The Hanky Panky Cocktail Is Worth More Than A One Night Stand

July 24, 2026 | By Benjamin Smith
Hanky Panky

Everything You Need to Know About The Hanky Panky

The Hanky Panky is a true classic cocktail with an amazing history, created by Ada Coleman, the first and only female head bartender at the Savoy Hotel’s American Bar in London. "Coley," as she was known, created the drink for the actor Sir Charles Hawtrey in the 1920s. After tasting the final cocktail, Hawtrey allegedly exclaimed, "By Jove! That is the real hanky-panky!" A cousin to the Bijou due to its combination of gin and sweet vermouth, it is spirit-forward and bittersweet, thanks to the deep, medicinal bitterness of the Italian amaro Fernet Branca.

Hanky Panky

Prep Time3 min
Yield1 Cocktail
Base SpiritGin, Vermouth

Ingredients

  • 1.5 oz London Dry Gin
  • 1.5 oz Sweet Vermouth
  • 0.25 tsp Fernet Branca
  • Orange Peel, for garnish
The Hanky Panky Cocktail Is Worth More Than A One Night Stand

Instructions

  1. Fill a mixing glass with ice.
  2. Add the gin, sweet vermouth, and Fernet Branca.
  3. Stir well for 20-30 seconds until the mixture is thoroughly chilled and diluted.
  4. Strain into a chilled coupe or Nick & Nora glass.
  5. Garnish with a large, expressed orange peel twist.
Pro Tip
The key to the Hanky Panky is using ust enough Fernet Branca to add a layer of complex bitterness without overwhelming the drink. This cocktail is traditionally stirred, never shaken, to maintain its smooth, spirit-forward texture.

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Freeland Spirits Dry Gin

Freeland Spirits Dry Gin
$42.99