speakeater.
Bootlegger · 1903 · London

Hanky Panky.

Ada Coleman invented this for actor Sir Charles Hawtrey at the American Bar in the Savoy Hotel around 1903. Hawtrey came in tired from.

Spirit
London Dry gin
Glass
Coupe
ABV
~28%
Prep
3 min
Era
Bootlegger
Quick answer

The Hanky Panky is a bootlegger cocktail from London, 1903. Built on london dry gin, served in a coupe, around 28% ABV. Ada Coleman invented this for actor Sir Charles Hawtrey at the American Bar in the Savoy Hotel around 1903.

Ingredients

What goes in a Hanky Panky?

Method

How do you make a Hanky Panky?

  1. Add all ingredients to a mixing glass with ice.
  2. Stir 30 seconds until very cold.
  3. Strain into a chilled coupe.
  4. Express an orange twist over the surface and drop in.
Pair it with dinner Aged parmesan and fig jam. The Fernet handles cured anything.
Bartender's notes

What should you know before making a Hanky Panky?

History

Where did the Hanky Panky come from?

Ada Coleman invented this for actor Sir Charles Hawtrey at the American Bar in the Savoy Hotel around 1903. Hawtrey came in tired from rehearsals and asked her for "something with a bit of punch in it." She mixed it. He sipped, looked up, and said "By Jove, that is the real hanky-panky." The name stuck. Coleman was one of only two female head bartenders at the Savoy in its 130-year history.

According to Ada "Coley" Coleman, head bartender of the American Bar at the Savoy Hotel, London.

Variations

What cocktails are similar to a Hanky Panky?

Hanky Panky on the rocks
Same recipe served over a large ice cube. Modern bars often serve it this way.
White Hanky
Replace sweet vermouth with dry vermouth. A drier, sharper version that lets the Fernet show.
FAQ

Common questions.

What is in a Hanky Panky cocktail?

Equal parts London Dry gin and sweet vermouth, two dashes of Fernet-Branca, stirred and served up with an orange twist.

Who invented the Hanky Panky?

Ada Coleman, head bartender of the American Bar at the Savoy Hotel in London, around 1903. She invented it for actor Sir Charles Hawtrey.

What does Fernet-Branca taste like?

Bitter, herbal, menthol-forward, with a strong saffron and myrrh backbone. It is one of the most divisive amari in the world.

Can I substitute another amaro for Fernet in a Hanky Panky?

You can use Brancamenta (a mint-leaning Branca product) for a softer drink, or Cynar for a more vegetal version. Neither tastes like the original.

Kyle Schulgen Founder, Speakeater
Builder of Speakeater, the cooking app for people tired of asking what's for dinner. Hand-transcribes pre-Prohibition cocktail manuscripts as a hobby, ships them in the app's cellar.
Last updated: 2026-05-02

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