Horse's Neck
Encyclopedia
A Horse's Neck is an American cocktail recognized by the IBA
. It is made with brandy
(or sometimes bourbon
) and ginger ale
, with a long spiral of lemon
peel (zest
) draped over the edge of an old fashioned or highball glass
. When made with Ale-8-One
and Maker's Mark
this drink is commonly referred to as a Kentucky Gentleman.
A similar Canadian
drink, the Rye & Ginger, is made with Canadian whisky
and ginger ale
.
Dating back to the 1890s, it was a non-alcoholic mixture of ginger ale, ice and lemon peel. By the 1910s, brandy
, sometimes bourbon
would be added for a 'Horse's Neck with a Kick' or '~ Stiff'. The non-alcoholic version was still served in upstate New York
in the late fifties or early sixties, but eventually it was phased out. The non-alcoholic version of the drink is referenced in the 1950 film noir, "In A Lonely Place
" starring Humphrey Bogart
and Gloria Grahame
. The hat-check girl, Mildred Atkinson played by Martha Stewart
, states that adding bitters to ginger ale
is called a “Horse’s Neck”.
Horse's Neck became popular in the wardroom
s of the Royal Navy
in the 1960s, displacing Pink Gin
as the officers' signature drink. (An early reference to this is made in the 1957 film Yangtse Incident
, in which a naval officer is shown drinking a 'Horse's Neck' in 1949). At naval Cocktail Parties
(CTPs), it is sometimes served by the mess stewards ready-mixed in glass jugs, alongside similar jugs of mixed gin and tonic
, with the request "H-N or G&T, Sir?"
IBA Official Cocktail
An IBA Official Cocktail is one of many cocktails selected by the International Bartenders Association for use in the annual World Cocktail Competition in bartending...
. It is made with brandy
Brandy
Brandy is a spirit produced by distilling wine. Brandy generally contains 35%–60% alcohol by volume and is typically taken as an after-dinner drink...
(or sometimes bourbon
Bourbon whiskey
Bourbon is a type of American whiskey – a barrel-aged distilled spirit made primarily from corn. The name of the spirit derives from its historical association with an area known as Old Bourbon, around what is now Bourbon County, Kentucky . It has been produced since the 18th century...
) and ginger ale
Ginger ale
Ginger ale is a carbonated soft drink flavored with ginger. Dr. Thomas Cantrell, an American apothecary and surgeon, claimed to have invented ginger ale and marketed it with beverage manufacturer Grattan and Company. Grattan embossed the slogan "The Original Makers of Ginger Ale" on its bottles...
, with a long spiral of lemon
Lemon
The lemon is both a small evergreen tree native to Asia, and the tree's ellipsoidal yellow fruit. The fruit is used for culinary and non-culinary purposes throughout the world – primarily for its juice, though the pulp and rind are also used, mainly in cooking and baking...
peel (zest
Zest (ingredient)
Zest is a food ingredient that is prepared by scraping or cutting from the outer, colorful skin of citrus fruits such as lemon, orange, citron, and lime. Zest is used to add flavor to foods....
) draped over the edge of an old fashioned or highball glass
Highball glass
A highball glass is a glass tumbler which will contain 8 to 12 fluid ounces . It is used to serve highball cocktails and other mixed drinks.A highball glass is taller than an Old Fashioned glass, and shorter and wider than a Collins glass....
. When made with Ale-8-One
Ale-8-One
Ale-8-One, known colloquially as Ale-8, is a regional ginger-flavored soft drink, distributed only in Kentucky, southern Ohio and portions of Alabama, Georgia, and Indiana...
and Maker's Mark
Maker's Mark
Maker’s Mark is a small batch bourbon whiskey that is distilled in Loretto, Kentucky by Beam Inc.. It is sold in distinctively squarish bottles, which are sealed with red wax. The distillery offers tours, and is part of the American Whiskey Trail and the Kentucky Bourbon Trail.- History...
this drink is commonly referred to as a Kentucky Gentleman.
A similar Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
drink, the Rye & Ginger, is made with Canadian whisky
Canadian whisky
Canadian whisky is a type of whisky produced in Canada. Most Canadian whiskies are blended multi-grain liquors containing a large percentage of corn spirits, and are typically lighter and smoother than other whisky styles...
and ginger ale
Ginger ale
Ginger ale is a carbonated soft drink flavored with ginger. Dr. Thomas Cantrell, an American apothecary and surgeon, claimed to have invented ginger ale and marketed it with beverage manufacturer Grattan and Company. Grattan embossed the slogan "The Original Makers of Ginger Ale" on its bottles...
