Riedel Restaurant Bar Drink Specific Glassware Highball (12 Pack)
Riedel Restaurant Bar Drink Specific Glassware Highball (12 Pack)
Trade Customers Only
This product is available exclusively to approved Trade customers.
Riedel Restaurant Bar — Drink Specific Highball Tumbler
The Riedel Restaurant Bar Drink Specific Highball Tumbler (0417/04) is purpose-built for the long cocktail: tall enough at 154mm to carry ice and mixer in correct proportion, narrow enough at 65mm to preserve carbonation through the duration of the drink, and specifically designed so that a straw is never needed. It accommodates both standard ice cubes and large-format ice, handles the full range of built long cocktails from Gin and Tonic through to Mojito, Highball whisky, and the Buck and Julep families, and carries the same integrated oar fill line as the rest of the Drink Specific range.
The oar is a thicker moulded section near the base of the glass. Pouring spirit to its top delivers exactly 60ml, a standard double measure, before ice and mixer go in. For a bartender building twenty Gin and Tonics during a Friday service, that fill line removes a measuring step from the base spirit, keeps the build sequence consistent, and ensures the drink reads as correctly proportioned once the mixer is added and the glass is full. The straw-free design addresses an increasingly pressing operational reality: with single-use plastic straws removed from virtually all UK hospitality operations and paper alternatives widely disliked, a Highball glass engineered to work without any straw at all is the cleaner solution. Part of the Drink Specific collection developed with mixologist Zane Harris and based on the traditional serves for 7 cocktail classics, the 0417/04 is machine-made in lead-free crystal and certified for 1,500 commercial dishwasher cycles. Sold in sets of 12 for professional bar and restaurant use.
Key features of the Riedel Drink Specific Highball Tumbler:
- Straw-free design: Internal dimensions and height calibrated so that ice and garnish sit in the upper portion of the glass without blocking the drinking path, removing the need for plastic or paper straws without compromising the drink experience
- Carbonation-preserving narrow form: The 65mm diameter restricts the surface area through which CO2 escapes, keeping long carbonated drinks lively through the duration of the drink rather than going flat within minutes
- Integrated 60ml oar fill line: The thicker oar section near the base marks an exact double measure without a jigger, streamlining the Highball build and maintaining consistent pours across a busy service
- Standard and large-format ice compatibility: Designed to accommodate both standard commercial ice cubes and the long-format spear ice increasingly used in premium Highball and G&T service
- 310ml long-drink capacity: Sized for a 60ml spirit base with 150-180ml of mixer and ice, producing a correctly proportioned long drink that reads as generous without being oversized
- Covers the full long cocktail canon: Gin and Tonic, Tom Collins, Mojito, Highball whisky, Dark and Stormy, Moscow Mule, Buck family, Julep, and all carbonated or long built cocktails over ice
- Zane Harris collaboration: Part of the Drink Specific collection developed with the mixologist behind Dutch Kills, Maison Premiere, and Rob Roy, applying cocktail-specific glass design principles that no manufacturer had addressed holistically before
- 1,500-cycle dishwasher certification: EN 12875-1/2 certified for sustained commercial bar service
- Set of 12, trade-only: Bar-format case quantity for professional operations
This glass is the natural choice for any bar or restaurant where long cocktails are a significant part of the offer, and particularly for operations that have eliminated plastic straws and want a Highball glass that makes paper alternatives unnecessary. It works within the full Drink Specific range to cover both long and short cocktail service from a single coherent collection.
What Bar and Restaurant Professionals Ask About This Glass
Does the straw-free design actually work in practice?
Yes, and this is the feature that most distinguishes the Drink Specific Highball from a generic tall tumbler. The internal dimensions are calibrated so that a correctly built drink with standard or long-format ice can be drunk to the last sip with the glass tilted naturally to the lip, without ice or garnish blocking the flow. This is not achievable in a short, wide tumbler where ice slides into the face at any meaningful tilt, nor in a glass where a spear of ice sits proud of the rim and creates an obstruction. The 65mm diameter and 154mm height together create the geometry that makes straw-free service consistently achievable rather than occasionally possible.
What is the correct build sequence for a Gin and Tonic in this glass?
The recommended sequence is: gin to the oar mark (60ml), then ice, then tonic poured slowly over the back of a bar spoon to preserve carbonation. Adding tonic over a spoon minimises agitation and keeps the drink lively. For operations using long-format spear ice, place the spear first, then pour gin over it to the oar mark, then tonic over the spoon. Garnish last. This sequence takes advantage of all three design features of the glass: the oar measure, the ice accommodation geometry, and the narrow form that preserves the tonic's carbonation once poured.
Does this glass work for Mojitos and muddled cocktails?
Yes. The 65mm diameter is wide enough to muddle mint directly in the glass using a standard muddler without difficulty. For a Mojito build, muddle mint with sugar and lime in the glass first, add rum to the oar mark, pack with crushed ice, and top with soda. The narrow form keeps the soda lively for longer than a wider glass would, and the height means the garnish and crushed ice sit above the drinking path without requiring a straw. Julep builds work on the same principle.
Is 310ml large enough for a standard long cocktail serve?
Yes. A standard Gin and Tonic at 60ml gin plus 150ml tonic plus ice fills the glass to just under full, which is the correct serve: the drink looks complete and well-made rather than under-filled. The 310ml total capacity is intentionally calibrated rather than simply large: an oversized Highball glass with too much empty space around the ice looks poorly made and dilutes the presentation. Zane Harris's design principle throughout the Drink Specific range is that each glass should appear full at the correct measure, and the Highball achieves this at the standard long cocktail build.
How many dishwasher cycles are these glasses certified for?
