Hanky Panky
A bittersweet gin-and-vermouth classic sharpened by a barspoon of Fernet.
The Hanky Panky combines equal parts gin and sweet vermouth with a small measure of Fernet-Branca for a rich yet lively aperitivo. Stirred over ice, it pours deep red-brown with bright orange oil on the nose and a menthol snap on the finish. The drink walks a line between rounded sweetness and firm herbal bite, making it more layered than a simple gin-and-vermouth mix. It showcases how a single bitter liqueur can transform a familiar template into a house signature.
Ingredients
- • 1.5 oz gin
- • 1.5 oz sweet vermouth
- • 1 barspoon Fernet-Branca
- • Orange twist
Did you know?
“Ada Coleman, the Savoy’s famed head bartender, created the Hanky Panky for actor Charles Hawtrey, and bar lore records his reaction—“By Jove, that is the real hanky-panky!”—as one of the rare cases where a guest literally named the drink in the moment.”
Bartender's Note
A London dry gin keeps the drink taut; richer styles can push it toward syrupy if the vermouth is also full bodied.
How to make the Hanky Panky
- 1Add gin, sweet vermouth, and Fernet-Branca to a mixing glass with ice.
- 2Stir until well chilled and silky.
- 3Strain into a chilled coupe.
- 4Express an orange twist over the glass and garnish.
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