The Hanky Panky is a classic gin cocktail made with just a few ingredients. One of the best known cocktails to use Fernet Branca, it's also one of the most delicious! If you're on the fence about this strongly flavored bitter liqueur, the Hanky Panky just might change your mind.
The story of the Hanky Panky and Ada Coleman
The Hanky Panky was invented at the famous American Bar at the Savoy Hotel in London. This bar is perhaps best known for one of its legendary bartenders, Harry Craddock, who wrote The Savoy Cocktail Book in 1929.
Ada Coleman invented the Hanky Panky sometime between 1903 and 1926 when she was the head bartender at the American Bar. It's said that she created the drink for an actor, Charles Hawtrey. He asked her to make him something with "a bit of a punch in it." Coleman, often affectionately referred to as Coley, served up a mix of gin, sweet vermouth and Fernet Branca. According to Liquor.com, Hawtrey was impressed and proclaimed it was "the real hanky-panky."
Ada Coleman is likely the most famous female bartender in history, and one of only a few women to become head bartender at The Savoy. She was well-known and well-loved during (and after) her time, living until 91 years of age. She's known to have served cocktails to famous folks including Mark Twain, Charlie Chaplin, and the Prince of Wales.
The ingredients
The Hanky Panky is an easy three ingredient cocktail made with gin, sweet vermouth, and Fernet Branca. Here's a little about each ingredient and which brands I'd recommend.
Gin
A London dry gin is a great choice for this classic cocktail. London dry gins have a prominent juniper flavor along with notes of herbs and citrus. Gin and vermouth both feature herbal flavors. You can try the Hanky Panky with any gin you prefer, but a classic gin will make the best drink in my opinion! Some gins to use are Bombay Sapphire, Tanqueray, Beefeater, and Sipsmith.
Sweet vermouth
Vermouth is a fortified and aromatized wine. Fortified means that it has alcohol added and aromatized means that it is flavored with a variety of botanicals like herbs and spices. Like its name describes, sweet vermouth is sweetened. It's typically dark red or brown in color.
Sweet vermouth is often enjoyed on its own, served over ice and with a lemon twist. I recommend Carpano Antica for the most flavorful cocktail. Other sweet vermouths to try are Martini & Rossi, Cinzano, Noilly Prat, and Dolin.
Fernet Branca
Fernet Branca is a brand of fernet liqueur, which is a type of amaro. Amari are bittersweet Italian liqueurs. Fernet is made with a variety of botanicals and is often quite bitter. Fernet Branca is known for its potent, complex flavor that's reminiscent of black licorice and a bit minty.
In large doses, its flavor can be quite overwhelming, but when used sparingly, it adds a unique, root beer-like flavor to drinks. In the Hanky Panky, Fernet punches up the herbal flavors of the gin and vermouth and makes the combination much more interesting.
The original Hanky Panky recipe called for just a few dashes of Fernet Branca, but I strongly prefer this modern version of the recipe. A quarter ounce is still a very small amount, but it adds quite a bit of flavor.
So what does the Hanky Panky taste like?
Like many spirit-forward cocktails, the Hanky Panky's flavor is a bit difficult to fully describe. It's herbal, sweet, and bitter with a licorice-like note. The Hanky Panky is best described as a Martini riff, and it is a bit boozy. The flavors of the gin and vermouth you choice will have a big impact on the flavor of the drink.
You may also enjoy the Toronto, made with rye whiskey and Fernet Branca.
How to make the cocktail
To make a Hanky Panky, combine one and a half ounces of gin, one and a half ounces of sweet vermouth, and a quarter ounce of Fernet Branca in a mixing glass. Fill the mixing glass about three quarters with ice, then stir until thoroughly chilled, about thirty seconds.
Strain the liquid into a chilled cocktail glass and garnish with an expressed orange twist. Don't skip the garnish! Orange oils soften the bite of the alcohol and the bittersweet flavors of the vermouth and fernet.
Always use a chilled glass for drinks served without ice and they'll stay colder and more delicious longer! To chill your glass, simply place it in the freezer for at least a half hour before prepping your drink.
Another method is to fill the glass with crushed ice and cold water and set the glass aside while you make the drink. Then dump out the ice water just before your strain your cocktail into the glass.
You might also enjoy these other classic cocktails:
Hanky Panky Classic Gin and Fernet Branca Cocktail
Ingredients
- 1½ oz gin
- 1½ oz sweet vermouth
- ¼ oz Fernet Branca
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a mixing glass and fill it ¾ with ice.
- Stir until thoroughly chilled, at least 30 seconds.
- Strain the liquid into a chilled cocktail glass and garnish with an expressed orange twist.