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The long drink glass
the glass for the “long drinks”
The history of long drinks - from the 19th century to the present day
Fruity, fizzy, fresh - but not too elaborate, this is how classic long drinks are served. The glasses are simple, round and narrow, and the contents can be sipped from time to time over a longer period of time. The first long drinks were mixed in the 19th century to soften the strong taste of the alcohol and to make the drink last longer than just a quick shot. You simply took a taller, larger glass and topped up the alcohol with a non-alcoholic drink - and the first long drink recipe was ready. Many women in particular liked this variant much better than the strong, pure schnapps and so the “long drink” became an important part of every drinks menu in the 20th century.
The long drink - the simple version of the cocktail
While a cocktail often follows a complicated recipe and contains various ingredients - often including sugar, fruit or spices - a long drink usually consists of just two drinks: one alcoholic and one non-alcoholic. Who isn't familiar with the classic gin and tonic, which consists of just gin and tonic water? Long drinks are particularly popular for “home use” precisely because of the generally simple mixtures - a Cuba Libre is much easier and quicker to make with a little rum and cola than a complex Mai Tai or another cocktail, which in many cases also has to be shaken for minutes and for which you would need a complete cocktail set with a stainless steel shaker, pourer and other utensils. You don't need any of that with a long drink; in Cuba, a Cuba Libre really only consists of rum, cola and ice cubes.
Long drink glasses - shape, size and features
And what's the best way to serve your guests a quickly mixed long drink? In theory, almost any juice glass is suitable. But ideally, you should also use a proper long drink glass for a proper long drink recipe. Traditionally, long drink glasses have a simple, round and narrow shape. Despite their narrow shape, they are sturdy and have no style. They usually hold between 20 and 30 cl, sometimes even 40 cl. In addition to the spirit and the non-alcoholic “filler”, the ice cubes, which are usually not crushed for a long drink but remain in the typical 4x4cm shape, also fit well in these glasses. Of course, the straw should not be missing either.
The narrow glasses also have another advantage: as the spirits in most long drink mixes are topped up with a carbonated non-alcoholic drink, the relatively small surface area prevents the carbon dioxide from escaping quickly - the long drink stays fresh and fizzy for longer. And as the name suggests: unlike a shot, a long drink is meant to be “drunk for a long time”. The thickness of the glass also ensures that the drink stays cool for longer. Proper long drink glasses also often have a reinforced glass base. They help the waiter serving the drinks on the tray to prevent the narrow, tall glasses from tipping over, as the center of gravity of the glass has been moved as far down as possible.
Alternative long drink glasses
As some mixtures can be quite strong, you can also use smaller glasses for certain long drink recipes. This gives you more of a chance to try out different long drinks in one evening. The perfect glass for this smaller version could be a fizz glass or a highball glass - they usually hold 20 or 25 cl and are ideal for a long drink that is not quite as long.
Classic long drink recipes
You can mix these three long drinks at home with little effort. To do this, take a tall juice glass or a real long drink glass and fill it with ice cubes first and then with the corresponding drinks. Some of the classic recipes can simply be supplemented with a few more ingredients, so that the long drink could also be described as a mini cocktail.
Cuba Libre
This Cuban long drink originated around 1900 when American soldiers, after the end of the Spanish-American War, toasted the American victory and Cuba's liberation from the Spanish with rum and Coca-Cola – "Long live free Cuba!"
- Fill a long drink glass with 3-4 ice cubes
- 4 cl white rum
- 15 cl Coca-Cola
Variation: 1-2 cl fresh lime juice and lime slices
Gin Tonic
It is believed that Queen Mum's former favorite drink was invented in the former British colony of India. To protect against malaria, people in this part of the British Empire drank the quinine-containing, bitter Indian Tonic Water, which was improved in taste by adding gin. Today, the mixing ratio varies according to preference between 1:1 and 1:4, but the secret of a good Gin Tonic lies mainly in the choice of a high-quality gin.
Variation: Lemon or lime juice, lemon or lime slices, herbs, spices, or fruits
- Fill a long drink glass with 3-4 ice cubes
- 4 cl gin
- 12 cl tonic water
Tom Collins
A bartender named John Collins is said to have invented this drink in a London hotel in the 19th century. Back then, bartenders played a joke on their guests by telling them that a man named Tom Collins was spreading rumors about them in another bar. Furious men would storm into bars asking for Tom Collins – and the bartenders would take this opportunity to serve this drink. It is a refreshing sour with soda and, due to its more complex preparation, is considered more of a cocktail than a long drink.
- 5 cl gin
- 2 cl sugar syrup
- 3 cl lemon juice
Pour these liquid ingredients into a long drink glass and stir, then add ice cubes and top up the glass with soda water.
Short conclusion
Thanks to their simplicity, long drinks are ideal drinks to prepare at home for guests. Nevertheless, they taste fresh and fruity depending on the mix. You need relatively few ingredients to prepare them and, if necessary, a simple juice glass will do. Ideally, they should be served in narrow, round and sturdy long-drink glasses that you can sip from time to time over the course of an evening.
