Old Pal Cocktail recipe
Rating
Can you make this?
Add the ingredients you have at home to your My Bar and we'll show you what cocktails you can make. Start off by adding the ingredients you have for this cocktail using the plus icons.
Old Pal is a bracing, equal-parts rye cocktail that sits in the same family as the Negroni and Boulevardier, swapping gin or bourbon for spicy rye and using dry (white) vermouth for a leaner profile. You’ll find it’s often linked with early 20th-century aperitif drinking, when bitter liqueurs and vermouth-forward, spiritous cocktails became fixtures of bar culture. However you place its exact origin, it reads as a purposeful twist on the bitter-sweet template: drier, sharper, and built for people who like their classics with an edge.
On the palate, rye whiskey brings peppery warmth and grainy depth, while Campari lays down a firm, bittersweet backbone that lingers. White vermouth lightens and tightens the mix, adding a crisp, herbal dryness that reins in Campari’s sweetness and lets the rye’s spice stay front and centre. With everything in equal measure, expect a clean, assertive balance where bitterness and spice lead, and the finish stays dry.
Serve it in a cocktail glass when you want an aperitif that wakes up your appetite and your attention. It suits pre-dinner drinks, late-afternoon catch-ups, or any moment you’d normally reach for a Negroni but want something less plush and more angular. If you enjoy bitter profiles and rye-forward cocktails, this one quickly becomes a go-to.
Microbadges
Can you make this?
Add the ingredients you have at home to your My Bar and we'll show you what cocktails you can make. Start off by adding the ingredients you have for this cocktail using the plus icons.
Cocktail Colin says:
Rye whiskey leads with peppery grain and a dry snap, while Campari brings assertive bitter orange and herbal bite, all tightened by the crisp, lightly floral edge of white vermouth. The equal parts balance works because the vermouth’s dryness reins in Campari’s bitterness as rye’s spice keeps it lively; ideal for bitter-forward drinkers who want a lean, bracing sipper.
Method
How to make a Old Pal
- Rye whiskey 30ml, Campari 30ml, White vermouth 30ml
-
- Add all the ingredients into a mixing glass with ice
-
- Stir until well combined then strain into a chilled cocktail glass
-
- Garnish with an orange slice and serve
Power tips
Elevate the Old Pal with these master mixologist tips
Upgrade to premium
And receive world class tips on how to raise your cocktails to the next level.
Find out more- Store your rye whiskey in the freezer for a few hours before making the cocktail; this will slightly thicken the spirit and make the drink smoother.
- Express the oils from an orange peel over the top of the drink before garnishing for an added layer of aroma and flavor.
- Upgrade to premium to receive even more power tips on this cocktail.
Your private tasting notes
Featured in
FAQ's
What is the origin of the Old Pal cocktail?
The Old Pal is a classic cocktail that is believed to have originated in Paris in the early 1920s. It was first mentioned in Harry MacElhone's 1922 book, 'Harry's ABC of Mixing Cocktails.' Harry MacElhone, the owner of Harry's New York Bar in Paris, credited the creation of the drink to a friend and fellow expatriate, William 'Sparrow' Robertson, a sports editor for the New York Herald in Paris. The Old Pal is a variation of the Negroni and the Boulevardier, substituting rye whiskey for gin or bourbon and using dry vermouth instead of sweet, making it drier and spicier than its counterparts.
Can I substitute bourbon for rye whiskey in an Old Pal?
Yes, you can substitute bourbon for rye whiskey in an Old Pal, although it will slightly alter the original flavor profile. Bourbon tends to be sweeter and less spicy than rye whiskey, which may result in a smoother, sweeter cocktail. This variation is actually closer to another related cocktail, the Boulevardier, which traditionally uses bourbon. However, using bourbon is a good way to experiment with different flavors and make the drink more to your personal preference.
What is the best way to serve an Old Pal?
The best way to serve an Old Pal is chilled, but not diluted. It should be stirred with ice and then strained into a cold cocktail glass. Garnishing is not traditional for an Old Pal, aiming to maintain its clean, crisp profile. However, you might consider a lemon twist or a thin orange peel for a subtle addition of citrus aroma. Serving it in a cocktail glass enhances its elegance and allows the drinker to enjoy its complex flavors fully.
What foods pair well with an Old Pal?
The Old Pal, with its bitter, spicy, and slightly herbal taste profile, pairs well with rich, savory dishes. Foods that have a fatty component, like steak or a rich cheese platter, can complement the cocktail’s dryness and spiciness. Additionally, charcuterie, such as salami or prosciutto, can balance the bitterness of the Campari. For a lighter option, consider pairing it with grilled vegetables or seafood dishes, as the dryness of the vermouth can complement these flavors beautifully.
How does the alcohol content in an Old Pal compare to other classic cocktails?
With an alcohol content of 28%, the Old Pal is on the stronger side compared to many classic cocktails. For comparison, a classic Martini might have an alcohol content around 30-32%, depending on the gin and vermouth used, making it slightly stronger. A Manhattan, another whiskey-based cocktail similar to the Old Pal, typically has an alcohol content around 30% as well. Meanwhile, lighter cocktails such as the Mojito or Aperol Spritz have alcohol contents closer to 10-15%, making the Old Pal a stronger choice for those who prefer a drink with a bit more kick.
Upgrade your mixology
Become a member for free taking your cocktail making skills up to level 11. Or become a premium member to rise to cocktail greatness.
- Save your bar forever
- Access to our Cocktail Creator, allowing you to create your own wonderful concoctions.
- Access to Cocktail Colin; ask Cocktail Colin anything on an individual cocktail and he'll give you the answers you need.
- Create personalised cocktail menus for all your events, bars or parties
- Save cocktails to personalised 'Tried' and 'Want to try' lists
- Create and record tasting notes on cocktails
- Create lists of cocktails to share with friends and family
- A personalised MyBar URL, allowing you to share everything you can make with friends
- And much more ... (what to buy next, measurement choices, search personalisation...)
Have you tried our Wordpress Plugin?
Download our plugin and embed cocktail recipes directly onto your own site or blog.
Choose from our whole recipe database, or choose a specific cocktail made with a certain ingredient, and let us place a beautiful recipe on your own site.
Find out moreYou might also like
Dive into this bittersweet mix of Aperol and orange.
Garibaldi
Campari, Orange juice, Sugar / simple syrup
Explore this citrusy blend of gin and grapefruit.
Salmoncito
Gin, Campari, Grapefruit juice, Tonic water
Try this sophisticated twist of Campari and gin
Lucien Gaudin
Dry gin, Triple sec, Campari, White vermouth
Try this vibrant citrus cocktail with a Campari kick
Colombo
Campari, Lime juice, Orange juice, Lemon juice, Gomme syrup
Create a cocktail
Choose a theme and some ingredients, give us some description and we'll create an amazing cocktail for you.
Register as a Premium Make Me a Cocktail community member and get access to an even more powerful creator.
Start creatingBuild your bar
Tell us what you have at home and we’ll find a delicious cocktail for you to make right now.
Register as a Make Me a Cocktail community member and we’ll save your ingredients list so you can come back to it at any time.
Create My Bar
Cocktail Colin
Your cocktail expert
Hi! I'm Cocktail Colin
Ask me anything about this cocktail - how to make it, substitutions, variations, or any other questions!
Become a member to access Cocktail Colin
Become a member (for free) to pick Cocktail Colin's cocktail filled brain on everything on this cocktail, from substitutions, if you can use what you have, to serving suggestions and more.
Become a member
Comments