How to Make a Horse's Neck Cocktail

1. Gather the ingredients.

2. Drape the spiral of a lemon peel over the rim of a collins glass so it twists around inside. Secure one end of the peel over the lip of the glass.

3. Fill the glass with ice cubes.

4. Pour in the bourbon and top with ginger ale.

5. Add a few dashes of bitters.

6. Stir well. Serve and enjoy.

Getting the Longest Lemon Peel

The most challenging cocktail garnish you can create is the citrus twist. With some practice and the right tools, it shouldn't take long to get a hang of the technique and produce clean twists that are 2 to 3 inches long.

However, for the Horse's Neck, the idea is to go even longer. A twist that is cut from the entire lemon is the ultimate goal. This will give you the length needed to reach the bottom of a tall glass and maximize the zest's infusion into the drink.

The best way to achieve this is to use a channel knife. Begin at one end of the lemon and, with a steady hand and fluid motion, work your way around the fruit until you reach the other end. If the peel breaks midway, use it and try again when making the next round. 

It's very likely that you will not get perfectly long spirals right away, so don't get frustrated. You will also sacrifice quite a few lemons in the process, but they can still be used for fresh juice. If you're determined and patient, the perfect spirals will come to you.

Create a Horse's Neck With a Kick

Put an interesting twist on this drink, and try the Horse's Neck With a Kick recipe. It includes everything found in the original recipe, but it switches from ginger ale to ginger beer and uses high-proof bourbon.

This spicier option and the stronger are where the "kick" comes from. It's a great drink as well—a bit like a whiskey Moscow Mule—and good for those times when you're feeling bold.