Revisiting the Hanky Panky

The story of the Hanky Panky is the story of Ada ‘Coley’ Coleman, the first woman bartender at the famous American Bar in London’s Savoy Hotel. Her patrons included Mark Twain and Charlie Chaplin. One day, the story goes, Charles Hawtrey, one of England’s most celebrated comic actors, asked Coley to make him a pick-me-up. When he finished his drink, he is reputed to have said, ‘this is the real hanky-panky’ – and that’s how the Hanky Panky was born.

Coleman’s original recipe called for gin, sweet vermouth, and a dash of Fernet Branca. Our mixologists have taken this original recipe, which is quite good, to a higher level through the use of our in-house spirits and substitution of absinth for the Fernet.

Ingredients for the Sidewinder Hanky Panky

• 1 ½ oz Sidewinder Barrel-Rested Gin
• ¾ oz Sidewinder ‘Winder and Bow’ sweet vermouth
• ¾ oz Cocchi Torino
• 1 bar spoon absinth
• Orange peel

Directions

Add the ingredients to a mixing tin. Fill with ice and stir until chilled. Strain into a coup and twist the orange peel over the glass.

Don’t have any of our products? Well, until laws change, only our vermouth is available by mail order – and only in 40 states. However, you can still make use of the original recipe, although you will be missing out on some delicious flavors. Here it is

The Original Hanky Panky

• 1 ½ oz London Dry Gin – like Beefeater
• 1 ½ oz Sweet Vermouth
• 1 bar spoon (heavy dash) of Fernet Branca
• Orange Peel

Directions

As above – put all of the ingredients in a mixing tin. Add ice and stir until chilled. Strain into a coup and twist the orange peel over the glass. Enjoy.