Harvey Wallbanger

The Harvey Wallbanger is a mixed drink made with vodka, Galliano, and orange juice.

Cocktail
TypeMixed drink
Primary alcohol by volume
ServedOn the rocks; poured over ice
Standard garnishorange slice and maraschino cherry
Standard drinkware
Highball glass
Commonly used ingredients
PreparationStir the vodka and orange juice with ice in the glass, then float the Galliano on top. Garnish and serve.
TimingAll day

History

The Harvey Wallbanger appears in literature as early as 1971.[1][2] The cocktail is reputed to have been invented in 1952 by three-time world champion mixologist Donato "Duke" Antone, and named by Antone after a surfer frequenting Antone's Blackwatch Bar in Los Angeles. However, recent research by culinary historians casts doubt on this theory. Robert Simonson goes so far as to say that "no sane person ever believed that story."[3] Simonson emphasizes the lack of a historical record for any Blackwatch Bar, and indicates that, in fact, Antone lived in Hartford, Connecticut, rather than Los Angeles during the relevant period.[4]

Other historians such as David Wondrich emphasize the role of McKesson Imports Company and its marketing team for developing the drink, confirming among other things that the company commissioned a graphic artist to develop a "Harvey Wallbanger" sandal-clad surfer mascot in the late 1960s.[4] It is known that McKesson executive George Bednar was instrumental in promoting the drink as a means of selling its component Galliano liqueur, and Bednar claimed to have penned a popular tagline for the drink: "Harvey Wallbanger is the name. And I can be made!".[5][6]

Other uses
  • The 1973 Dan Hicks song, "Payday Blues," includes the spoken line: "I'm buying this round, bartender! Make mine a Harvey Wallbanger."
  • The 1982 Milwaukee Brewers, winners of the American League pennant, were nicknamed "Harvey's Wallbangers," because of the team's power hitting (wall banging) under mid-season manager Harvey Kuenn. After a mediocre 23–24 start to the season, manager Buck Rodgers was fired. Under Kuenn, the team went 72–43 (.626), led the Major Leagues in home runs and total bases, and produced the highest team OPS+ since the 1931 New York Yankees.[7][8][9][10][11]
  • The SAS sometimes referred to C4 explosive charges as "Harvey Wall-bangers."
  • Harvey Wallbanger is sometimes used to refer to the Wall Follower maze solving algorithm.
  • Harvey Wallbanger was the puppet character who ran the "dead-letter" post office on the Canadian children's show, The Hilarious House of Frightenstein.
  • In CB lingo, a Harvey Wallbanger is a drunk driver; specifically, one who continually drifts across the road from one shoulder to the other and back.
  • Conservative talk-show host Michael Savage refers to rival conservative talk-show host Sean Hannity as Harvey Wallbanger. [12]
  • In Sesame Street, a character named Harvey Kneeslapper, who was fond of practical jokes and riddles, appeared for a time.
  • The rapper and producer Tony D used the alias Harvee Wallbangar on some of his releases.
  • The drink is mentioned in a scene in the 2018 comedy Game Night
  • The drink is ordered by a villain in a train in a scene in the 2010 action comedy Knight and Day
  • The drink is mentioned in Season 3 Episode 9 of Designated Survivor.
  • The drink is mentioned repeatedly in the second scene of Season 1 Episode 11 of The Americans.
  • In The Simpsons episode "Flaming Moe's" (Season 3 Episode 10) Homer is told by attorney Lionel Hutz that "You can't copyright a drink. This all goes back to the 'Frank Wallbanger' case of '78."
  • In All In the Family Season 8 Episode 7 Archie and Meathead don't know what a Harvey Wallbanger is, so they serve 3 whiskeys mixed together with orange juice.
  • In the film See No Evil, Hear No Evil, Richard Pryor's character notes a fondness for Harvey Wallbangers
  • The fifth track on Greetings & Salutations from Less Than Jake, a compilation album by American ska punk band Less Than Jake, is titled and heavily references "Harvey Wallbanger".
  • Mentioned in the 2020 Call the Midwife Christmas Special as having been sampled in 1926 by Miss Higgins, Dr. Turner's receptionist.
  • In the Movie Mystery Men the character Casanova Frankenstein drinks a Harvey Wallbanger.

References

Notes

  1. Commercial prints and labels: Volumes 21–26 by Library of Congress. Copyright Office in 1971
  2. "Harvey Wallbanger is taking Bloody Mary's place at brunch; try a drink with Galliano." Sports illustrated, p. 9 (May 31, 1971).
  3. Dangremond, Sam (July 20, 2015). "How Classic Cocktails got their name". Town & Country Magazine.
  4. Simonson, Robert (December 14, 2012). "Searching for Harvey Wallbanger". Saveur Magazine. Archived from the original on February 20, 2016. Retrieved February 5, 2016.
  5. "Obituary: George Bednar, 65, Was Successful Entrepreneur". News-Times (Danbury, CT). December 12, 2007.
  6. Long, Sherry (December 11, 2007). "Area Cocktail King, Football Star Bednar Dies". Wilkes-Barre (PA) Times-Leader.
  7. Lacy, J (1967). ”Mixologist Face the World with Confidence” The Hartford Courant; Hartford CT
  8. Willis, J.C. (1973). “Here's Practical Guide to Mixing Drinks”: Hartford Times: Hartford CT
  9. Ryan, B. (1972). “An Engaging Class Knows the Latest in Libation” The Hartford Times: Hartford CT
  10. Linsley, C. (1972). “25 Years of New Bartenders” Hartford Times: Hartford CT.
  11. "Are You Ready to Get a Taste of the Harvey Wallbanger?".
  12. "Michael Savage explains why he calls Sean Hannity 'the Wallbanger'". MFP. 5 May 2014.
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