Created in the early 1900s by Ada “Coley” Coleman at The Savoy’s American Bar in London, for the actor Sir Charles Hawtrey (1858-1923). 

In the 1925 edition of The People newspaper, Ada revealed that Sir Charles was one of the best judges of cocktails she knew. One day he arrived tired at the bar and asked her for something with a bit of punch in it. She worked on it and the next time he went there she had something ready for him. He sipped it and said “That is a real hanky-panky!” and the cocktail was born.

From Claridge’s Hotel, Ada Coley moved in 1903 to be the first Bar Manager of the Savoy’s most famous American Bar and the Hanky-Panky is her most famous creation.