Highball

A highball is a mixed alcoholic drink composed of an alcoholic base spirit and a larger proportion of a non-alcoholic mixer, often a carbonated beverage. Examples include the Seven and Seven, Scotch and soda, gin and tonic, screwdriver, fernet con coca, and rum and Coke. A highball is typically served over ice in a large straight-sided highball glass or Collins glass.
Highballs are popular in Japan, where the term haibōru is synonymous with a whisky and soda. Shōchū is used to make chūhai ; various mixers can be specified by suffixing with -hai, as in oolong highball.

Etymology

The name may have come from early railroad signals with raised globes meaning "clear track ahead", i.e., "you're good to go".

History

Initially, the most common highball was made with Scotch whisky and carbonated water, known simply as a Scotch and soda.