The Harvey Wallbanger recipe
for your table
Fill the tall glass to the rim with ice cubes. A glass full of ice melts more slowly than just a few cubes, so the juice stays full-flavored longer instead of becoming watery.
Pour 4 cl of vodka over the ice and top up with 12 cl of freshly squeezed orange juice. Stir briefly so the vodka mixes with the juice; up to this point, it’s a screwdriver.
Slowly pour 1.5 cl of Galliano into the glass over the back of a bar spoon as the final step. The liqueur is sweeter and heavier than the juice, so it stays on top as a layer.
Place an orange slice on the rim and serve immediately. If you stir it, the layer disappears and the vanilla-anise note spreads throughout the glass.
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The story
At its core, the Harvey Wallbanger is a screwdriver with Galliano on top, and that small addition changes it completely: while the screwdriver is mainly vodka and orange, here a golden, herbal liqueur with vanilla and anise rests above the juice. The story behind the name is about a surfer who walked into a wall after a few drinks. That is folklore; it is impossible to establish for certain who he was or where it happened, so let’s leave it at that. What is certain is the composition: plenty of ice, vodka, juice and Galliano last.
The right glass
The Harvey Wallbanger belongs in a tall, straight-sided glass: the layer of Galliano on top is half the fun, and you can only see it when the glass is narrow and tall. Room for plenty of ice is just as important, because over 17 cl of drink plus a glass full of ice calls for a capacity of 36 cl or more. At 17 cm tall and 6 cm wide, the 36 cl Arcoroc Islande is the narrower of the two, and its description calls it the largest straight-sided glass in that series. The 47 cl Bormioli Rocco Diamond is somewhat wider, but its description specifically says that this tall model is suitable for layered highballs, and you can fit more ice in it. You can find a shorter model among the tumblers.
Arcoroc Islande Highball Glass 36 cl (6 pieces)
Bormioli Rocco Diamond Highball Glass 47 cl (6 pieces)
Both sets together € 35,90.
The right tools
For a Harvey Wallbanger, besides the glass, use a jigger to measure the 4 cl of vodka and 1.5 cl of Galliano, and a citrus juicer for freshly squeezed orange juice. These are the bar tools we use ourselves; you can find everything in our bar tools & cocktail sets.
Glassware set (our pick 01) + 2 bar tools together € 39,85.
Variations & twists
Leave out the Galliano and you simply have a screwdriver. Swap the vodka for tequila and it's called a freddy fudpucker, with the same layer of Galliano on top. Adding a splash of sambuca instead of Galliano gives a sharper anise note, but you miss the vanilla that gives the drink its rounded character. And with juice from a carton, you get something different in your glass: sweeter, flatter, and without the pulp that the golden layer stands out against so beautifully. Looking for more inspiration? Browse more than 100 cocktail recipes.
Serving tip
Press the juice shortly before serving; orange juice loses its freshness within an hour. Chill the glass and the juice beforehand, so the ice has less work to do. Serve it without stirring, with a straw on the side, so your guest can decide whether to mix in the layer.
Good to know
Why is the Galliano added last?
Galliano is sweeter and therefore heavier than orange juice, and if you gently pour it over the back of a bar spoon, it stays on top as a visible layer. That isn't just for looks: your nose is positioned right above the vanilla and anise with the first sip, and that's what distinguishes a harvey wallbanger from a screwdriver.
What is Galliano, anyway?
A golden Italian liqueur with vanilla and anise, made with herbs and spices. It's sweet and spicy at the same time, and in this cocktail it's the only flavor that doesn't come from the vodka or the juice. Without Galliano, the drink is simply called a screwdriver again.
Freshly squeezed or from a carton?
It makes a real difference. Freshly squeezed juice is more acidic, thinner and contains pulp, making the Galliano layer stand out more sharply. Juice from a carton is naturally sweeter and heavier, making the cocktail rounder but also flatter. If you squeeze it yourself, remove the seeds with a citrus press.
How much ice do you put in it?
Fill the glass to the rim. A glass full of ice melts more slowly than a few cubes, so the drink becomes less diluted. Large cubes or a full glass work better than crushed ice, which melts too quickly in a drink you don't shake.
How strong is it?
The glass contains 4 cl of vodka at around 40 percent ABV, 1.5 cl of liqueur and 12 cl of juice. That makes it one of the lighter long drinks. The juice makes the vodka less noticeable, so measure out the 4 cl rather than pouring by eye.
Frequently asked questions
What is in a Harvey Wallbanger?
Vodka, orange juice and Galliano, in a tall glass with plenty of ice. The ratio is approximately 4 cl vodka, 12 cl orange juice and 1.5 cl Galliano, garnished with an orange slice.
What's the difference from a screwdriver?
The Galliano. A screwdriver is vodka with orange juice; a Harvey Wallbanger is the same drink with 1.5 cl of Galliano added on top at the end. That layer of vanilla and anise is the whole difference.
Where does the name come from?
There is a story about a surfer who walked into a wall after a few drinks. That's folklore and can't be verified, so we call it that and leave years and places out of it.
Which glass do you use for a Harvey Wallbanger?
A tall, straight long drink glass of 36 cl or more. The tall, narrow shape keeps the Galliano layer visible, and the size leaves room for a glass full of ice alongside the more than 17 cl of drink.
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