Hanky Panky Cocktail

The Hanky Panky cocktail originated around 1925 at the Savoy hotel in London, it is a play on the Sweet Martini. This cocktail recipe is the creation of the head bartender, Ada ‘Coley’ Coleman who created it for a famous stage actor, Sir Charles Hawtrey. When Sir Charles asked for a drink with a little bit of a kick to it, the bartender gave him the drink she created, he drained the glass and exclaimed “By Jove! That is the real hanky-panky!”.

Who knows if that story is true or not, we are basing the Hanky Panky Cocktails history on a 100-year-old story told by a couple of drunks at a bar. Haha, it is a good drink though. So, for those of you that love a good botanical gin, Fernet Branca is going to push you over the edge with a botanical wallop to the head. Clutch your pearls Mother, this one’s a doozy.

Never Shake Gin Cocktails

Gin has an interesting similarity with red wine and aeration. I’ll use this as an example of why never to shake gin. We are all familiar with the practice of letting red wine ‘breathe’. Decanting red wine, swirling the wine in the glass, and exposing it to oxygen for a short time will soften the flavors. This allows some of the more volatile aromas to escape and release the more pleasant fruit and oak aromas in the wine. However, if allowed to breathe for too long the finer subtle qualities of the wine will not only disappear but eventually, the wine turns to vinegar.

Gin is very similar to red wine in this matter. Shaking gin accelerates the breathing process exponentially.

Gin has a complex mixture of aromas divided into three parts; top notes, middle notes, and base notes. With gin, the most desirable qualities are in the top note. All of the botanicals: juniper, pine, fruit, spice, and floral are top notes. Unfortunately, when gin has been agitated by shaking, the top notes are the first to go. Leaving only the less desirable middle and base notes. Bruising the gin won’t turn it to vinegar, but it will leave the gin dull and lifeless. All of the amazing botanicals that are so desirable lost to the inside of a cocktail shaker.

Here’s the Hanky Panky Cocktail recipe:

Print Recipe

5 from 3 votes

Hanky Panky cocktail

The Hanky Panky cocktail originated around 1925 at the Savoy hotel in London, it is a play on the Sweet Martini. This cocktail recipe is the creation of the head bartender, Ada ‘Coley’ Coleman who created it for a famous stage actor, Sir Charles Hawtrey. When Sir Charles asked for a drink with a little bit of a kick to it, the bartender gave him the drink she created, he drained the glass and exclaimed “By Jove! That is the real hanky-panky!”.

Prep Time5 minutes mins

Cook Time0 minutes mins

Total Time5 minutes mins

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Course: Cocktail

Cuisine: American

Keyword: gin, sweet vermouth

Servings: 1

Calories: 144kcal

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 Ounces Gin
• 1 1/2 Ounces Sweet Vermouth
• 2 Dashes Fernet Branca

Garnish

• 1 Orange Peel

Instructions

• Combine all ingredients in a shaker over ice
• Stir well until ice cold
• Serve in a chilled Martini glass with an orange twist as garnish

Nutrition Facts

Hanky Panky cocktail

Amount Per Serving

Calories 144 Calories from Fat 9

% Daily Value*

Fat 1g2%

Sodium 1mg0%

Carbohydrates 5g2%

Fiber 1g4%

Protein 1g2%

Vitamin A 50IU1%

Vitamin C 16mg19%

Calcium 19mg2%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Thanks for visiting my Food Blog, I hope you enjoy the recipe for the Hanky Panky Cocktail please come back and visit again soon! Cheers, Steven