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Hanky Panky Recipe

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The Hanky Panky is a classic gin-based cocktail created by Ada Coleman, head bartender at The Savoy Hotel in London in the early 1900s. This drink is a perfect balance of gin, sweet vermouth, and Fernet-Branca, giving it a rich, herbal, and slightly bitter complexity.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 ½ oz (45 ml) London dry gin
  • 1 ½ oz (45 ml) sweet vermouth (e.g., Carpano Antica or Dolin Rouge)
  • 2 dashes Fernet-Branca (about ¼ teaspoon, for a bitter herbal kick)
  • Orange peel (for garnish)

Instructions

1. Mix the Cocktail

  1. Fill a mixing glass with ice.
  2. Add gin, sweet vermouth, and Fernet-Branca.
  3. Stir for 30 seconds until well chilled.

2. Strain & Serve

  1. Strain into a chilled coupe or martini glass.
  2. Express the orange peel over the drink by twisting it to release the oils.
  3. Drop the peel into the glass or place it on the rim as garnish.

Notes

  • Prefer it stronger? Reduce the vermouth slightly.
  • Not a fan of Fernet? Use just a dash for a milder herbal touch.
  • For a modern twist, swap gin for aged rum for a richer, spiced version.