Hanky Panky
Fernet's secret handshake
Created by Ada Coleman at the Savoy, this is a beguiling blend of gin and sweet vermouth, made extraordinary by the herbal complexity of Fernet-Branca. Bitter, bold, and brilliant.
Ingredients
- 1 oz Gin
- 1 oz Sweet Vermouth
- 1/4 oz Fernet-Branca
Method
Pour all ingredients into a mixing glass filled with ice. Stir until well-chilled. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with an orange twist.
Created by Ada Coleman at The Savoy's American Bar, London (date uncertain; created sometime before her 1925 account to The People newspaper recounting the drink's origins) for actor Sir Charles Hawtrey — gin, sweet vermouth, and Fernet-Branca. Per IBA (The Unforgettables list); Difford's Guide #930; Craddock's The Savoy Cocktail Book, 1930. Notes: Coleman was head bartender 1903–1925; the herbal Fernet-Branca accent defines the signature profile.
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