Highballs
A highball is any simple combination of liquor and a carbonated mixer.
A “collins” is a highball that includes citrus, sugar, and carbonation.
To make a simple spirit and mixer highball, take a highball glass of about 10 fluid ounces and fill it with ice. Pour in a 2 fluid ounce shot of your desired spirit and top with your desired mixer.
For more complex highballs, it may be desirable to mix the ingredients with ice, sans mixer, before topping it off.
Cuba Libre
Combine a Spanish-style light rum and Coca-Cola, but with the addition of ½ fluid ounce of fresh lime juice.
La Paloma
Combine reposado tequila and grapefruit soda, but with the addition of ½ fluid ounce of fresh lime juice and a pinch of salt.
Mojito
In a shaker with ice, combine 2 fluid ounces of Spanish-style light or gold rum with 1 fluid ounce of fresh lime juice, ½ fluid ounce (3 teaspoons) of demerara gum syrup, and about 12 mint leaves. Shake just long enough for the mixture to be chilled and the leaves expressed via agitation and pour, unstrained, into a highball or collins glass. Top with ice to fill and sparkling water or soda water.