Hanky Panky Recipe

A memorable cocktail with an even more memorable name.

A hanky panky cocktail, made with Fernet Branca, in a cocktail glass.
Jessica Leibowitz

The Hanky Panky originated at the American Bar at the Savoy Hotel in London in the early 20th century. Developed by head bartender Ada Coleman, the Hanky Panky matches the distinctive character of Fernet Branca with the botanicals found in gin and sweet vermouth to create a rich blend of flavors--a blend that lets the pushy liqueur remind you of its better side.

Let's talk about that bitter Italian liqueur, a beneficent bully. Formulated as a digestivo in the mid-19th century, Fernet Branca has a blend of botanicals, including cardamom, chamomile, saffron and rhubarb, that together work some sort of gastronomic magic to dispel the discomfort of overindulging at mealtime. And the bully part? This same mix of ingredients has a flavor so bracingly bitter and complex that a first encounter is usually seared into a drinker's memory.

This powerful flavor makes Fernet Branca tricky to work with as a cocktail ingredient. Not content to play a supporting role, Fernet Branca has a knack for taking over any drink that incorporates it as an ingredient. Fortunately, there are a few cocktails that play to Fernet Branca's strengths; we've previously explored one of them, the Toronto, but here's another that uses the digestivo to good effect.

Note: Some bartenders adjust the drink's proportions to create a drier cocktail; for that version, try 2 ounces of gin, 1 ounce of sweet vermouth and 1/4 ounce of Fernet Branca. Both versions are worth a try.

Recipe Details

Hanky Panky Recipe

Active 3 mins
Total 3 mins
Serves 1 serving

A memorable cocktail with an even more memorable name.

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 ounces gin

  • 1 1/2 ounces sweet vermouth

  • 2 dashes Fernet Branca

Directions

  1. Combine ingredients in a mixing glass and fill with ice. Stir well for 20 seconds and strain into chilled cocktail glass. Twist a piece of orange peel over the drink and use as garnish.

Special equipment

Mixing glass, cocktail strainer

This Recipe Appears In

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
170 Calories
0g Fat
6g Carbs
0g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories 170
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 0%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 4mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate 6g 2%
Dietary Fiber 0g 0%
Total Sugars 4g
Protein 0g
Vitamin C 0mg 0%
Calcium 4mg 0%
Iron 0mg 1%
Potassium 42mg 1%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)