Is there a difference between highball and longdrink glasses?
Highball and longdrink glasses are an important part of any home bar. The two styles look similar, and in many cases they can be used for the same kinds of drinks, but there are still some differences worth knowing when you compare them. That is often the easiest way to narrow down your choice when you browse this category.
On a webshop page like this, many people start by looking at shape and size first. From there, it becomes easier to decide whether you want a glass for a simple mixed drink with few ingredients or a taller, slimmer glass for cocktails with more components, ice and garnish.
What is a highball glass?
There are several theories about how this type of glass got the name highball. One of the most common goes back to the early railway days, when a high signal ball told train drivers that the train could continue at full speed. In that sense, the highball glass is linked with a quick and uncomplicated drink that is served without delay.
What is a highball glass used for?
Highball cocktails are typically made with one spirit and one soft drink, which makes them some of the simplest drinks to prepare. The size of a highball glass suits these combinations well, helping to create a balanced mix of alcohol and soft drink from the first sip to the last.
In this selection, you can find highball glasses in the following sizes:
Highball glasses 36 cl
Highball glasses 38 cl
Highball glasses 41 cl
As you can see, the size range is quite close. That reflects the simple combination of alcohol and soft drink, where around 40 cl is a suitable size. If you are comparing glasses for straightforward serves, this gives you a practical starting point.
If you prefer whisky or other liqueurs, it may also be useful to look at whisky glasses, which are often slightly smaller than a highball glass.
What is a longdrink glass?
A longdrink glass differs from a highball glass in its taller and slimmer shape. That makes it well suited to cocktails with several ingredients. The slim shape presents the drink neatly and works especially well for serves with different colour tones, plenty of ice and decorative garnish.
What is a longdrink glass used for?
Longdrink glasses are suitable for cocktails that need a generous amount of ice and a mixer, such as Mojitos, Bloody Marys or Long Island Iced Teas. If you usually make drinks with a little more going on in the glass, this style is often the more fitting choice.
In our range, you can, for example, find longdrink glasses in these sizes:
Longdrink glasses 35 cl
Longdrink glasses 37.5 cl
Longdrink glasses 44.5 cl
Longdrink glasses 48 cl
If you are unsure which size to choose, it helps to think about the kinds of drinks you make most often. For simpler mixed drinks, a highball glass is usually enough. For cocktails with more ingredients, more ice or more garnish, the extra height of a longdrink glass can be useful.
If you want to compare this category with other options, you can also explore our full range of glassware and browse more cocktail glasses. In the wider selection, you will also find gin glasses and martini glasses.
What is the story behind the longdrink glass?
The longdrink glass is also called a Collins glass, named after the classic cocktail Tom Collins.
There is a well-known and rather amusing story behind Tom Collins, although it should be noted that there are several theories about how the drink was invented.
The story says that a joke spread across the United States in the 1870s: The Great Tom Collins Hoax. Friends would trick each other by saying that a man called Tom Collins was speaking badly about them in a nearby bar.
The unsuspecting person would hurry to the bar and ask for Tom Collins, only to be met with laughter and amusement from the other guests. The joke spread quickly and became so popular that newspapers started reporting on it. Before long, the idea of a non-existent man called Tom Collins became linked with a good story or a joke.
A gin-based cocktail was later named after the prank, and that is how the Tom Collins cocktail was born.
For many shoppers, this background is simply a helpful way to recognise why longdrink glasses are sometimes listed under a different name. If you compare shapes and names while browsing, knowing that a longdrink glass may also be described as a Collins glass can make the category easier to navigate.
Lyngby Glas - serve cocktails with style
Lyngby Glas has been part of Danish design heritage since 1940 and is known as a pioneer in glass production. By combining traditional craftsmanship with modern aesthetics, Lyngby Glas has created several collections of cocktail glasses in elegant and functional designs.
The range includes glassware designed to suit both everyday use and festive occasions. A patterned highball glass can add extra detail to drinks and other beverages, while still keeping the overall expression practical and easy to use.
When you compare highball and longdrink glasses on this page, it can be useful to look at both the visual style and the proportions of the glass. Some shoppers begin with the look they prefer and then move on to capacity, while others start with the types of drinks they make most often and choose the shape that fits best.
Choosing highball and longdrink glasses online
If you are looking for cocktail glasses for both everyday occasions and celebrations, this category brings together the two most relevant options for tall mixed drinks. A practical way to choose is to start with the style of drink: highball glasses for simpler combinations of one spirit and one soft drink, and longdrink glasses for taller cocktails with more ingredients, ice and garnish.
From there, compare the capacities shown across the range. Because many of the glasses are close in size, the final choice often comes down to shape and how you want the drink to be presented. That makes this category useful if you want to move from a broad choice to a more specific selection without losing sight of the details that matter.
If you are building your collection step by step, it can also help to compare this category with nearby alternatives in the wider cocktail glass range. That way, you can decide whether a tall glass is the right fit, or whether another format suits your drinks better.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between highball and longdrink glasses?
Highball and longdrink glasses are similar, but a longdrink glass is usually taller and slimmer. In everyday use, this means that highball glasses are often better for simpler mixed drinks, while longdrink glasses can suit cocktails with more ingredients, ice and garnish.
What is a highball glass used for?
A highball glass is typically used for simple drinks made with one spirit and one soft drink. In practice, this helps you serve a balanced mixed drink in a glass size that is designed for straightforward combinations.
What is a longdrink glass used for?
A longdrink glass is suited to cocktails that need more ice, mixer and often garnish, such as Mojitos, Bloody Marys or Long Island Iced Teas. This makes it easier to serve taller drinks neatly, especially when the presentation of the ingredients matters.
How do I choose between a highball glass and a longdrink glass?
A practical way to choose is to start with the kind of drinks you make most often. In everyday use, this means a highball glass is usually enough for simpler serves, while a longdrink glass can be more useful for mixed drinks with more ingredients, height and garnish.
Does the size of the glass matter when choosing one?
Yes, size can help you match the glass to the drink you want to serve. In practice, this helps you compare options more easily, as highball glasses in this range are often around 36 to 41 cl, while longdrink glasses can also offer slightly taller capacities for drinks with more ice and mixer.
Is a longdrink glass the same as a Collins glass?
Yes, a longdrink glass is also often called a Collins glass. This makes it easier to recognise the style when you browse narrower options online, especially if the name changes but the shape and use remain much the same.
How should I choose highball and longdrink glasses online?
It helps to begin with the style of drink you usually serve, then compare shape and capacity. In practice, this helps you move from broader choices to more specific selections without losing sight of how the glass will look and work in use.
Should I choose by appearance or by the type of drink?
Both can be useful starting points, depending on how you shop. In everyday use, this means you can begin with the visual style you prefer and then check the capacity, or start with the drinks you make most often and choose the shape that fits them best.