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Cocktail History
The Old Pal is a classic cocktail that was created by bartender Harry MacElhone in the early 1900s at his bar Harry’s New York Bar in Paris, France. It’s one of two popular variations of the Negroni that call for equal-parts spirit, vermouth, Campari, and citrus. This version swaps out the gin for an aged whiskey and sweet vermouth for dry, and it’s believed to have been named for William Harrison “Sparrow” Robertson, a writer at the Herald Tribune who used to call everyone he met “old pal.”
Cocktail Ingredients
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following ingredients:
Rye: This is a type of whiskey made with at least 51% rye grain, malted barley, corn, and water. I used Sazerac Rye 18-Year-Old Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey.
Dry Vermouth: This is a fortified wine made with grapes, sugar, botanicals, herbs, sugar, and alcohol. I used Dolin Dry Vermouth de Chambéry.
Campari: This is a liqueur made in Italy with gentian root, rhubarb, citrus, herbs, aromatic plants, fruit, and alcohol.
Orange Twist: This is the peel of an orange that has been twisted into a corkscrew shape.
Bartending Tools
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following bar tools:
Jigger: This is used to measure and pour ingredients. I used the Japanese jigger from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.
Mixing Glass: This is used to hold the ingredients while they’re being stirred. I used the Viski 17 oz Cocktail Mixing Glass.
Bar Spoon: This is used to stir ingredients. I used the Barfly Stainless Steel Teardrop Bar Spoon.
Julep Strainer: This is used to strain out ice and solid ingredients after the cocktail is stirred. I used the A Bar Above Julep Strainer.
Ice Mold: This is used to make a clear ice cube. I used the BERLINZO Premium Clear Ice Cube Maker Mold.
Peeler: This is used to remove the garnish peel from the citrus. I used the OXO Good Grips 2-Piece Peeler Set.
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Tasting Notes
This cocktail has the following flavor profile:
• Appearance: Vibrant orange-red color
• Aroma: Whiskey spices and bitter orange
• Taste: Distinct spicy rye flavor at first that’s balanced by fortified wine
• Finish: Bitter gentian root and citrus
Kendall’s Rating: ⭐⭐
Kendall’s Take: “This is an incredibly dry and equally-as-bitter cocktail that landed at the bottom of the Negroni variations I’ve tried. I honestly couldn’t handle more than a couple of sips, but from what I did try, I could tell you the Old Pal is still very similar to the Negroni or Boulevardier but my least favorite of the three because the rye is quite harsh. I recommend whipping up all three to find your favorite too.”
Recipe
This cocktail recipe was adapted from The Official Downton Abbey Cocktail Book: Appropriate Libations for All Occasions by Lou Bustamante.
This post contains affiliate links, meaning we make a small commission each time you purchase a product using our links. Product images sourced from Amazon Product Advertising API. Amazon affiliate links last updated on 2025-01-22.
Old Pal
The Old Pal is a classic cocktail that was created by bartender Harry MacElhone in the early 1900s at his bar Harry’s New York Bar in Paris, France. It's one of two popular variations of the Negroni that call for equal-parts spirit, vermouth, Campari, and citrus. This version swaps out the gin for an aged whiskey and sweet vermouth for dry, and it's believed to have been named for William Harrison “Sparrow” Robertson, a writer at the Herald Tribune who used to call everyone he met “old pal."
Ingredients
Method
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Add rye, vermouth, Campari, and cubed ice to a mixing glass.
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Stir for 30-45 seconds.
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Strain into a lowball glass over a clear ice ball.
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Garnish with orange twist.
