Harvey Wallbanger

Want a twist on the Screwdriver? Try the Harvey Wallbanger — a recipe for its more sophisticated cousin drink.

It’s time for another 1970s drink — the Harvey Wallbanger! This easy highball cocktail is the Screwdriver‘s more sophisticated cousin. It might sound low-brow, but this drink stars Galliano, an herbal Italian liqueur invented in the 1890s. It gives this otherwise boring brunch drink a complex, funky herbal finish. It’s worth grabbing a specialty bottle of liquor for, in my opinion!

Harvey Wallbanger ingredients

This highball cocktail is a variation on the Screwdriver, featuring orange juice, vodka, and Galliano liqueur. Like many famous cocktails, the exact origin of this drink is unknown. Some sources say it was invented in the 1950s by a bartender named Duke Antone, but other research says it doesn’t hold up.

What I do know is that in the 1960s, the company that imports Galliano liqueur hired a man to create a cartoon of Harvey Wallbanger to sell the drink. The image of the colorful, anxious-looking surfer dude caught on and helped the drink become massively popular in the 1970s.

Of course, like any fad, Harvey’s popularity has faded. But this drink is worth reviving! Harvey Wallbanger ingredients include:

• Vodka
• Orange juice (fresh squeezed, if possible)
• Galliano liqueur

What’s Galliano? Is it worth buying?

Confession: I wasn’t alive in the heyday of Galliano. But this gave me the advantage of tasting it without preconceived notions. Is it worth buying a bottle of Galliano for a Harvey Wallbanger? Here’s my assessment:

• Galliano is a bright yellow, sweet herbal Italian liqueur. It’s been made in Tuscany, Italy, since 1896.
• What does Galliano taste like? It’s sweet and complex, with a strong vanilla flavor and subtle notes of anise, juniper, peppermint, cinnamon, and citrus.
• How much does Galliano cost? It costs about $17 to $20 for a 375 ml bottle and about $30 to $35 for a 750 ml bottle. I recommend getting the small size, since you’ll only use a bit at a time.
• Is it worth buying? Yes! You can drink it as a digestif (a shot after a meal) or mix it into Galliano cocktails. Try the Golden Dream, Golden Cadillac, and Yellow Bird.

Three tips for the best Harvey Wallbanger

Once you’ve got your bottle of Galliano, making this recipe is a breeze. It’s essentially just mixing the ingredients…But I have a few tips for how to make the best drink experience.

• Float the Galliano on top. Once you’ve mixed your orange juice and vodka, pour the Galliano onto the back of a spoon into the drink. This helps the liquid to slow down and settle on the top of the drink. You’ll get a beautiful, sweet vanilla whiff every time you take a sip.
• Use fresh-squeezed orange juice if you can. The fragrant flavor of fresh juice wins every time. You can make it with bottled, but fresh-squeezed is best.
• Use clear ice. Make a batch of clear ice to get the beautiful look in the photos above. It makes crystal clear ice that looks like it’s from a craft cocktail bar, versus cloudy ice that comes out of an ice tray.

Garnish and serve! Your guests will be mega impressed.

More 1970s drinks

Love drinking retro drinks that scream of the 1970s? I love cocktails from all eras. Here are a few more greats from the ’70s:

• Amaretto Stone Sour: Amaretto was king in the ’70s! This drink pairs it with orange juice and sour mix.
• French Connection: Equal parts Cognac and amaretto make a sophisticated slow-sipper! Dubbed for the 1970s movie of the same name.
• Rusty Nail: Born in the 1930s, but popular in the 1970s! Stars Scotch and Drambuie.
• Fuzzy Navel: It’s more 1980s, but this retro combo of peach schnapps and OJ is a winner.
• Best Alabama Slammer: Signature 1970s — OJ, amaretto, and sloe gin.
• Godfather Cocktail: A simple mix of Scotch and amaretto.

Serving suggestions

This cocktail works for brunch or lazy afternoons on the patio. Drink it as a:

• Brunch drink
• Summer drink
• Afternoon drink
• Patio drink
• Happy hour drink
• Cocktail hour drink

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