This is another classic that’s been around for well over a hundred years. The Hanky Panky was invented by Ada Coleman, a bartender at the Savoy Hotel in London, and specially created for one of her customers, a well-known actor, shortly after the First World War.
What makes this drink stand apart from a regular Sweet Martini is the addition of Fernet-Branca. It’s the secret ingredient that gives the Hanky Panky its unique and intriguing flavour.
Fernet-Branca is a bitter herbal liqueur from Italy. The original recipe has been handed down from generation to generation in the Branca family and is still a tightly held secret. The drink is usually taken straight-up as a digestif in Italy and was originally manufactured to cure stomach-related illnesses. Among its many powers, Fernet-Branca was said to assist in “lifting yourself off the floor when you’ve mixed oysters and bananas.”
Well now, we certainly wouldn’t want to do too much of that.
Hopefully, you’ll agree with Ada Coleman’s actor friend who cried, upon first tasting the drink, “By Jove! That is the real hanky-panky.”
Ingredients
- 45ml Gin
- 45ml Sweet Vermouth
- 2 dashes of Fernet-Branca
- Orange twist garnish
Preparation
- Fill a cocktail shaker with ice.
- Add all ingredients.
- Shake vigorously.
- Strain into a Martini glass.
- Garnish with a twist of orange.
