Bottle with extended neck finish and method of making same

A system for blow molding, the system comprising:

• a preform, the preform comprising a closed body, an open end, and a neck located between the closed body and the open end, wherein the neck comprises a thread formation proximate the open end, a flange, and a collar proximate to the closed body;
• a gripper configured to engage the neck of the preform between the thread formation and the collar;
• and
• a mold, the mold comprising:
• a body receiving portion into which the closed body of the preform is positioned during a blow molding operation;
• and
• a neck receiving portion coextensive with the body receiving portion and comprising a circumferential recess, a circumferential seat, and a neck cavity, wherein the circumferential recess has a first width and the neck cavity has a second width that is less than the first width, and wherein during the blow molding operation, the circumferential recess is configured to engage an outer circumference of the collar of the preform with the circumferential seat engaging an outer circumference of the flange, with the flange sitting within the seat on an uppermost surface of the mold so as to leave the thread formation and open end disposed outside of the neck cavity and mold, and with the neck cavity engaging the neck between the collar and the thread formation.