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Gin, stirred

Hanky Panky

Barline 1h,1h,1b,co

The code is the shorthand off my printed menu; the Key tab decodes every letter.

Stir with ice until cold, then strain.

Coupe, orange twist.

Open in the menu

Taste

Equal ounces and a half of gin and sweet vermouth, a fifty-fifty Martinez ratio. One barspoon of Fernet adds mint and a bitter edge behind the gin and vermouth. Stirred, coupe, orange twist.

History

Ada Coleman created the Hanky Panky at the Savoy's American Bar in London, where she was head bartender from 1903 to 1926. Harry Craddock prints it in the 1930 Savoy Cocktail Book, credited to her: equal Italian vermouth and gin, two dashes of Fernet-Branca, orange peel. The story attached is actor Charles Hawtrey asking her for something with a punch, and naming the result. This menu keeps the equal gin and sweet vermouth, pours a barspoon of Fernet, coupe, orange.

Same shape, other bottles

The Martini family, with the bottle that changed.

This is one drink on my home bar's menu. Tick the bottles you own and the menu lists which of all 185 drinks they pour.