Make a Horse’s Neck: The Perfect Contemporary Cocktail
The perfect contemporary cocktail for any occasion, a Horse’s Neck is an easy-to-make classic drink. With just four simple ingredients, you can make this delicious refreshment in no time. Featuring a vibrant flavor and unique history, the Horse’s Neck is sure to be a hit with friends and family.
First appearing in the early 1900s, the Horse’s Neck was created as an alternative to other popular drinks of the era like whiskey neat or brandy cocktails. Inspired by two African American bartenders from Detroit who wanted to create something new, it quickly became one of their signature drinks and has been enjoyed ever since!
Today, the modern version of this drink consists of ginger ale with lemon peel and either Angostura bitters or orange bitters – depending on your preference. All you need to do is pour 3 ounces of your liquor into a highball glass over ice cubes. Then fill up the rest of your glass with ginger ale before adding drops of bitter (optional). Finally garnish it off with long strips of lemon peel – et voilà – you have yourself one amazing horse’s neck!
Horse's Neck
Ingredients
- Ingredients:
- 2 ounces of cognac or brandy
- ginger ale or ginger beer to top
Instructions
- Instructions:
- Fill a highball glass with ice cubes.
- Pour in 2 ounces of cognac or brandy.
- Top off the glass with 4-6 ounces of ginger ale or ginger beer, depending on desired flavor and sweetness level.
- Garnish with a lemon peel spiral that extends from the rim to just above the liquid line (if available).
- Serve immediately and enjoy!
Glassware
Typical or usual glassware used for the Horse’s Neck cocktail is either a highball glass, a Collins glass, or an Old Fashioned glass. The most traditional and popular choice is the Collins glass. This tall, cylindrical style of drinking vessel is perfect for keeping ingredients separate and allowing them to mix as they travel up the sides of the glass. It also allows plenty of room for ice cubes so that your cocktail can stay cool throughout its enjoyment.Flavors
A Horse’s Neck is an iconic cocktail that has been around since the turn of the 20th century, and continues to be enjoyed in bars across the world. This classic drink is made with four ingredients – whiskey, ginger ale, bitters, and a lemon twist – each one adding its own unique flavor profile to create a truly special beverage.
The base of this cocktail is brandy or cognac. Depending on which one you use, you can expect flavors ranging from sweet or smoky to spicy or fruity. The ginger ale brings out the sweetness in your chosen liquor while adding some carbonation for an extra kick. Bitters are responsible for providing much of the complexity found in this drink; their herbal notes add layers of depth that make it especially enjoyable. Finally, a twist of lemon rounds out all these flavors perfectly by giving it just enough tartness.
3 tips for Making Your Horse’s Neck
- For a more intense flavor, opt for an aged cognac or brandy with notes of oak, vanilla, and caramel.
- If you want a less sweet drink, use dry ginger ale instead of regular or ginger beer.
- Consider adding fresh lemon juice and/or bitters to the drink for an additional layer of complexity in flavor.