About the Hanky Panky cocktail
The Hanky Panky is a classic gin cocktail made with gin, sweet vermouth, and a small amount of Fernet-Branca. At first glance, it looks like a close relative of a sweet Martini or Martinez, but the Fernet gives the drink its defining character: sharp herbal bitterness, minty intensity, spice, and a dark medicinal edge.
That little dose of Fernet completely changes the cocktail, cutting through the richness of the sweet vermouth and adding depth to the gin. The result is spirit-forward, bitter, aromatic, and complex, with an old-school structure that still feels surprisingly modern.
