Highball vs. Tumbler — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Fiza Rafique — Updated on April 20, 2024
Highball glasses are tall and narrow, typically used for mixed drinks with a large proportion of a non-alcoholic mixer, while tumblers are shorter, wider, and used for drinks either neat or with ice.
Difference Between Highball and Tumbler
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Highball glasses are designed tall to accommodate a mix of both alcoholic spirits and a larger volume of non-alcoholic mixers, such as soda or juice, which helps in maintaining the carbonation and flavor profile of the drink. Whereas, tumblers, often referred to as rocks glasses, are shorter and have a wide brim, making them ideal for serving spirits neat or with ice, allowing for the aroma of the drink to be savored more fully.
The shape of a highball glass, being tall and slender, assists in the layering of ingredients, which is visually appealing and ensures a gradual mix of the beverage’s components as it is consumed. On the other hand, tumblers have a sturdy base and a wide opening that makes them suitable for muddling ingredients directly in the glass, a common practice for cocktails like the Old Fashioned.
Highball glasses usually hold about 8 to 12 ounces, which is conducive for drinks that are sipped over a longer period, thus diluting slowly and maintaining a balanced flavor. In contrast, tumblers typically hold 6 to 10 ounces, providing just enough space for the addition of one or two ice cubes, which cools the drink without excessive dilution.
While highball glasses are a staple for cocktails that require a high volume of mixers, such as a gin and tonic or a scotch and soda, tumblers are preferred for more spirit-forward cocktails, like whiskey on the rocks or a bourbon and water, where the emphasis is on the liquor itself.
Despite the different shapes and intended uses, both glass types are versatile and essential in the context of a well-equipped bar, catering to a variety of drink preferences and styles.
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Comparison Chart
Shape
Tall and narrow
Short and wide
Typical Use
Mixed drinks with more mixer
Neat spirits or with ice
Volume
8-12 ounces
6-10 ounces
Drink Examples
Gin and tonic, scotch and soda
Whiskey on the rocks, Old Fashioned
Ideal for
Sipping drinks, preserving carbonation
Spirit-forward cocktails, muddling ingredients
Compare with Definitions
Highball
A tall, narrow glass used primarily for serving highball cocktails.
I poured a rum and coke into a highball to enjoy the effervescence.
Tumbler
A short, wide glass commonly used for serving spirits.
He poured the scotch into a tumbler to appreciate its aroma.
Highball
A cocktail consisting of a spirit and a larger proportion of a non-alcoholic mixer.
She ordered a gin and tonic, a classic highball.
Tumbler
A glass used to serve drinks either neat, with ice, or with minimal mixer.
She added ice to the tumbler for her evening whiskey.
Highball
A category of drinks emphasizing a mix of alcohol with non-alcoholic beverages.
Highballs are popular for their refreshing qualities.
Tumbler
Often used in a casual setting due to its sturdy design and ease of handling.
Tumblers are ideal for outdoor gatherings.
Highball
A drink served in a highball glass.
He prefers his vodka highballs with a splash of cranberry.
Tumbler
A versatile glass, suitable for both non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages.
Fill a tumbler with juice or water for a simple drink.
Highball
A term used in bartending to describe any mixed drink resembling a highball in preparation and proportion.
A whiskey highball is perfect for a hot day.
Tumbler
A term in bartending used to describe a variety of drinkware without a stem.
Bartenders prefer tumblers for their durability and classic style.
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, and rum and Coke.
Tumbler
One that tumbles, especially an acrobat or gymnast.
Highball
A drink consisting of a spirit, especially whisky, and a mixer such as soda, served with ice in a tall glass.
Tumbler
A drinking glass, originally with a rounded bottom.
Highball
A railway signal to proceed.
Tumbler
A flat-bottomed glass having no handle, foot, or stem.
Highball
Travel fast
They highballed north
Tumbler
The contents of such a drinking glass.
Highball
A cocktail served in a tall glass and consisting of liquor, such as whiskey, mixed with water or a carbonated beverage.
Tumbler
A toy made with a weighted rounded base so that it can rock over and then right itself.
Highball
A railroad signal indicating full speed ahead.
Tumbler
One of a breed of domestic pigeon that characteristically tumbles or somersaults in flight.
Highball
A high-speed train.
Tumbler
A piece in a gunlock that forces the hammer forward by action of the mainspring.
Highball
To move ahead at full speed.
Tumbler
The part in a lock that releases the bolt when moved by a key.
Highball
A cocktail made from a spirit plus soda water etc.
Tumbler
The drum of a clothes dryer.
Highball
An all clear or full speed ahead signal.
Tumbler
A tumbling box.
Highball
(climbing) A very high bouldering problem, often with a hard landing.
Tumbler
A projecting piece on a revolving or rocking part in a mechanism that transmits motion to the part it engages.
Highball
To make an estimate which tends toward exaggeration.
If we highball the price, it comes out to $240. If we lowball it, it's closer to $200.
Tumbler
The rocking frame that moves a gear into place in a transmission, as on a lathe.
