Why is a shot of alcohol and some soda called a highball?!
Answers: It is an old reference so it isn't something dumb like a "slippery nipple" or "dirty mother".
The Highball was invented in 1895 by a New York barman named Patrick Duffy, and that the term 'highball' comes from the 19th century railroad practice of raising a ball on a pole to urge a passing train driver to speed up. Duffy used this term to describe his method of quickly mixing a drink by simply adding the ingredients to a tall glass over ice. To enable this speedy process, Duffy used one spirit, one mixer (ginger ale or soda) and either a simple garnish (such as a twist of lemon) or none at all.
Highball is a type of glass. So, anything that calls for being poured into a highball glass is, therefore, a highball.
Just the type of glass, dear.
it is just an old reference for a type of drink with a shot of liquor and mixer...from when ordering a cocktail in a bar was simple
it is also synonymous with the short, wide-mouth glass it is typically served in
Silly, the highball is the name of a glass ( 8 )oz, most of the mixed drinks are served in a highball glass, it is not the drink cold that.