Name: Old Pal
Prep time: PT3 MinM
Yield: 1 Cocktail
Ingredients: 1 oz Rye Whiskey; 1 oz Dry Vermouth; 1 oz Campari; Lemon Twist, for garnish

Everything You Need to Know About the Old Pal

If you like a Boulevardier but want something a little drier and sharper, meet the Old Pal. Built with rye whiskey, Campari and dry vermouth, this three-ingredient classic swaps the Boulevardier's bourbon and sweet vermouth for spicy rye and dry vermouth, creating a leaner, more bracing cocktail with plenty of whiskey character. The Old Pal dates to Prohibition-era Paris, appearing in Harry MacElhone's 1927 Barflies and Cocktails, where the drink is credited to William "Sparrow" Robinson, sports editor for The New York Herald in Paris. Like the Boulevardier and Negroni, the original formula uses equal parts spirit, vermouth and Campari, making it both easy to remember and exceptionally easy to make.

Old Pal

Prep Time3 Min

Yield1 Cocktail

Base SpiritRye Whiskey, Dry Vermouth, Campari

Ingredients

1 oz Rye Whiskey
1 oz Dry Vermouth
1 oz Campari
Lemon Twist, for garnish

The Old Pal Is The Drier, Spicier Cousin Of The Boulevardier

Instructions

Fill a mixing glass with ice.
Add the rye whiskey, dry vermouth and Campari.
Stir for about 20 seconds until well chilled.
Strain into a chilled coupe or cocktail glass.
Express a lemon twist over the drink and use it as garnish.

Pro Tip

Keep your dry vermouth refrigerated after opening. Vermouth is wine-based and begins to oxidize once opened, so a fresh bottle will make a noticeably brighter Old Pal.

Old Pal Riff

Want something a little richer and sweeter? Swap the rye for bourbon and the dry vermouth for sweet vermouth and you've essentially arrived at the Old Pal's better-known relative, the Boulevardier.

The Old Pal Is The Drier, Spicier Cousin Of The Boulevardier

Everything You Need to Know About the Old Pal