What to Buy Bar & Drinks The 8 Best Highball Glasses to Upgrade Your Cocktail Hour From minimalist silhouettes to weighty crystal, these top picks will make your craft cocktails shine. By Melissa Vogt Melissa Vogt Melissa has been writing in the food and wine industry for more than a decade. She contributes to local and national publications as a California Wine Appellation Specialist, with certification through the Wine & Spirits Education Trust (WSET) at the Advanced Level 3. Food & Wine's Editorial Guidelines Updated on May 10, 2023 In This Article Expand Jump to a Section Our top picks Reviews Our Favorite Factors to Consider How We Chose the Best Highball Glasses FAQ Our Expertise We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. Photo by Huge Galdones / Food Styling by Christina Zerkis Cocktails at home got a whole lot cooler in the last couple of years, and many home bartenders have upgraded their bar tools. In addition to a great cocktail shaker, muddler, and other bar essentials, it's important to have your glassware in order. That's where the highball glass comes into play. Any at-home craft cocktail deserves a glass fitting for the libation it holds, which is why we connected with bartenders across the nation to get their top recommendations for the best highball glasses. A classic highball glass must be tall and slender (opposite to the Old Fashioned aka lowball or rocks glass), with a capacity hovering around 13-16 ounces so that it can hold a full-sized cocktail with plenty of ice. In addition to our discussions with bartenders, we considered factors like intended use, material, care, and cleaning when making our selections for this list. Check out these top-notch highball glasses, and ease into a summer filled with all your favorite libations. Our Top Picks Best Overall: Riedel Drink Specific Glassware Highball Glass at Amazon Jump to Review Best Minimalist: Nude Finesse Highball Glasses at 2modern.com Jump to Review Best Everyday: Schott Zwiesel Highball Glasses at Amazon Jump to Review Best Value: Beneti Highball Glasses at Amazon Jump to Review Best Splurge: Waterford Lismore Gin Journeys Highball Glasses at Williams-Sonoma Jump to Review Best Vintage Style: Marquis by Waterford Markham Hiball Collins Glasses, Set of 4 at Amazon Jump to Review Best Personalized: Lenox Highball Glasses at Amazon Jump to Review Best Expert Pick: Schott Zwiesel Modo Highball Glasses at Amazon Jump to Review Best Overall Riedel Drink Specific Glassware Highball Glass Amazon View On Amazon View On Walmart View On Nordstrom Pros This classic pick from Riedel is beautifully designed and well-priced for crystal. Cons This glass holds roughly 11 ounces, which may be a bit small depending on how much ice you like in your libations. These Riedel highball glasses provide just the right combination of form and function to make our Best Overall recommendation. The beautiful crystal construction offers durability and style. It's a classically tall and slender highball with a ribbed design that gives it some extra visual appeal. For a piece of crystal made by such a renowned drinkware brand, the price is right. Craft cocktails with your favorite garnishes are going to shine in these sophisticated highballs that promise to showcase your drinks beautifully and make sipping a breeze. Price at time of publish: $40 Capacity: 11 ouncesQuantity: Set of 2Material: CrystalDishwasher-Safe: Yes Best Minimalist Nude Finesse Highball Glasses Courtesy of Verishop View On 2modern.com View On Wayfair View On Gilt.com Pros The minimalist look of these highballs is visually stunning. Cons The base of this glass is not significantly weighted like other highball glasses. If scant décor and solid colors are your interior design aesthetic, you'll be fawning over the minimalist style of these highballs. The Nude Finesse Highball Glasses are sleek and smooth, and crafted in a barely-there aesthetic. They do not have a significantly weighted base like other highballs, so while that may be a pro for some, the possibility of tipping may be a concern for others. They're light and thin, making them a bit more delicate than some of the others on this list, but we love the minimalist look and simplicity of design here. Dare we say they'd be gorgeous as a vase when not in use for libations. Price at time of publish: $61 Capacity: 15 ouncesQuantity: Set of 4Material: Lead-free crystalDishwasher-Safe: Yes Best Everyday Schott Zwiesel Pure Highball Glasses Amazon View On Amazon View On Williams-Sonoma View On Macy's Pros These durable highballs are break-, chip-, and scratch-resistant. Cons The slightly angled design may be an issue for some highball traditionalists who prefer the same width from top to bottom. The Pure