IBA
Horse’s Neck – IBA
Build ∙ 2 min ∙ 9.4% ABV ∙
A highball of Cognac topped with ginger ale over ice, the Horse's Neck is an IBA-listed long drink finished with a long spiral orange twist. Light and fizzy with a warming undercurrent, the fine bubbles carry a gentle spice while the citrus oil from the twist lingers on a crisp, refreshing finish.
Ingredients
1
Servings
Garnish
Instructions for 1 serving
- Pre-chill a glass
- Pour Cognac 40 ml and Ginger ale 120 ml directly into the highball glass with ice cubes
- Stir gently
- If preferred, add dashes of Angostura aromatic bitters 1 dash
- Garnish with an orange twist
Tips
- Pre-chill the highball glass so the ginger ale keeps its fizz longer once poured over ice.
- Stir only gently and briefly — a hard stir knocks the carbonation out of the ginger ale.
- Cut the orange twist long enough to drape over the rim; it's the detail that gives the drink its name.
- Add the Angostura dash last, straight on top, so its aromatic float doesn't get stirred away.
History
The Horse's Neck began in the United States as a non-alcoholic soda-fountain drink, documented from at least the 1890s, made simply of ginger ale, ice, and a long curling strip of lemon peel whose shape gave the drink its name. By the 1910s, bartenders were adding brandy or bourbon to create a "horse's neck with a kick" or "stiff horse's neck," and this spirited version gradually became the standard cocktail recipe while the original soft-drink form persisted for decades, reportedly a favorite of Franklin D. Roosevelt and still served in parts of upstate New York into the late 1950s and early 1960s.
The cocktail later found a strong following far from its American origins: it became especially popular in the wardrooms of the British Royal Navy during the 1960s, where it displaced the pink gin as officers' preferred drink and was served ready-mixed at cocktail parties. It has since appeared repeatedly in film and literature, from a 1930s George Formby comedy to Ian Fleming's Bond stories, and is recognized today by the International Bartenders Association as an official cocktail in the long drink category, typically made with cognac or bourbon and ginger ale.
FAQ
What is a Horse's Neck cocktail (IBA)?
It is an IBA-listed long drink built over ice in a highball glass and finished with an orange twist, with a dash of Angostura bitters optional. At about 9.4% ABV, it drinks as a light, easy highball rather than a strong spirit-forward pour.
What is in a Horse's Neck cocktail?
Cognac and ginger ale, built over ice and garnished with an orange twist, with an optional dash of Angostura aromatic bitters. It is vegan, vegetarian, and lactose-free, at roughly 133 calories per serving.
Why is it called a Horse's Neck?
The name comes from the garnish, not the ingredients: a long, unbroken orange peel spiraled to hang down inside the glass, resembling a horse's neck and mane. The drink predates its Cognac version, originally made non-alcoholic with just ginger ale and the peel.
