Hanky Panky
Equal parts gin and sweet vermouth with a splash of Fernet-Branca. Bittersweet and herbal.
- Time
- 4 min
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Glass
- Coupe
- Strength
- 2.5 UK units
How to make a Hanky Panky
- Chill the glass. Fill a coupe with ice and water and leave it while you stir.
- Build in a mixing glass. Add the gin, sweet vermouth and Fernet-Branca. Fill the glass with ice.
- Stir until cold. Stir for about 30 seconds, until the outside of the glass is frosted and the drink looks clear and deep brown.
- Strain and finish. Tip the ice water out of the coupe and strain the drink in. Squeeze an orange peel over the surface, skin side down, then drop it in.
- Glass
- CoupeNo coupe? A martini glass or a small wine glass.
- Ice
- No ice
- Garnish
- Orange twistOr: A cocktail cherry on a pick.
What you need to make a Hanky Panky
Kit
JiggerA double-ended measure, usually 25 ml and 50 ml.
Mixing glassAny sturdy jug or pint glass works.
Bar spoonA long teaspoon does the job.
StrainerA Hawthorne strainer fits over the tin or glass.
Vegetable peelerFor wide strips of peel with little pith.
Bottles we'd use
- Fernet-BrancaA bitter, minty amaro. A bottle lasts a very long time at this dose.Find it on Amazon
- Sweet vermouthCocchi Vermouth di Torino is rich and spiced; Martini Rosso is easier to find.Find it on Amazon
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The Hanky Panky story
The Hanky Panky is usually credited to Ada Coleman, who ran the American Bar at the Savoy in London in the early 1900s. The story goes that she made it for the actor Charles Hawtrey, who loved it and declared it the real hanky-panky. The name has stuck to it ever since.
It is a sweet martini with a small dose of Fernet-Branca, which adds a bitter, minty depth. Be careful with the Fernet: a barspoon is plenty, and more will drown the gin. If you like a drier drink, use a little less vermouth.
Hanky Panky: your questions answered
What is in a Hanky Panky?
A Hanky Panky is made with 45 ml London dry gin, 45 ml sweet vermouth and Fernet-Branca. Garnish: orange twist.
Is a Hanky Panky shaken or stirred?
A Hanky Panky is stirred, not shaken. Stirring with ice chills and dilutes it while keeping the drink clear and smooth. Shaking would cloud it and add tiny air bubbles, which suits citrus drinks but not this one.
How strong is a Hanky Panky?
Made to this recipe, a Hanky Panky contains about 2.5 UK units of alcohol per drink. That is worked out from typical bottle strengths, so it changes with the bottles you use. UK guidelines advise not regularly drinking more than 14 units a week.
What glass do you serve a Hanky Panky in?
Serve a Hanky Panky in a coupe. No coupe? A martini glass or a small wine glass.
