Name: Straight to the Barn: Horse’s Neck
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 10 min
Yield: 1
Cuisine: Cocktail
Ingredients: 50 ml (1.7 oz) Bourbon or Brandy; 150 ml (5 oz) Ginger Ale; 1 Whole Lemon Peel; 2 Dashes of Angostura Bitters (optional)

Horse’s Neck Ingredients

50 ml (1.7 oz) Bourbon or Brandy
150 ml (5 oz) Ginger Ale
1 Whole Lemon Peel
2 Dashes of Angostura Bitters (optional)

For the straight ride to barn enjoyment, Horse’s Neck has a bold kick of spicy ginger, demanding your attention, eased by the soft warmth of bourbon. The lemon bitters brings a zing, igniting your senses!

Reigning in the Horse’s Neck: Step-by-Step Preparation

Step 1: Choose Your Liquor

First, grab your chosen Bourbon or Brandy. We’ll need about 50 ml, or 1.7 oz, of this.

Step 2: Peeling Skills to the Test

Now it’s time for the star of the show: the lemon peel.

You’re going to want one long spiral peel from an entire lemon.

Use a channel knife to ensure you get a continuous strip.

This peel isn’t just a garnish; it adds subtle citrus notes to the cocktail, so don’t skip it!

Step 3: Glass, Meet Lemon

Next, we take our highball glass and position the lemon peel inside.

The aim is for the peel to wrap around the inside of the glass, mimicking the curve of a horse’s neck—hence the name!

Step 4: Ice, Ice, Baby

Add your ice to the glass next. Remember, larger cubes or spheres are your friends here.

They melt slower, so your drink stays undiluted for longer.

Step 5: Pour in the Star Player

Now, pour your chosen Bourbon or Brandy over the ice. It’s starting to look more like a cocktail, isn’t it?

Step 6: Top with a Fizzy Friend

Next up, it’s time for the Ginger Ale.

This adds a fizzy, spicy-sweet layer to the cocktail. You’ll need about 150 ml or 5 oz.

Pour it gently to maintain the bubbles.

Step 7: Optional Angostura Welcome

If you’ve chosen to include bitters, now’s the time.

Add two dashes of Angostura bitters on top of the drink for a kick of complex spice and a burst of aroma.

Step 8: Stir Gently and Serve

Finally, using a long spoon, gently stir your cocktail to blend the flavors.

Be careful not to disturb that beautiful lemon peel too much.

There you have it! Your Horse’s Neck cocktail is ready to enjoy.

Whether you’re chilling on a summer day or warming up in winter, this versatile drink is sure to hit the spot. Cheers!

Premium Stallions vs. Budget Broncos: Horse’s Neck on a High and Low Budget

The secret behind a dashing Horse’s Neck lies in the liquor and ginger ale, folks!

On a premium run

Go for Woodford Reserve Bourbon.

Its rich, full-bodied flavor offers a perfect backdrop to the spicy-sweet Ginger Ale.

Add to that the Fever-Tree Premium Ginger Ale, with its blend of three natural gingers, and you’ll be trotting on clouds.

If you’re keeping it low-cost, don’t fret!

Old Forester is a great, budget-friendly Bourbon that still packs a flavor punch.

Pair it with Schweppes Ginger Ale to keep costs down without sacrificing taste.

Saddle Up: Pro Mixology Tips for the Perfect Horse’s Neck

There’s more to this drink than just pouring and stirring.

Lemon peel

Getting the perfect curl can be a challenge. Use a channel knife to cut a continuous spiral around the lemon. To get the best curl, start at one end and twist the peel around your finger.