Horse's Neck

A turn-of-the-century American highball built on the warmth of brandy and the bite of ginger ale, named for the long curl of lemon peel that drapes over the rim like a horse's neck. It began life in the late 1800s as a teetotal cooler of ginger ale, ice, and lemon, only gaining its spirituous "kick" of brandy or bourbon by the 1910s. Long, dry, and effortlessly refreshing, it later became a fixture of Royal Navy wardrooms and remains an IBA Contemporary Classic.

RefreshingHighballClassicCarbonated

Ingredients

  • 1.5 ozCognac
  • 4 ozGinger Ale
  • 1 dashAngostura Bittersoptional

Garnish: Lemon Peel

Preparation

Built · Highball · Cubed

  1. 1.

    build

    Fill a highball glass with ice cubes.

  2. 2.

    add

    Pour the Cognac and ginger ale directly into the glass; add a dash of aromatic bitters if desired.

  3. 3.

    stir

    Stir gently to combine.

  4. 4.

    garnish

    Drape a long spiral of lemon peel over the rim so it hangs into the glass like a horse's neck.

Flavor Profile

fizz
54%
sweet
33%
fruity
32%
spiced
31%
dilution
27%
body
26%