The Horse’s Neck cocktail was originally a non-alcoholic ginger ale. It’s evolved to include a jigger of rye or bourbon and a lemon twist for garnish. The appearance of the drink, with its long lemon spiral, is the real kicker and perhaps the hardest to achieve. This classic beverage, with its uncomplicated yet satisfying flavor profile, offers a simple and satisfying option for any Derby Day celebration.
Horse’s Neck Cocktail Recipe
Ingredients
A perfect Horse’s Neck cocktail will require the following ingredients:
- 2 oz of rye or bourbon
- Ginger ale
- 2 to 3 dashes of bitters
- Long lemon twist for garnishing (try to start at one end of the lemon and slowly cut off the longest peel possible)
Method
- Fill a highball glass with ice.
- Pour the rye or bourbon over the ice in the glass.
- Top off the glass with ginger ale.
- Garnish your Horse’s Neck cocktail with a long lemon twist to add citrusy flavors and a colorful visual as it swirls inside the glass. Show off your finely honed bartending skills by cutting the longest lemon twist you can.
Tasty Modifications
Some prefer to enjoy this drink with brandy, or skip the booze for a refreshingly simple mocktail (or ginger ale with an upgrade).