Highball
To move quickly; to hightail.
Tumbler
(archaic) One who tumbles; one who plays tricks by various motions of the body.
Highball
An alcoholic beverage having a liquor such as whiskey mixed with water or a carbonated beverage, and usually served with ice in a tall glass.
Tumbler
A movable obstruction in a lock, consisting of a lever, latch, wheel, slide, or the like, which must be adjusted to a particular position by a key or other means before the bolt can be thrown in locking or unlocking.
Highball
A railroad track signal permitting the engineer to proceed at full speed.
Tumbler
A rotating device for smoothing and polishing rough objects, placed inside it, on relatively small parts.
Highball
A mixed drink made of alcoholic liquor mixed with water or a carbonated beverage and served in a tall glass
Tumbler
A piece attached to, or forming part of, the hammer of a gunlock, upon which the mainspring acts and in which are the notches for sear point to enter.
Tumbler
A drinking glass that has no stem, foot, or handle — so called because such glasses originally had a pointed or convex base and could not be set down without spilling. This compelled the drinker to finish their measure.
Tumbler
A variety of the domestic pigeon remarkable for its habit of tumbling, or turning somersaults, during its flight.
Tumbler
A beverage cup, typically made of stainless steel, that is broad at the top and narrow at the bottom commonly used in India.
Tumbler
Something that causes (something else) to tumble.
Yo tumbler
Tumbler
(obsolete) A dog of a breed that tumbles when pursuing game, formerly used in hunting rabbits.
Tumbler
A kind of cart; a tumbril.
Tumbler
The pupa of a mosquito.
Tumbler
One of a set of levers from which the heddles hang in some looms.
Tumbler
(obsolete) A porpoise.
Tumbler
(cryptocurrency) A service that mixes potentially identifiable or 'tainted' cryptocurrency funds with others, so as to obscure the audit trail.
Tumbler
One who tumbles; one who plays tricks by various motions of the body; an acrobat.
Tumbler
A movable obstruction in a lock, consisting of a lever, latch, wheel, slide, or the like, which must be adjusted to a particular position by a key or other means before the bolt can be thrown in locking or unlocking.
Tumbler
A piece attached to, or forming part of, the hammer of a gunlock, upon which the mainspring acts and in which are the notches for the sear point to enter.
Tumbler
A drinking glass, without a foot or stem; - so called because originally it had a pointed or convex base, and could not be set down with any liquor in it, thus compelling the drinker to finish his measure.
Tumbler
A variety of the domestic pigeon remarkable for its habit of tumbling, or turning somersaults, during its flight.
Tumbler
A breed of dogs that tumble when pursuing game. They were formerly used in hunting rabbits.
Tumbler
A kind of cart; a tumbrel.
Tumbler
A gymnast who performs rolls and somersaults and twists etc.
Tumbler
A glass with a flat bottom but no handle or stem; originally had a round bottom
Tumbler
A movable obstruction in a lock that must be adjusted to a given position (as by a key) before the bolt can be thrown
Tumbler
Pigeon that executes backward somersaults in flight or on the ground
Common Curiosities
What is a highball glass primarily used for?
A highball glass is primarily used for cocktails that combine a spirit with a larger volume of a non-alcoholic mixer.
What is the typical volume capacity of a highball glass?
Highball glasses typically have a capacity of 8 to 12 ounces.
Are highball glasses good for carbonated drinks?
Yes, the tall shape helps maintain carbonation in drinks like sodas and tonics.
What is the best use of a tumbler in bartending?
Tumblers are best used for muddling ingredients and serving drinks like Old Fashioneds and whiskey on the rocks.
What makes tumblers suitable for serving spirits neat?
Their short and wide shape allows the aroma of the spirit to be more accessible, enhancing the drinking experience.
Is it appropriate to serve wine in a tumbler?
While not traditional, tumblers can be used for casual wine drinking, especially outdoors.
Can a tumbler be used for cocktails?
Yes, tumblers can be used for cocktails, especially those that are spirit-forward or served with ice.
Can a highball be considered a type of tumbler?
No, although both are types of drinkware, they are distinct in shape and intended use.
Why would a bartender choose a highball over a tumbler for certain drinks?
The bartender might choose a highball to better preserve the carbonation and presentation of layered drinks.
What is the main difference in the design of highball and tumbler glasses?
Highballs are taller and narrower, while tumblers are shorter and wider.
Is there a drink called a 'highball'?
Yes, 'highball' can refer to any drink made in a highball glass, typically a spirit mixed with a larger proportion of non-alcoholic beverage.
What are some popular cocktails served in a highball glass?
Popular highball cocktails include the gin and tonic and the scotch and soda.
Do tumblers need to be thick glass?
Tumblers are often made of thicker glass to handle the muddling of ingredients and the thermal shock of ice.
Can highball glasses be used for non-alcoholic drinks?
Absolutely, they are excellent for serving any high-volume, mixed, non-alcoholic drinks.
Are tumblers good for hot drinks?
Typically, tumblers are not used for hot drinks due to the lack of a handle and potential heat transfer.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
