Cocktail Horse's Neck
CLASSIC · COGNAC

Cocktail Horse's Neck

A stately long drink of cognac and ginger beer, dressed with a dramatic spiral of lemon peel that drapes over the glass like a horse's neck - elegant, warming, and effortlessly refreshing.

Ingredients
Cognac40 ml
Lemon Peel Spiral
Glassware
Highball glass
Chilled.
Flavor
BODYSWEETFRUITACIDHEATSMOKEEARTHBITTER

Caramel · Ginger · Lemon · Oak · Vanilla

Estimated profile

Method
  1. 1

    Using a channel knife or vegetable peeler, cut a single continuous spiral of peel from one whole lemon, keeping as much white pith off as possible.

  2. 2

    Fill a highball glass with ice cubes.

  3. 3

    Drape the lemon peel spiral inside the glass so one end hooks over the rim and the rest coils down to the bottom.

  4. 4

    Pour 40ml of cognac over the ice.

  5. 5

    Top with 100ml of ginger beer, pouring slowly down the side of the glass to preserve carbonation.

  6. 6

    Add 2–3 dashes of Angostura bitters directly onto the surface of the drink.

  7. 7

    Serve immediately without stirring.

From the Bartender

The defining feature of a Horse's Neck is the unbroken lemon peel spiral - take your time cutting it from tip to tip in one continuous ribbon, as the presentation is as much a part of the drink as the taste. Traditionally made with bourbon in the US, the cognac version is the more refined European interpretation and the one most bartenders consider canonical.

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