Old Pal
The bone-dry, rye-driven cousin of the Boulevardier.
Time
3 min
Difficulty
Easy
Glass
Coupe or rocks
Method
Stirred
The Method
How to make it
- 01
Add rye, dry vermouth, and Campari to a mixing glass with ice.
- 02
Stir for 20–25 seconds until well chilled and properly diluted.
- 03
Strain into a chilled coupe or rocks glass over fresh ice.
- 04
Express a lemon twist over the surface, then drop it in.
Bartender's Tip
Lemon, not orange. The lemon's brightness is what keeps the dry vermouth and Campari from feeling austere — orange peel pushes it back toward Negroni territory.
A Little History
First published in Harry McElhone's 1922 book Barflies and Cocktails, the Old Pal was created at Harry's New York Bar in Paris for sportswriter William 'Sparrow' Robertson. It pre-dates the Boulevardier and swaps sweet vermouth for dry, giving you something far drier and more spirit-forward.
