Hair of the dog
OccasionHair of the dog is a drink taken the morning after a night of drinking, usually at brunch.
What Hair of the dog means
The phrase comes from an old belief that the hair from the dog that bit you would cure the bite. A 1546 proverb collection by John Heywood already uses it for drinking. Today it means a drink taken the morning after, in the hope that it eases the night before.
A common belief is that one more drink fixes a hangover. It does not. Another drink only delays the symptoms, and you can end up feeling worse for longer. Time is the only cure, which is why the drink fits best as a brunch ritual, not a remedy.
On a brunch menu you will meet it in a Bloody Mary, a Michelada, a Mimosa or a Corpse Reviver No. 2. Keep a no-alcohol version on the same menu, such as a Virgin Mary, so every guest has a choice.
How to serve a hair of the dog responsibly
Serve it as a brunch drink, with water and a no-alcohol choice within reach.
- 1.Put a glass of water beside every drink, so each guest can sip between them.
- 2.Offer a zero-proof option, such as a Virgin Mary, next to any drink with alcohol.
- 3.Pick a lighter drink, such as a Mimosa, rather than a full spirit-forward drink.
- 4.Do not present it as a cure, because only time clears a hangover.
Hair of the dog compared
- NightcapA nightcap is the drink before bed. Hair of the dog is the drink the morning after.
- MocktailA mocktail gives you the brunch ritual with no alcohol at all, like a Virgin Mary.
- Low-ABV cocktailA low-ABV cocktail like a Mimosa carries far less alcohol than a spirit-forward drink.
Examples
- Bloody Mary
- Virgin Mary
- Michelada
- Mimosa
- Corpse Reviver No. 2
Related terms
Put it to use in your next drink
Garçon explains every step as you make the drink.