Harvey Wallbanger Drink

By Steve Kilcullen Jump to Recipe

You may know the name, now get to know this vodka and orange juice cocktail topped with Galliano.

I used to think that if a drink went by a name like Harvey Wallbanger, then it must be some crazy concoction made with too many ingredients that would knock you flat. Images of 1930s and 40s movie star W.C. Fields ordering the drink by name seemed natural. But that was all in my childhood brain, as the drink itself wasn’t invented until around 1969, about 23 years after the actor’s death.

McKesson Imports Company, the importer of the sweet Italian liqueur Galliano, came up with the Harvey Wallbanger as a marketing strategy. The idea was to sell more Galliano by advertising a colorful and simple drink that used their product. Ads featuring an oddly shaped surfer dude, aptly named Harvey Wallbanger, started popping up in magazines all over the country, declaring “Harvey Wallbanger is the name. And I can be made!” Accompanying the cartoon wave-rider was his namesake’s recipe: “6 oz. O.J., 1 oz. vodka, stir with ice, splash in ½ oz. Galliano.” 

The cocktail is credited to Donato “Duke” Antone, a world-champion mixologist and head of the Bartending School of Mixology in Hartford, Connecticut. Nobody is sure exactly how the drink was created, whether directly for the McKesson company or if an existing beverage was used. Antone’s grandson has implied an earlier cocktail called “Duke’s Screwdriver” was renamed for the campaign. Despite its corporate origins, the Harvey Wallbanger proved to be quite popular going into the decade of the 1970s. 

Antone also created a tequila-based riff on this drink, called the Freddy Fudpacker. It never really caught on for some reason.

What is Galliano?

Galliano is an Italian liqueur that was first introduced in 1896. Named after Royal Italian Army officer Giuseppe Galliano, this yellow-colored liqueur is sweet and herbal, featuring vanilla forward notes as well as anise and citrus. It can be enjoyed as a digestif as well as in cocktails like the Harvey Wallbanger.

What is the Best Vodka to Use in a Harvey Wallbanger?

When choosing a vodka for tonight’s drink, or any other, I usually lean towards the crispest and cleanest tasting spirits I can get. The selection where I live is good, so I can usually get some top-shelf stuff at very generous prices. Rye or potato Polish vodka mixes nicely with just about everything, with the rye bringing a little more heat. Japanese Nikka Coffey vodka is very bright and immaculate in its taste and texture. If you see a bottle of that, treat yourself and pick one up.

What type of glassware and garnish is used?

Grab your highball glass filled with ice to enjoy a Harvey Wallbanger. Garnish with the traditional orange slice and maraschino cherry.

Why do you pour the liqueur over the back of a spoon?

Pouring the Galliano slowly over the back of a spoon will help fan it out and “float” it atop the rest of your mixture.

Similar Drinks to the Harvey Wallbanger

Have you ever felt the urge to throw a 1970s-themed party, complete with feathered hair, beige bell bottoms and a fishbowl full of keys? Just me? Well, if a time travel-esque soirée doesn’t tickle your fancy, just making some of the era’s cocktails might be a more relaxing evening. Take a look at some of the recipes Twist & Toast has on their site.

• Pink Squirrel – Creamy, pink and frothy, this 1970s favorite is still enjoyable in the 21st century.
• Long Island Iced Tea – A fully loaded classic from the Me Decade.
• Brass Monkey – This funky monkey from the 70s stayed relevant due in part to the Beastie Boys song.
• 7&7 – Another stellar and simple cocktail that’ll take you right back to some groovy times.