Hanky Panky cocktail

Hanky Panky

Alessandro Scire Calabrisotto

Rich, aromatic and quietly bittersweet, the Hanky Panky is a gin and vermouth classic with a secret weapon: a whisper of Fernet-Branca. The result is a sophisticated, herbal twist on the sweet Martini, and one of the great creations of the cocktail's golden age.

History of the Hanky Panky

The Hanky Panky is one of the most celebrated drinks to emerge from the American Bar at London's Savoy Hotel. It was created by Ada Coleman, the pioneering head bartender of the American Bar in the early twentieth century and one of the few women to achieve fame in the profession at that time.

The story most often told is that Coleman devised the drink for the actor Sir Charles Hawtrey, who had asked her for something with real punch. On tasting the herbal, invigorating result, he is said to have exclaimed that it was 'the real hanky-panky' — and the name stuck. The recipe was later recorded in The Savoy Cocktail Book, securing its place in the canon.

Recipe: How to Make a Classic Hanky Panky

Ingredients:

  • 45 ml (1.5 oz) gin
  • 45 ml (1.5 oz) sweet vermouth
  • 2 dashes (2 ml) Fernet-Branca

Instructions:

  1. Add the gin, sweet vermouth and Fernet-Branca to a mixing glass.
  2. Fill with ice and stir well until thoroughly chilled.
  3. Strain into a chilled coupe or cocktail glass.
  4. Express the oils from an orange twist over the surface.
  5. Garnish with the orange twist and serve.

Tips for Perfection:

  • Stir, never shake — this is a spirit-forward drink that should be silky and clear.
  • Use only a small measure of Fernet-Branca; it is potent and meant to season, not dominate.
  • A good-quality sweet vermouth is essential, as it forms the heart of the drink.

Additional Recommendations

Variations:

  • Reverse build: increase the vermouth slightly for a softer, more wine-forward profile.
  • Aged twist: swap in a barrel-aged gin for added depth and spice.
  • Fernet-forward: add a third dash for those who love a more pronounced bitter edge.

Pairings:

  • Cured meats and salumi, which suit its herbal bitterness.
  • Dark chocolate or chocolate-based desserts.
  • Roasted nuts and olives as a classic aperitivo.

Presentation:

  • Serve straight up in a chilled coupe for an elegant finish.
  • Garnish with a generous orange twist to lift the aroma.

Curiosity: A Fun Fact About the Hanky Panky

Ada Coleman was such a fixture at the Savoy's American Bar that she became affectionately known as 'Coley', mixing drinks for some of the most famous figures of her era. The Hanky Panky remains a lasting tribute to one of the first female bartenders to earn genuine international renown.

Sources

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