Drink of the Week: Hanky Panky

I drank my first Hanky Panky at the Eastern Standard last week. I drank my second on Friday at home. ES has it on their impressive cocktail list in honor of LUPEC Boston's efforts to raise awareness (and funds for) Jane Doe Inc, the Massachusetts Coalition Against Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence.

I do recommend you do yourself a favor and get yourself to Eastern Standard where Jackson, Tom, Nicole or Beth can explain the provenance of this drink for you. And you'll be doing a good deed too (a portion of the sale price goes to Jane Doe). If you can't make it into Boston, you'll have to make your own.

Hanky Panky Cocktail

Chill a martini glass. Pour into a shaker:

• 1 1/2 oz. Beefeater gin
• 1 1/2 oz. sweet vermouth
• spoonful of Fernet Branca*
  

Shake together and strain into your glass. Garnish with a strip of lemon zest.

Fernet is the special ingredient in this drink - without it, this is just a really sweet martini. If you don't own a bottle of Fernet you'll be shocked by how pricey it is when you buy it. Don't worry, if you use it only for drinks like these, the bottle will last you for years. However, if you become enamored of Fernet's digestive properties, you'll blow through a bottle every month or so. Either way, it'll be worth it.