Highball Glass from Schott Zweisel has a weighted base, durable construction, and a tapered design aesthetic that adds a modern touch. These glasses are designed to be break-, chip-, and scratch-resistant — so they're fantastic for clumsy cocktail enthusiasts. The feel-good, slightly angled, and slender design of this glass will have you comfortably sipping your favorite whiskey cocktails and more. Plus, with 18+ ounces of capacity, there's plenty of room to keep your favorite cocktails iced and in rotation. Price at time of publish: $75 Capacity: 18.3 ouncesQuantity: Set of 6Material: Schott Zwiesel Tritan® crystal glassDishwasher-Safe: Yes Best Value Beneti Durable Highball Glasses Amazon View On Amazon Pros The price to quality ratio here is excellent. If you don't want to spend a ton of money, these highball glasses are just the ticket. Cons These highballs are thinner than other brands, though still offer the weighted bottom. You can't beat the value of this pack of six highballs from Beneti. They are simple, functional, and made in the traditional style. These highballs are slim enough to hold easily in one hand so you can nosh with the other. And they are affordably priced enough to stock up on for cocktail parties at home. These are the value-driven highballs you'll want to reach for when you're ready to ditch the red solos. Commerce editor Danielle St. Pierre owns a set of these Beneti highballs and sings their praises: "I never realized how often I'd reach for a highball glass until I owned a matching set of my own," she says. "This set has held up nicely over my two years of use, and I like how simple, sleek, and versatile they are. I use them to serve gin & tonics over plenty of ice during the summer months and bitters with soda year-round." Price at time of publish: $22 Capacity: 16 ouncesQuantity: Set of 6Material: Lead-free glassDishwasher-Safe: Yes Best Splurge Waterford Lismore Gin Journeys Highball Glasses Williams Sonoma View On Williams-Sonoma View On Bloomingdales View On Macy's Pros This duo of glasses is gift-ready and comes in an elegant gift box. Cons These glasses must be hand-washed. They are also slightly tapered, veering from the straight, chimney-like style of a traditional highball. For true cocktail connoisseurs, fine glassware is a must and Waterford is a trusted crystal brand. Their Lismore Gin Journeys Highball Glasses are gorgeous with a diamond- and wedge-cut design inspired by Victorian-era glassware. This set comes with two glasses, making it a perfect purchase for couples looking to splurge on fine highballs, or as a high-end gift for celebrations like weddings and anniversaries — the set even comes in an elegant gift box. Functional with a lovely aesthetic, we love this set as a splurge purchase when looking to upgrade your glassware collection. Price at time of publish: $200 Capacity: 13.5 ouncesQuantity: Set of 2Material: CrystalDishwasher-Safe: No Best Vintage Style Marquis by Waterford Markham Hiball Collins Glasses, Set of 4 Amazon View On Amazon Pros This is a great price for well-made crystal glassware. Cons These glasses must be hand-washed. The Markham Highballs are an offering from the Marquis line of Waterford and boast beautiful aesthetics and elegance at a more affordable cost than their main Waterford collections. This line of glassware is made of crystal and features a classic, vintage-inspired wedge-cut design. As decorative crystal glassware, we love the texture this glass showcases. Grab one of your favorite bottles of whiskey and round up some traditional cocktail recipes, because these beauties call for the classics. Price at time of publish: $100 Capacity: 13 ouncesQuantity: Set of 4Material: CrystalDishwasher-Safe: No Best Personalized Lenox Personalized Tuscany Highball Glasses Amazon View On Amazon View On Lenox.com Pros These are classic in style and offer up to three lines pf personalization. Cons These glasses are a bit wider than others on this list. These are classic highballs with a weighted base from Lenox glassware and can be personalized at purchase. Design elements of up to three lines can be added with multiple fonts from which to choose. Whether you're looking for monogrammed glassware or special occasion gifts, these highballs are a good choice — and well-priced for personalization, at that. Price at time of publish: $60 Capacity: 16 ouncesQuantity: Set of 4Material: Lead-free crystalDishwasher-Safe: Yes Best Expert Pick Schott Zwiesel Modo Highball Glasses Amazon View On Amazon View On West Elm Pros These glasses are durable and strong, thanks to their weighted bottom. Plus, they are break-, chip-, and scratch-resistant. Cons If you're looking for a glass with fancy aesthetics, look elsewhere. While this