Hanky Panky
Gin and sweet vermouth sharpened with Fernet-Branca. Created by Ada Coleman at the Savoy around 1903.
Stirred · Coupe · Medium · about 3 minutes · about 24% ABV
Ingredients
- 45 ml Gin
- 45 ml Sweet vermouth
- 7.5 ml Fernet-Branca
- Orange twist (garnish)
Method
- Chill the glass
- Pour 45 ml gin into the mixing glass
- Pour 45 ml sweet vermouth into the mixing glass
- Pour 7.5 ml Fernet-Branca into the mixing glass
- Add ice
- Stir
- Strain
- Garnish
Tip
The Fernet is strong. Measure it, never free-pour.
About the Hanky Panky
Created by Ada "Coley" Coleman, the first female head bartender at the Savoy Hotel in London, in the early 1900s. She made it for the actor Sir Charles Hawtrey, who said "By Jove! That is the real hanky-panky!"
The vermouth cocktail family. Vermouth reached American bars in the 1860s and 1870s, and bartenders began stirring it with whiskey, gin and brandy. That gave us the Manhattan and the Martinez, the ancestor of the Martini. Drinks in this family are stirred rather than shaken, and they are all about the balance between the spirit and the aromatised wine.
Hanky Panky FAQ
What's in a Hanky Panky?
45 ml gin, 45 ml sweet vermouth, 7.5 ml fernet-branca, garnished with orange twist.
How strong is a Hanky Panky?
About 24% ABV once mixed with ice, which is 2.2 Australian standard drinks per serve. That is stronger than a glass of wine.
Should I shake or stir a Hanky Panky?
Stir it. It is made only of spirits and wines, so stirring keeps it clear and silky. Shaking would make it cloudy and frothy.
What glass do you serve a Hanky Panky in?
A coupe, about 180 ml. Chill the glass first and serve without ice. No coupe? Use a martini glass or small wine glass.
