This cocktail was invented in the early 1900s by the most famous female mixologist of those times – Ada Coleman (“Coley”). She eventually became the head bartender at the famed American Bar in The Savoy Hotel. This drink though was made while she was in the Claridge Hotel.

The story goes that Coley created the cocktail for Sir Charles Hawtrey, a celebrated Georgian actor who visited the bar. According to folklore, he asked for a drink with a punch. Coely served him this drink, leading him to exclaim “By Jove! That is the real hanky-panky!”

And that is how the drink got its name.

Given all the activities around the passing away of the Queen, I was looking into whether there was a drink named after her. Found one called Queen Elizabeth.

When I looked at the ingredients, I was a little puzzled. I was expecting some usual British ingredients like gin in it. Speaking of which, the Queen’s favorite cocktail, I am told was Dubonnet and gin.

Coming back to the Queen Elizabeth, it in fact, does not have any base spirit (like gin, vodka, tequila etc). It is simply Dry Vermouth, Benedictine and lime juice.

Turned out to be surprisingly tasty.

The creator of the drink – a bartender called Herbert Quack from Philadelphia in the early ’30s – had named it after his wife.

Gin, Triple Sec, Lemon Juice and Grenadine