The Highball

Beat the Heat

As mentioned before by Julz, it's bloody hot in D.C.  The other day we hit 103 degrees with the heat index.  It's the type of weather that you become dehydrated and delusional after walking a couple of blocks.  You sweat in unmentionable places in record time.  You look like you've just completed a 90 minute bikram yoga session and all you did was pick up your children from school.  You get the point. 

 I take this heat as a personal affront - the heat is laughing and mocking my Eastern European and New England roots - it's saying "You can't handle the heat".  Well my response (after changing my sweat-soaked t-shirt) is the highball.

Seeing Double

The other weekend this article in the New York Times caught my eye while simultaneously I was seeing the highball on cocktail menus through out DC (it's like when you think of buying a new car and you start noticing it everywhere).  From the article, and referencing my Meehan's Bartender Manual, the category of the highball was established post-WWII.  In The Fine Art of Mixing Drinks by David Embury (first published in 1948) the highball is described as "any tall iced drink (6 oz. or more) consisting of a base liquid in combination with a carbonated beverage".  If you add citrus juice and simple syrup you get a Rickey or a Collins.  A highball's beauty is in its simplicity and low-alcohol content.

Nothing gets lost in translation with this Japanese whisky

The Classic Highball

1. Place your highball glass in the freezer
2. Take out glass fill with large ice cubes (or if you're super fancy one long ice "spear")
3. Pour in about 2 oz. of your favorite spirit (Nikka Coffey Grain Whisky for me, please)
4. Fill up with cold bottled mineral soda water
5. If you need a garnish keep it simple - like a lemon twist.

Low - ball?

The official soft drink of Maine

The usual suspects are whiskey and soda but if you think of it, the G & T is a highball and I know it's a stretch but perhaps you can even say you were drinking highballs in college (Captain and Coke? Jack and Ginger?).  Who knew you were so sophisticated while dancing to "Mo Money Mo Problems"  at the house party?  If you're feeling up to it start playing around with some of the smaller craft sodas out there.  Nothing is off limits - not even Moxie!  Perhaps not the best for summertime but this one goes out to my Mainiacs, specifically at the Great Lost Bear.

The Burnt Trailer

1 part Allen's Coffee Flavored Brandy (read this to understand what Allen's means in Maine)
2 parts Moxie*

Stir over ice in a highball glass or a pint glass if you want to be authentic.

* Moxie recently was acquired by Coca-Cola, so hopefully now you'll be able to find it at your local convenient store soon.  Also, who knew that chefs love Moxie? 


By Nicola O'Neil