Cocktail: Smoked Pineapple Highball

“Highball” is said to be an old railroad term for the ball indicator connected to a float inside a steam train’s water tank which told the conductor that there was enough water in the tank & so the train could proceed. Apparently, when the train was set to depart, the conductor would give the highball – two short whistle blows & one long”. An apt relay, as the drinks consist of two shots of liquor & one long pour of mixer.

 

The term may have come from the American railroads (rapidly developed 1828 – 1873), or perhaps alternatively derived from Irish roots with the term “ball” being a common term for a glass of whiskey in Ireland, a ‘ball of malt’ & more specifically in golf club bars in late 19th century England, a term for a whiskey served in a high glass.

 

With the expansion of coal use in Ireland during the 1800s, peat dried Irish whiskeys became few & far between. 

 

Our Highball is inspired by the journey of 19th century Irish whiskey across the sea to the ports of France, Caribbean Islands & the Americas. As each port received their delivery of Irish whiskey and space opens onboard the ship, dessert wine, rum, coconuts & pineapple may have taken up the space, finding their way to Ireland, arriving as the most exotic of deliveries.