Horse's Neck recipe
Brandy and ginger ale with one long curling lemon peel—the simplest highball with the best garnish in the room.
Method: Build ·
Glass: Highball glass ·
Time: 2 min ·
Difficulty: Beginner ·
Family: The Highball Family
Ingredients
- 2 oz Brandy
- 4 oz Ginger Ale
- 2 dashes Angostura Bitters (optional)
How to make a Horse's Neck
- Cut a long continuous lemon peel and coil it inside a highball glass.
- Fill the glass with ice, leaving the end of the peel over the rim.
- Add brandy and bitters if using.
- Top with cold ginger ale.
- Stir once very gently and serve.
Garnish
One long lemon peel spiraled inside the glass.
Pro tip
The long lemon peel is more than decoration. It releases citrus oils through every sip as the drink stays cold.
History of the Horse's Neck
The Horse's Neck started as a nonalcoholic ginger ale and lemon drink in the late nineteenth century. Brandy was added later, turning it into a lasting hotel-bar classic.
Flavour profile
Ginger, Citrus, Bubbly, Warm
Variations
- Kentucky Horse's Neck — Use bourbon instead of brandy.
- Rum Horse's Neck — Use aged rum and Angostura bitters.
- Horse's Neck with Ginger Beer — Use ginger beer for a spicier, less sweet version.
Practise making the Horse's Neck in the free Virtual Bar game.