The Horsefeather is sweet 'with a little heat' cocktail that is perfect for anyone! The Horsefeather is a midwestern whiskey-based twist on the classic moscow mule. Let’s talk about this KC favorite, how it became what it is today, and how to easily mix up your own.
So where does this Kansas City cocktail story start? Most mixologists agree it is from a combination of three origin stories:
There was a recipe published in The Kansas City Journal in 1898, that called for the refresher mix of “cracked ice, a peel of lemon, a jig of whiskey, and a dash of orange bitters.” Then in 1991 a book by Gary Regan’s “The Bartender’s Bible” has details of a blended whiskey-based “Horse Feathers” but not the modern-day recipe we have all come to love. Out of all the stories, the most mentioned is the one based out of Lawrence, Kansas from the Paradise Café, a small meetup spot of the 90's. They say that the bar decided to add Old Overholt Rye whiskey to Regan’s Horse Feathers, which was then the recipe that followed its bartenders to new scenes all over the metro, and it quickly became a local favorite.
The Horsefeather is a perfect balance of fun flavors. You get the warmth and richness of whiskey, the spice heat from ginger beer, and a hint of citrus from a squeeze of lemon. It’s a little bit spicy, a little bit sweet, and refreshing for any occasion. The dashes of bitters add a layer of complexity and ties everything together. It’s a drink that keeps you coming back for more.
Ingredients
To make a Horsefeather, you’ll need:
2 oz of Rye whiskey (bourbon for sweeter)
Ginger beer (to top off)
4 dashes of Angostura bitters
A squeeze of lemon (about a quarter of a lemon)
Instructions
Fill a highball glass with ice.
Pour 2 oz of whiskey over the ice.
Add Angostura bitters.
Squeeze in the lemon, then drop it into the glass.
Top off with ginger beer.
Stir and serve
Tips
Use a high-quality ginger beer for the best flavor. The spicier, the better.
Experiment with the amounts of lemon to find your perfect balance of citrus. A highball glass is traditional, but feel free to use whatever glass you have.
Head downtown and order your next Horsefeather at the West Bottoms Distillery. They always mix up great pours.