The Drink Specific Highball Tumbler is certified to EN 12875-1/2 standards for 1,500 commercial dishwasher cycles with no visible deterioration, corresponding to 10+ years of normal bar or restaurant service life.
Straw-Free Service and the Long Cocktail: Why Glass Geometry Matters
The plastic straw ban changed something more fundamental than most hospitality operations initially anticipated. Removing the straw from a long cocktail is not simply a swap: in a glass not designed for straw-free drinking, it creates a functional problem. Standard tall tumblers, whether a generic Highball glass or a Collins glass borrowed from another use, are typically not calibrated to allow comfortable drinking without a straw. Ice shifts toward the lip when the glass is tilted, garnish slides forward, and the drink becomes ungainly rather than elegant. The paper straw exists as a workaround for a glass design problem rather than as a genuine solution.
The Riedel Drink Specific Highball solves the problem at the design stage. The combination of the 65mm diameter, the 154mm height, and the internal geometry that Zane Harris worked with Riedel to establish means that a correctly built long drink can be drunk to the last sip with the glass tilted naturally to the lip. Ice does not slide forward. The garnish stays where it was placed. The straw is not needed because the glass was engineered to make it redundant.
The carbonation argument runs alongside this. A narrow glass exposes less liquid surface to the air above it. A Gin and Tonic in a 65mm Highball stays lively for considerably longer than the same drink in a wide tumbler. For a customer who takes twenty minutes over a long cocktail, that difference is experienced directly. The drink tastes better at the end as well as the beginning.
For bars where the long cocktail list is a significant revenue line, whether that is a serious G&T programme, a Highball whisky menu, or a broad cocktail list with Mojitos, Bucks, and Collins drinks alongside the short builds, the Highball is the most commercially relevant glass in the Drink Specific range. It is also the one that addresses two operational pressures that other glass shapes cannot: the straw problem and the carbonation problem, in a single design.
Specifications
Care & Use Instructions
Commercial Dishwasher Use: Certified for 1,500 commercial dishwasher cycles under EN 12875-1/2. The 65mm diameter requires careful rack placement to ensure full base support. The 154mm height clears most standard commercial rack arms comfortably, but check clearance with the rack lid closed before running a cycle with new stock. Use standard commercial cycles with professional-grade detergent. Remove promptly and allow to air dry. The oar section at the base can collect water; tip to drain and allow to dry fully before service.
Build Sequence for Long Cocktails: For carbonated long builds (G&T, Highball, Buck): spirit to the oar mark, then ice, then mixer poured slowly over the back of a bar spoon. This sequence preserves carbonation, establishes the measure before ice goes in, and produces a drink that fills the glass correctly at the standard pour. For Mojitos and Juleps with crushed ice: muddle or build first, add base spirit to the oar mark, pack crushed ice, add soda last over the spoon.
Ice: The 65mm diameter accommodates standard commercial ice cubes comfortably and long-format spear ice (typically 60-65mm long) designed for Highball service. Temper the glass with cold water before adding ice from a deep freezer to avoid thermal shock to the crystal.
Handling: The tall, narrow profile makes the Highball the most slender glass in the Drink Specific range and the most vulnerable to tip-over on a busy bar surface. Ensure glasses are placed on stable, level surfaces during build and service. The 154mm height carries well on a service tray when glasses are spaced with adequate clearance.
Storage: Store upright with adequate height clearance for 154mm. The 65mm diameter is the narrowest in the Drink Specific range, making the Highball the most space-efficient shape for storage per rack position. Standard commercial glass racks accommodate multiple columns comfortably.
Why Buy From The Riedel Shop?
As specialist Riedel retailers, we stock the full Drink Specific Glassware range and can advise on building a complete glass inventory that covers both long and short cocktail service alongside wine and sparkling. The Highball is one of the most commercially important shapes in the collection for most UK hospitality operations, given the prominence of long cocktails and G&T on typical bar menus. If you are also considering the Double Rocks alongside the Highball to complete your core cocktail glass set, we can advise on how the two shapes work together. The Restaurant Bar Drink Specific collection is available exclusively to trade customers.
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- ✓ No Quibble Returns
- ✓ Half-Price Accidental Breakage Replacement (2 Years)
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Frequently Asked Questions
How long does delivery take?
Standard delivery to mainland UK addresses typically takes 3-5 working days. For urgent orders, contact us to discuss expedited options.
Can I return glasses if they don't suit our bar programme?
We offer a no quibble return guarantee on unopened cases in original packaging. We recommend ordering one case to trial the glass in your operation before committing to larger quantities.
What other glasses are in the Drink Specific collection?
The Drink Specific collection includes the Neat Glass (174ml), Rocks Glass (283ml), Double Rocks (370ml), Highball (310ml), Nick and Nora, Sour, and Fizz. Together the collection covers thousands of cocktails across the 7 classic families. All are available in Restaurant Bar trade format (set of 12) and consumer format (set of 2).
Do you offer volume discounts for larger orders?
For bars and restaurant groups requiring significant quantities, contact us to discuss volume pricing and delivery arrangements.
What is the expected annual breakage rate for the Highball?
Tall, narrow tumblers are more susceptible to tip-over breakage than shorter, wider forms, and the Highball is the tallest glass in the Drink Specific range. Industry breakage rates for Highball shapes typically run 15-20% annually in active bar service. The 12-per-case format and the robust lead-free crystal construction of the Drink Specific range make restocking straightforward, and proper staff training around placement and carrying technique is the most effective tool for reducing breakage in this glass profile.
Can home customers purchase this glass?
The Restaurant Bar version (set of 12, SKU 0417/04) is designed for trade use. Consumers looking for the same Drink Specific Highball shape in smaller quantities should look at the consumer Riedel Drink Specific range, available in sets of 2.
