🥃 Hanky Panky
A classic IBA cocktail of London dry gin, sweet red vermouth and a few drops of Fernet, created by Ada Coleman at the American Bar of London's Savoy hotel.
Hanky Panky is a classic London cocktail of gin, sweet red vermouth and a few drops of bitter Fernet. It is stirred with ice, strained into a chilled glass and flavoured with orange zest. The International Bartenders Association (IBA) lists it among The Unforgettables, the classics that never go out of style.
IBA recipe. 45 ml London dry gin, 45 ml sweet red vermouth and 7.5 ml Fernet. Everything is stirred with ice in a mixing glass and strained. Difford's Guide suggests even less Fernet, about 5 ml, because it easily overpowers the other flavours.
History. The cocktail is attributed to Ada 'Coley' Coleman, who headed the American Bar of the London hotel Savoy from 1903 to 1926. According to the story, the actor Sir Charles Hawtrey asked her for a drink 'with character', and after tasting it exclaimed that it was a real 'hanky panky'. Difford's Guide dates the cocktail to around 1921.
Legacy. The recipe appeared in Harry Craddock's The Savoy Cocktail Book of 1930, the only drink in it credited to Coleman. In structure it is a relative of the martini, but with sweet vermouth; the producer Fernet-Branca also mentions the Hanky Panky among the classic ways to serve its bitter.
Why this matters to you. The cocktail contains almost no juice: 45 ml of gin and the same amount of vermouth give, according to Difford's Guide, about 22 g of pure alcohol per serving. A small glass does not mean a weak drink. The WHO reminds us that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption.
Facts
| Raw material | London dry gin, sweet red vermouth, Fernet (IBA recipe) |
|---|---|
| Alcohol (% vol.) | about 23% ABV in the finished cocktail (Difford's Guide estimate) |
How it connects to Spirits
🥃 Hanky Panky → affects → 🍷 Alcohol and health ← affects ← 🥃 Spirits
Links
- Made from
- 🍸 London gin, 🍷 Vermouth, 🥃 Fernet
- What it affects
- 🍷 Alcohol and health, 🍷 Drunk driving
- Part of
- 🍸 Gin
- Related to
- 🌍 Western Europe
- Similar and different
- 🥃 Dry Martini
Frequently asked questions
Is it true that a woman invented the Hanky Panky?
Yes. The cocktail is attributed to Ada Coleman, who headed the American Bar of the Savoy hotel in London from 1903 to 1926.
What do you need for a Hanky Panky according to the IBA?
45 ml London dry gin, 45 ml sweet red vermouth and 7.5 ml Fernet; the garnish is orange zest.
Where does the name come from?
According to the story, the actor Charles Hawtrey, after tasting the drink, said it was a 'real hanky panky', something like magic or a trick.
Is the cocktail shaken or stirred?
According to the IBA it is stirred with ice in a mixing glass and strained into a chilled glass.
How does the Hanky Panky differ from the Dry Martini?
The Dry Martini is made with dry vermouth, while the Hanky Panky uses sweet red vermouth and a few drops of bitter Fernet.
What to read next
- 🍷 Alcohol and health — Alcohol in any drink is harmful in large amounts, and the risks grow with the quantity.
- 🌍 Western Europe — France, the Netherlands, Britain, Ireland, Belgium and Luxembourg: a mild, moist climate, pastures and hundreds of cheeses such as Roquefort, Camembert, Gouda and Cheddar.
- 🍸 London gin — The EU's strictest distilled gin: aroma from distillation only, no colourings, up to 0.1 g/l of sugar, at least 37.5% vol.
- 🥃 Dry Martini — Classic IBA cocktail of gin and dry vermouth (60 and 10 ml), stirred with ice and served in a chilled glass with a twist of lemon zest or an olive.
- 🍷 Drunk driving — Never drive after drinking wine: alcohol slows your reactions.
Similar
🥃 Gin Basil Smash · 🥃 Dry Martini · 🥃 Clover Club · 🥃 Gin Fizz · 🥃 Bramble · 🥃 Casino
Sources
- IBA — International Bartenders Association: Hanky Panky (The Unforgettables; 45 ml London dry gin, 45 ml sweet red vermouth, 7.5 ml Fernet; stir with ice, strain into chilled cocktail glass; orange zest)
- Difford's Guide: Hanky Panky — Ada 'Coley' Coleman, American Bar at The Savoy, for actor Sir Charles Hawtrey (1858–1923), probably 1921; Savoy Cocktail Book 1930; about 22.9 % alc./vol., 21.8 g alcohol
- Difford's Guide: Ada Coleman — Claridge's 1899, head bartender of the American Bar at The Savoy 1903–1926; Hanky Panky the only drink credited to her in The Savoy Cocktail Book
- Fratelli Branca Distillerie: Fernet-Branca (27 herbs, roots and spices; one year in oak barrels; neat, on the rocks, with cola, Hanky Panky)
- WHO/Europe: No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health (04.01.2023)