntory's marketing campaigns from 2008 onwards positioned the highball as a refreshing, approachable format that pairs with Japanese cuisine. The campaign expanded the whisky consumer base beyond traditional connoisseurs. The format is now ubiquitous in Japanese izakaya and conventional bars; ready-to-drink canned highball is a major retail category.