Horsefeather Cocktail Recipe

The Horsefeather, a mixture of whiskey, ginger beer, and bitters, served with a lemon wedge, is known as the official drink of Kansas City, Missouri. Though it is difficult to pin down the drink’s exact origins, it is believed the Horsefeather was created nearby in Lawrence, Kansas, in the 1990s before becoming a regional favorite. 

If the Horsefeather’s list of ingredients seems familiar, that’s because the drink is rooted in bartending history. The drink bears a likeness, both in name and build, to the classic Horse’s Neck cocktail, a ginger ale-and-whiskey drink that dates to the turn of the 20th century.

Why the Horsefeather works

The refreshing combination of ginger beer and spirits is found all over the cocktail world. The Horsefeather is part of the buck family of cocktails typified by a base spirit that’s lengthened with ginger beer. Popular cocktails in this family include the Kentucky Buck and Moscow Mule. 

Using bourbon or rye whiskey as the base provides warm caramel and vanilla bass notes that round out the bright spiciness of the ginger beer. A few dashes of Angostura bitters add a pop of baking spice.

The lemon wedge brightens the drink visually and aromatically with a fresh citrus zing, while the lemon juice’s acidity helps to tie the ginger beer and whiskey together.