Ada Coleman, the famous head bartender of the American Bar in the Savoy Hotel, created this cocktail around 1910. The inspiration for the drink came from actor Charles Hawtrey. He had asked Ada to give him a drink with "a bit of punch in it." Ada then spent hours experimenting until she had a new cocktail. The next time Hawtrey came in, Ada served him her new drink and he said, "By Jove! That is the real hanky-panky!"
From Harry Craddock's The Savoy Cocktail Book.
In a cocktail shaker over ice pour:
1½ oz Italian vermouth
1½ oz dry gin
2 dashes Fernet-Branca
Stir and strain into a 4 oz. cocktail glass.
Garnish by squeezing an orange peel over the top.
