A Hanky Panky cocktail is a pre-prohibition drink made with just three ingredients: gin, sweet vermouth and Fernet-Branca. It's easy to make at home!
The Hanky Panky is a simple, yet flavorful, gin-based cocktail recipe that's fun to say and fun to serve! We know that gin and sweet vermouth go well together, but when a bit of Fernet-Branca is added, it kicks things up a notch.
A Hanky Panky tastes lightly sweet, but the sweetness is toned down by the bold, bitter herbal flavors in the Fernet-Branca. Add the botanical quality of gin and you've got a complex, aromatic drink that is well balanced but far from boring.
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Ingredients you'll need
A Hanky Panky cocktail is basically a sweet gin martini, with gin and sweet vermouth as the dominant ingredients in the drink. But be aware, Fernet-Branca has a strong flavor, the recipe only calls for two dashes of it for a reason!
- Gin: I like Hendricks, but choose your favorite brand of dry gin.
- Sweet vermouth: There are endless choices! Dolin and Noilly Prat are widely available, but try some small-batch producers when you can.
- Fernet-Branca: This Italian amaro is an herbal liqueur made of 27 different ingredients. It has an herbaceous, anise-like flavor.
How to make a Hanky Panky cocktail
Step 1: Make the orange twists
Use a vegetable peeler or small paring knife to cut twists of orange. Careful not to cut too deeply, you just want the skin, not the white pith.
Step 2: Combine the liquors and chill
Pour gin, vermouth and two dashes of Fernet-Branca over ice in a cocktail shaker or mixing glass. Stir quickly until mixture is chilled.
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Step 3: Strain and serve!
Strain into a chilled cocktail glass (I like coupe glasses) and garnish with orange twist.
FAQ
The Hanky Panky cocktail was created in the early 1900s by Ada (Coley) Coleman, head bartender at the American Bar in the Savoy Hotel in London. She created it for actor Sir Charles Hawtrey, who requested, "something with a bit of punch in it." After hours of experimenting, she presented this new concoction to him. Upon tasting the drink, Hawtrey exclaimed, "By jove! That is the real hanky panky!" The name stuck. I love the fact that a woman invented this cocktail during a time period when it was very unconventional for a woman to work as a bartender!
If you can't find Fernet-Branca, try a different amaro instead. You can substitute another brand of fernet, like Fernet Luxardo, try the Hungarian liqueur Unicum, or Cynar, an amaro made from artichokes!
It's basically a martini, composed entirely of liquor, no mixers. So yes, it's a stronger cocktail, and it's advisable to sip slowly when you drink a Hanky Panky.
When to serve a Hanky Panky cocktail
- Try this at happy hour alongside some Oven Roasted Nuts with Herbs and Garlic.
- Serve at your next dinner party as an aperitivo during cocktail hour.
- A Hanky Panky is a festive cocktail recipe to serve during the holidays because of its deep red color and fancy coupe glass.
More gin-based cocktail recipes
Try these gin-based cocktails for more flavor and fun!
- The Negroni is a close cousin to the Hanky Panky made with gin, sweet vermouth and Campari.
- A Bee's Knees is the epitome of freshness, combining gin with fresh lemon juice and honey.
- A Jasmine Cocktail gets its beautiful pink color from a blend of Campari and lemon juice.
A Hanky Panky is a pre-prohibition gin-based cocktail with unique flavors!
- It's been around for over 100 years, so you know it's good!
- Only 3 ingredients, plus an orange twist for garnish.
- Bitter, sweet, herbaceous, and anise flavors combine for a very sophisticated flavor.
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Recipe
Hanky Panky Cocktail
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Ingredients
- 1 ½ oz gin
- 1 ½ oz sweet vermouth
- 2 dashes Fernet-Branca
Instructions
- Use a vegetable peeler or small paring knife to cut twists of orange. Careful not to cut too deeply, you just want the skin, not the white pith.
- Pour gin, vermouth and two dashes of Fernet-Branca over ice in a cocktail shaker or small pitcher. Stir quickly until mixture is chilled.
- Strain into coupe glasses and garnish with orange twist.
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