Seahorse

One cocktail that I always enjoy in the summer is a Horse’s Neck. It’s simple and refreshing, made with bourbon, lemon and ginger ale. The Seahorse was inspired by the Horse’s Neck, but has a tropical twist with fresh pineapple and ginger beer, giving it a more exotic flavor (i.e. a flavor that tends towards the tiki side of things)  that makes it seem even better suited to summer entertaining than the original.

The Seahorse starts with a lemonade base, made with fresh lemon juice and simple syrup. Pineapple juice and bourbon are added to the lemon base. I added more simple syrup than I sometimes do in drinks because that extra sweetness helps to highlight the flavor of the pineapple and make it come through in the finished drink. I also added in a dash of grapefruit bitters to brighten up the drink. These ingredients are all stirred with ice, then ginger beer is poured over the top to finish it off. I tend to build these in double old fashioned glasses, however you could easily turn them into tall summer sippers by using a long glass and more ginger beer. If you have a fresh pineapple lying around, garnish them with a wedge of pineapple and a lemon twist. You could even through in a tropical umbrella.

Glass: Rocks
Method: Build

Ingredients:
1 1/2 oz. Bourbon
1 oz. Fresh Lemon Juice
1 oz. Simple Syrup
1 1/2 oz Pineapple Juice
1-2 dashes Grapefruit Bitters
Ginger Beer

Combine all ingredients, except ginger beer, in a rocks glass and fill with ice. Stir to blend ingredients, then top with additional ice, if necessary, and ginger beer.