Old Pal
How to Make
Combine ingredients in a mixing glass, add ice, and stir. Strain over fresh rocks in a short tumbler. Garnish with a lemon twist.
The recipe calls for equal parts of all three ingredients, but, if you're particular to one or another, feel free to play around. It is highly unlikely that this cocktail will explode violently in your face.
Recipe from Museum of the American Cocktail pocket book.
Ingredients
Makes one drink:
- 1 ounce Rye Whiskey
- 3/4 ounce Dry Vermouth
- 3/4 ounce Campari
Garnish
Lemon Twist
Prep Time
2 Minutes
Tools
- Bar Spoon
- Julep Strainer
- Knife
- Mixing glass
- Short Tumbler
Bartender Stories
One of the most enjoyable aspects of working behind a bar is experimenting with my own palate. I once lamented to good friend and fellow bartender Aaron Blakely that I had yet to experience a breakthrough with Campari. I just couldn't find the bridge between a Negroni and a Campari and soda that would allow me to enjoy the stuff for the first time.
And so, by way of a new friend, I was introduced to the Old Pal. For whatever reason, the spice of the rye and the blunt grape of dry vermouth, we overcame my mouth's hurdle. The Old Pal is as complex as its sister Negroni in every way, but lends itself toward a palate preferring spice to botanicals, or more subtle, dry complexity than is usually achieved with Rouge.