Each week, two mixologists will put their own spins on the same drink in a head-to-head battle. Go to the bars, taste them both and tell us them by tagging @pghcitypaper on Twitter or Instagram and use #CPBoozeBattles. If you want to be a part of Booze Battles, send an email to food-and-beverage writer Celine Roberts, celine@pghcitypaper.com.

The Drink: Horse’s Neck

The bar at Ace Hotel

120 S. Whitfield St., East Liberty
Ingredients: Bourbon, club soda, ginger-turmeric-honey syrup, lime wheel and candied ginger garnish

Our Take: The ginger syrup, underscored by the turmeric, gives the drink a spicier kick than you get from using ginger beer. Club soda adds a refreshing lightness to the drink while cutting some of the sugar. Working on more of an “update to a classic” model, it would be easy to drink these down without noticing how much bourbon was in each glass.

Vs.

Acacia

2108 E. Carson St., South Side
Ingredients: Bourbon, ginger ale mixed with Jamaica’s Finest Ginger Beer, lemon, lemon peel garnish

Our Take: The arc of the lemon peel curling around the top of the glass enhances the citrus notes from the first sip. It’s a very bourbon-forward and balanced cocktail. The carbonation is subtle, just noticeable and tempered by the bourbon. While light and refreshing, the minimal carbonation made it more like a traditional cocktail than a fizzy bourbon-flavored soda.