.
Dating back to the 1890s, it was a non-alcoholic mixture of ginger ale, ice and lemon peel. By the 1910s, brandy
Brandy
Brandy is a spirit produced by distilling wine. Brandy generally contains 35%–60% alcohol by volume and is typically taken as an after-dinner drink...
, sometimes bourbon
Bourbon whiskey
Bourbon is a type of American whiskey – a barrel-aged distilled spirit made primarily from corn. The name of the spirit derives from its historical association with an area known as Old Bourbon, around what is now Bourbon County, Kentucky . It has been produced since the 18th century...
would be added for a 'Horse's Neck with a Kick' or '~ Stiff'. The non-alcoholic version was still served in upstate New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
in the late fifties or early sixties, but eventually it was phased out. The non-alcoholic version of the drink is referenced in the 1950 film noir, "In A Lonely Place
In a Lonely Place
In a Lonely Place is a film noir directed by Nicholas Ray, and starring Humphrey Bogart and Gloria Grahame, produced for Bogart's Santana Productions. The script was adapted by Edmund North from the 1947 novel In a Lonely Place by Dorothy B. Hughes.Bogart stars in the film as Dixon Steele, a...
" starring Humphrey Bogart
Humphrey Bogart
Humphrey DeForest Bogart was an American actor. He is widely regarded as a cultural icon.The American Film Institute ranked Bogart as the greatest male star in the history of American cinema....
and Gloria Grahame
Gloria Grahame
Gloria Grahame was an American Academy Award–winning actress.Grahame began her acting career in theatre, and in 1944 she made her first film for MGM. Despite a featured role in It's a Wonderful Life , MGM did not believe she had the potential for major success, and sold her contract to RKO Studios...
. The hat-check girl, Mildred Atkinson played by Martha Stewart
Martha Stewart (actor)
Martha Stewart is an American actress.-Filmography:-Film:*Surf Party *Aaron Slick from Punkin Crick *Convicted *In a Lonely Place *Are You with It? *Daisy Kenyon...
, states that adding bitters to ginger ale
Ginger ale
Ginger ale is a carbonated soft drink flavored with ginger. Dr. Thomas Cantrell, an American apothecary and surgeon, claimed to have invented ginger ale and marketed it with beverage manufacturer Grattan and Company. Grattan embossed the slogan "The Original Makers of Ginger Ale" on its bottles...
is called a “Horse’s Neck”.
Horse's Neck became popular in the wardroom
Wardroom
The wardroom is the mess-cabin of naval commissioned officers above the rank of Midshipman. The term the wardroom is also used to refer to those individuals with the right to occupy that wardroom, meaning "the officers of the wardroom"....
s of the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
in the 1960s, displacing Pink Gin
Pink Gin
Pink Gin is a cocktail made fashionable in the United Kingdom in the mid-19th century, consisting of Plymouth gin and a dash of 'pink' Angostura bitters, a dark red extract of gentian and spices, known from the 1820s at Angostura, Venezuela but now made in Trinidad and Tobago...
as the officers' signature drink. (An early reference to this is made in the 1957 film Yangtse Incident
Yangtse Incident (1957 film)
Yangtse Incident: The Story of HMS Amethyst is a 1957 British war film that tells the story of the British frigate HMS Amethyst caught up in the Chinese Civil War....
, in which a naval officer is shown drinking a 'Horse's Neck' in 1949). At naval Cocktail Parties
Cocktail party
A cocktail party is a party where cocktails are served. Women may choose to wear what has become known as a cocktail dress.Although many believe the inventor of the cocktail party to be Alec Waugh of London, who in 1924 found a need for this pleasant interlude before a dinner party, an article in...
(CTPs), it is sometimes served by the mess stewards ready-mixed in glass jugs, alongside similar jugs of mixed gin and tonic
Gin and tonic
A gin and tonic is a highball cocktail made with gin and tonic water poured over ice. It is usually garnished with a slice or wedge of lime, or lemon. The amount of gin varies according to taste...
, with the request "H-N or G&T, Sir?"