While creating our cocktail series, i started to realise that almost all of the famous cocktails we were covering were “discovered” by men. From the Margarita to the Martini, Bloody Mary, Old fashioned, Mojito and even The Dawa – the list kept going on and on, and not a single woman in sight. Apart from looking at how to make a good cocktail, we always try to dig abit at their history, and the Hanky Panky has as interesting a history as any of the other heavyweights.
It is made with gin, sweet vermouth and Fernet-Branca, finished with an orange twist. On paper, it sounds relatively simple but make no mistake, it is anything but ordinary. It is herbal, bittersweet, aromatic and warming, with the gin and vermouth providing the backbone while Fernet-Branca gives the drink its distinctive edge.
But perhaps the most interesting thing about the Hanky Panky is not what is in the glass, but who created it.
The cocktail was created by Ada “Coley” Coleman, a pioneering bartender who became the first female head bartender at The Savoy’s famous American Bar in London, and who some refer to as the most famous female bartender of all time. Coleman worked behind the bar at a time when professional bartending was overwhelmingly male dominated (it still is to date), yet she went on to become one of the most celebrated figures in the history of cocktail making.
And somewhere between a regular customer’s request for something with a little punch and an enthusiastic reaction after the first sip, the Hanky Panky was born.
Meet Ada Coleman, the Woman Behind the Drink
Ada Coleman deserves her moment, outside of the cocktail itself.
She began her bartending career at Claridge’s, where she made her first cocktail, a Manhattan, in 1899. She moved to The Savoy in 1903 and eventually became head bartender at the American Bar, a position she held for more than two decades – not a small achievement by any means.
The American Bar had already become one of London’s great cocktail institutions, and Coleman found herself serving an extraordinary collection of guests, including actors, royalty and other prominent figures. The Savoy describes her as one of the most pivotal figures in bartending, particularly because she built her reputation and career in an industry dominated by men.
Among her regular customers was the English actor and comedian Sir Charles Hawtrey. According to The Savoy, Hawtrey once asked Coleman for a drink with “a bit of punch.” Coleman reached for gin and sweet vermouth, added Fernet-Branca and finished the drink with an orange twist. After tasting it, Hawtrey reportedly exclaimed, “By Jove! That is the real Hanky Panky!” Just like that, and the name stuck.
There is something wonderfully theatrical about the whole story – as are all legendary stories. How there was no marketing meeting or a carefully designed launch campaign. Just a bartender experimenting for a regular customer, a memorable reaction and a drink that would eventually become part of cocktail history.
What Makes the Hanky Panky Different?
If you’ve been following our Lesser Known Cocktails series, you may have noticed how all the drinks tend to reward curiosity.
The Hanky Panky certainly does. Its three principal ingredients create a very different experience from a bright, citrus-heavy cocktail. There is no lime juice doing the heavy lifting, no tropical fruit and no generous pour of sugar syrup to make everything immediately approachable.
Instead, the drink leans into bitterness and botanicals. The gin brings juniper and other botanical notes, while sweet vermouth adds depth and a gentle sweetness. Then comes Fernet Branca, the Italian bitter herbal liqueur that gives the Hanky Panky much of its personality.
If you’ve ever tried a cocktail and thought, Hmm, that’s interesting, rather than immediately thinking that’s sweet, there’s a good chance you’ve encountered the world of bitter drinks.
That makes the Hanky Panky an interesting companion to some of the other cocktails we’ve explored.
Our Daiquiri takes a much brighter route, balancing rum, lime and sweetness in a classic Cuban combination. The Bee’s Knees brings gin together with lemon and honey, while the Last Word shows just how beautifully herbal, citrusy and complex a classic cocktail can become.
And if you’re more interested in cocktails with a tropical personality, the Jungle Bird proves that bitterness and fruit can make surprisingly good friends.
The Hanky Panky simply takes a darker, more sophisticated road.
How to Make a Hanky Panky
The original drink has been preserved in cocktail history partly because Harry Craddock included it in The Savoy Cocktail Book, published in 1930. His version called for gin, Italian vermouth and two dashes of Fernet Branca, with orange peel squeezed over the finished drink.
For a modern home version, you can keep things beautifully simple.
Ingredients
- 45 ml gin
- 45 ml sweet vermouth
- 2 dashes Fernet-Branca
- Orange peel, for garnish
- Ice
Method
Fill a mixing glass with ice.
Add the gin, sweet vermouth and Fernet-Branca, then stir until the drink is properly chilled.
Strain into a chilled coupe or cocktail glass.
Express an orange peel over the surface of the drink to release its fragrant oils, then use the peel as your garnish.
And that’s it. You don’t need a blender or elaborate garnish. And no complicated preparation. Just a beautifully balanced classic with more than a century of history behind it.
Modern recipes sometimes adjust the proportions, but the essential character remains the same: gin, sweet vermouth, Fernet-Branca and orange.
What Does a Hanky Panky Taste Like?
Expect something herbal, bittersweet, boozy and aromatic.
The sweet vermouth gives the drink some softness, while Fernet-Branca brings a complex bitterness that lingers on the palate. The orange oils add a bright aromatic note that helps lift the heavier herbal flavours.
It is not necessarily the cocktail you hand to someone who only enjoys very sweet, fruity drinks.
But for someone who likes a cocktail with personality? That’s where the Hanky Panky gets interesting.
A Forgotten Cocktail Worth Remembering
The Hanky Panky may not have the household recognition of a Martini, Mimosa or Piña Colada, but that is precisely what makes it such a fascinating addition to the Lesser-Known Cocktails series.
It is a reminder that cocktail history is filled with drinks created by people whose names have been nearly forgotten, even when their creations survived. Ada Coleman is one of those people worth remembering.
She wasn’t simply someone who happened to make a famous drink. She was a highly regarded bartender who built a career, developed her own recipes and earned a place in the history of one of London’s most famous cocktail bars. The Hanky Panky became her signature creation, and The Savoy continues to serve it at the American Bar today.
If you’d rather take a tropical detour after this one, our KC Piña Colada puts a distinctly Kenyan spin on another beloved classic.
As for the Hanky Panky, pour it slowly, take your time with it and remember the woman who created it.
