Just to be clear, if someone asks you for Hanky Panky, there’s a good chance they’re only after a very refined cocktail. This classy little coupe is the legacy of trailblazing bartender Ada Coleman, the first woman to head up the bar at London's iconic Savoy Hotel.
Much more than a twist on a Sweet Martini, Ada carefully concocted this drink for a another star, Sir Charles Hawtrey in the 1920s. It is said the actor, exhausted from work, requested a cocktail “with a bit of punch”. Deeply dedicated to her craft, Ada conducted vigorous cocktail experimentation to balance this drink’s refined bitter, sweet and dry notes. Earning a standing ovation from Sir Charles, the star was said to exclaim “By Jove! That is the real hanky-panky!’ upon first sip.
In 1930, the Hanky Panky’s bonafides were set in stone when the recipe was published in the The Savoy Cocktail Book by Henry Craddock, the infamous mixologist who preceded Ada as the hotel’s head bartender, spreading the word beyond the elite.
A clear and simple cocktail, Ada showed her skillful restraint in developing this classy three-ingredient delight. Stemming from the base of a Sweet Martini (sweet vermouth and gin), Fernet Branca liqueur was added to bring a balancing bitter edge. Now all there is to do is kick back and… Hanky Panky.
