The Harvey Wallbanger is a disco era cocktail that has its own national drink holiday. Here’s how to mix it.
Harvey Wallbanger – Photo © Cocktails & Bars
Disco-era drinks evoke a sense of nostalgia and the Harvey Wallbanger is no different. The recipe is not too dissimilar to the Screwdriver, containing vodka and fresh orange juice with the addition of Galliano, an Italian herbal liqueur made with a blend of spices, herbs and botanical extracts.
The built drink is said to date back to the 1950s and some say it was popularised in the 1970s. As such, its origins like many other cocktails are unclear. Some sources attribute the drink to Donato “Duke” Antone, a Los Angeles bartender who created it for a regular at his bar called Tom Harvey. The “wallbanger” moniker is supposedly what the regular was doing after imbibing a few of these drinks.
The cocktail may have lost it popularity in recent times but people celebrate National Harvey Wallbanger day on 8 November. The drink is liquid sunshine in a glass, tall and refreshing, a little on the sweet side. It can be served as a breakfast or brunch cocktail as an alternative to a Bloody Mary or when entertaining friends at a garden party.
Harvey Wallbanger Cocktail Recipe
Ingredients
- 45ml vodka
- 120ml orange juice, freshly squeezed
- 15ml Galliano L’Autentico
Glassware: Collins glass
Garnish: half an orange wheel
Method
Build the cocktail in a Collins glass with ice cubes by adding vodka, freshly squeezed orange juice and stirring. Gently float the Galliano on top by slowly pouring it over the back of a bar spoon. Garnish with half an orange wheel.
