Old Pal

A bone-dry, bitter cousin of the Boulevardier: equal parts rye whiskey, dry vermouth, and Campari, stirred cold and served up. Swapping the Boulevardier's sweet vermouth for French dry strips away the plushness and lets the rye's spice and Campari's bitter-orange edge cut clean. It first appeared in print in Harry MacElhone's 1927 "Barflies and Cocktails," named for William "Sparrow" Robinson, the New York Herald's sports editor in Prohibition-era Paris.

AperitivoClassicSpirit-ForwardBitter Sipper

Ingredients

  • 1 ozRye Whiskey
  • 1 ozDry Vermouth
  • 1 ozCampari

Garnish: Lemon Peel

Preparation

Stirred · Coupe · None

  1. 1.

    add

    Combine the rye whiskey, dry vermouth, and Campari in a mixing glass with ice.

  2. 2.

    stir

    Stir until well chilled and properly diluted, about 20-30 seconds.

  3. 3.

    strain

    Strain into a chilled coupe glass.

  4. 4.

    express

    Express a lemon twist over the surface and drop it in.

Flavor Profile

bitter
43%
herbal
41%
spiced
29%
body
28%
sweet
17%
fruity
17%
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