is a beautiful glass, it's quite simple in its design. These classic highball glasses come highly recommended by bartender Christian Nguyen of Seattle's award-winning bar and restaurant Artusi. "They're sturdy as hell with good weight on them," says Nguyen. Their sturdiness and classic appearance are favorite factors from both Nguyen and Ryan Pendergast, head bartender at Bourbon Steak in Nashville. "We use Schott Zwiesel glassware in the bar because it provides a classic and brilliant glass that doesn't diminish the overall drink. While we prioritize aesthetics, we balance that with durability to withstand dishwashers, accidents, and the frequent cheers," Pendergast says. Strong, simple, and sophisticated, these are the top expert pick for everyday highballs. Cheers to that! Price at time of publish: $78 Capacity: 14 ouncesQuantity: Set of 6Material: Schott Zwiesel Tritan crystal glassDishwasher-Safe: Yes Our Favorite You can't go wrong with any of the highballs we've selected, but make sure to consider your intended use, desired material, and energy level when it comes to care and cleaning. Opt for the simpler styles (hint: no cut glass designs) if you plan on tossing your highballs in the dishwasher. Among the highball glasses we have profiled, several bartenders recommended the Schott Zwiesel Modo Highball Glass, which is why we included it as our Best Expert Pick. Our Best Overall pick, the Riedel Highball, brings together form, function, and affordability for those looking to expand their collection of beautiful, functional glassware. Factors to Consider Intended Use There is a lot of consistency across highball glasses. Most are made from crystal and range from 13-16 ounces in capacity. And while your intended use may be varied — whether it be for cocktails, iced tea, sparkling water, or another favorite beverage — the one commonality is that all these libations require ice. The size and shape of the highball glass accommodates a decent amount of liquid plus plenty of ice, so pick your favorite based on aesthetic, as each glass is equipped to handle functionality well. Material All but one of these highball glasses are made of crystal, which seems to be the standard material—not unlike the top-rated wine glasses—even among some of the more affordable options. The only highball glass on this list that is crafted from glass is the Beneti Highball ($20 for a set of six). Care & Cleaning From our research, the only glasses that require hand-washing are the cut-crystal design glasses. Because cut-crystal is delicate, consistent dishwashing can break down the angles and design elements on the glass. If you are committed to hand- washing aesthetically-pleasing glasses, by all means — but know that if you aren't, you're going to want to look for picks that are simpler in design and dishwasher-friendly. How We Chose the Best Highball Glasses We consulted with five bartenders from around the country to get their thoughts on the best highball glasses on the market. Their insight, combined with our own expertise and market research, narrowed the field to these top highball glasses. Frequently Asked Questions What are highball glasses used for? Highball glasses are most typically used for craft cocktails. Because craft cocktails require three or more ingredients, and are usually served with ice, a good capacity is needed. While highball glasses can also be used for water, iced tea, lemonade, and other non-alcoholic beverages, highballs are most commonly used in bars across the countries to serve craft cocktails. How many ounces are in a highball glass? Highball glasses typically range from 13-16 ounces, though our list includes one highball with an 11-ounce capacity and a larger one that comes in at just over 18 ounces. What is another name for a highball glass? A highball glass is a tall, thin glass. You may hear it referred to as a Collins glass, a tumbler, or even a Delmonico. The commonality between all three glasses is that they are all tall, slender, and chimney-like, though the Collins glass is often slightly more tapered and the Delmonico even more so. Our Expertise Years of tasting and writing about food, wine, and spirits guide Melissa Vogt's research. As a tourist, Vogt seeks out the very best in local food and drink, and she's well acquainted with where to find good libations and eats in her hometown of Santa Rosa, Calif. Read more of her writing on her website and in Napa Valley Life, Very Napa Valley, and Wine Country This Month. As part of her research, Melissa connected with five bartenders from around the country to discuss their favorite highball glasses; these discussions informed her research and list curation. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit