Happy Hour With 3 Ingredients: Henky Punks
Happy Friday my friends and welcome back to Happy Hour with 3 Ingredients , a weekly drinks column featuring super simple yet delicious libations. This week we’re going to sip my favorite cocktail from the American Hanky Panky bar in London.
The American Bar, so named because cocktails are an American invention, is a unique establishment. Seriously, it has it all : free anchovy-stuffed olives, extra-long-stemmed coupe glasses, and a $ 5,000 Sazerac made from vintage spirits. They are also home to today’s cocktails, gin and vermouth, which takes pleasure in the tiniest bit of Fernet.
You may remember Fernet from the recent past , when we used its minty, aggressive and invigorating flavor to balance the bitterness of Campari. We’ll be using it a lot less today, but I think you’ll love the invigorating taste it adds to this cocktail. The American bar actually serves a vintage version of the drink we make today, which is pretty absurd given the fact that one of the main ingredients in Hanky Panky is sweet vermouth, which doesn’t age very well. Anyway. To make it fresh, you will need:
- 1 1/2 ounce gin
- 1 1/2 oz sweet vermouth (I like Dolin Rosso)
- A couple of touches to Fernet
Combine everything in a mixing glass filled with ice, stir until everything cools well, and strain into a compartment glass. Enjoy a classic London cocktail, appreciating the fact that you don’t have to travel the pond.