Cooking Lesson #1019: Harvey Wallbanger

…from the Perspectives’ Happy Hour Bar

How you doin’? We are just a few days away from that dreaded April 15th known as Income Tax Day. At the moment I am on hold waiting for the IRS to find a lost payment. They said it might take as long as 30 to 60 minutes to get back to me… that’s really a HEAD BANGER. So, while I’m waiting, I might as well write a blog about my Harvey Wallbanger Cocktail from my Customs House Restaurants.
 
The Harvey Wallbanger is a modern classic cocktail that was reportedly born in the 1950s, when it was first prepared by California bartender Donato “Duke” Antone. It’s basically a Screwdriver with the addition of Galliano, an Italian liqueur.
 
The Harvey Wallbanger may have been invented in the ’50s (although that origin is debated), but it didn’t become a runaway sensation until the early 1970s when I sold it in all my restaurants. An import company’s marketing director, George Bednar, created an ad campaign that helped the drink fly off shelves as customers began to demand it by name.
 
Galliano is made with vanilla and a medley of herbs and spices, including star anise, juniper, lavender and cinnamon. It has a 42.3% alcohol content volume, so it’s no slouch in the booze department, which means it doesn’t get lost in drinks.
 
Most people know Galliano for its tall, slender, bright yellow bottle than its flavor. But with its distinct taste, even small amounts can transform a cocktail. That’s evident in the Harvey Wallbanger, which is notably different from the Screwdriver despite the scant half ounce of Galliano used in the drink.
 
The Harvey Wallbanger is a breeze to put together. You don’t even need a shaker; just build it right in the glass. The vodka and orange juice go in first, and the Galliano is floated on top. Garnish with an orange slice and cherry, and you can re-channel the golden days of disco.
 
Ingredients 
1-1/2 ounces vodka (house vodka works well—no need for the expensive stuff)
1/2 ounce Galliano L’Autentico liqueur
3 ounces orange juice, freshly squeezed is best
Garnish: orange peel
Garnish: maraschino cherry
 
Directions

1. Fill a tall glass with ice, then add the vodka and orange juice and stir.
2. Float the Galliano on top.
3. Garnish with a skewered orange slice and maraschino cherry.

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ChefSecret:  There is no substitute for Galliano, none at all.

Quip of the Day:  According to legend, Harvey was a California surfer. After losing an important contest, he consoled himself in Duke's Blackwatch bar with one of his 'special' screwdriver cocktails, (a screwdriver with a dash of Galliano liqueur). After several drinks, he tried to leave the bar but unfortunately kept bumping into the furniture and walls. Harvey the 'Wallbanger' became his nickname and the famous drink was named.
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