Hanky Panky recipe
Ada Coleman's masterpiece — gin, vermouth, and a mysterious dash of Fernet.
Method: Stir ·
Glass: Coupe glass ·
Time: 3 min ·
Difficulty: Intermediate ·
Family: The Martini Family
Ingredients
- 1.5 oz London Dry Gin
- 1.5 oz Sweet Vermouth
- 2 dashes Fernet-Branca
How to make a Hanky Panky
- Add gin, sweet vermouth, and Fernet-Branca to a mixing glass with ice.
- Stir for 30 seconds until well-chilled and diluted.
- Strain into a chilled coupe glass.
- Express an orange twist over the surface of the drink.
- Drop the twist into the glass.
Garnish
Orange twist, expressed over the drink.
Pro tip
The Fernet-Branca is what makes this drink special — but it's potent stuff. Two dashes means two dashes, not a splash. Too much and it overwhelms everything. The orange twist is essential too — it bridges the herbal bitterness of the Fernet with the botanical gin.
History of the Hanky Panky
Created by Ada Coleman, head bartender at The Savoy's American Bar in London from 1903 to 1926. She made it for the actor Sir Charles Hawtrey, who tasted it and exclaimed 'By Jove! That is the real hanky-panky!' Ada was one of only two women to ever hold the position of head bartender at The Savoy.
Flavour profile
Herbal, Bitter, Complex, Boozy
Variations
- Hanky Panky Sbagliato — Replace gin with prosecco for a lighter, bubbly version
- Cynar Hanky Panky — Use Cynar instead of Fernet for artichoke bitterness
- Mezcal Hanky Panky — Replace gin with mezcal for smoky complexity
Practise making the Hanky Panky in the free Virtual Bar game.