Old Pal Cocktail Recipe & Ingredients: The Bold Prohibition-Era Classic That’ll Make You Rethink Negronis

Ever wondered what happens when a Manhattan gets frisky with a Negroni? 😅 Meet the Old Pal – the cocktail that proves sometimes the best friends are the bitter ones! 🥃 This is one of my all-time favorite cocktails!

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Old Pal Cocktail

Recipe by Jedain Arron

5.0 from 1 vote

The Old Pal is a sophisticated three-ingredient cocktail that combines the spicy kick of rye whiskey with the bitter embrace of Campari and the dry elegance of French vermouth in perfect harmony.

Course: Coupe Glass, Nick and Nora Glass, Rocks (Old-Fashioned) GlassCuisine: Prohibition-EraDifficulty: Easy

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Servings

1

servings

Calories

300

kcal

Total time

2

minutes

Ingredients

• 1 Ounce Rye Whiskey

• 1 Ounce Campari

• 1 Ounce Dry Vermouth

• 1 Piece Lemon twist (for garnish)

Directions

• Fill a mixing glass with ice.
• Pour in the rye whiskey, Campari, and dry vermouth.
• Stir thoroughly for 30 seconds until well-chilled.
• Strain into a chilled coupe glass.
• Express lemon oils over the drink and garnish with the twist.

Equipment

• A Bar Above Diamond Cut Cocktail Mixing GlassBuy this mixing glass here
• A Bar Above Gold Japanese JiggerBuy this jigger here
• A Bar Above Stainless Steel Long Bar Spoons (Gold)Buy this spoon here
• A Bar Above Gold Julep StrainerBuy it here
• A Bar Above Channel Knife Stainless (Gold)Buy this carver here
• Viski Angled Stemmed Crystal Coupe GlassBuy this glass here

Notes

• Store vermouth in the fridge after opening – it’s wine-based and will spoil!
• For a lighter version, substitute Aperol for Campari

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Why I Like It

As Ross from Friends would say, “This drink is my lobster!” 🦞 The Old Pal hits differently because it’s got that perfect balance of bite and sophistication. It’s like the cool older cousin of the Negroni who studied abroad in Paris and came back with an attitude.

Best Ingredients For an Old Pal

• Rye Whiskey: Rittenhouse Rye 100 proof (my ride-or-die choice)
• Campari: No substitutes here, folks
• Dry Vermouth: Dolin Dry (accept no imitations)

The True History of the Old Pal Cocktail

The Old Pal is often misunderstood and wrongly attributed. Common sources like Punch, Liquor.com, and Difford’s Guide claim the drink was created by Harry MacElhone, the owner of Harry’s New York Bar in Paris during the 1920s.

They say it was named after William “Sparrow” Robertson, a sports editor for the New York Herald Tribune in Paris. However, this is incorrect.

What Really Happened?

• The Old Pal was first mentioned in MacElhone’s book Barflies and Cocktails but not in the main text.
• It appears in an essay at the end of the book, written by Arthur Moss, a separate author.
• In that essay, William “Sparrow” Robertson is credited as the creator of the drink, not just the namesake.
• Moss recounts a confusing story where Robertson created the drink during a conversation in 1878 (notably on the fictional date of February 30), mentioning the mix of Canadian Club, Italian vermouth, and Campari.
• Harry MacElhone never claimed credit, but over time, the story became distorted, and he was incorrectly attributed as the creator.

Clarification and Final Credit

Despite Moss’s confusing narrative, the true creator is Robertson, and the cocktail was named in honor of Moss’s “old pal”—Robertson himself. Arthur Moss’s essay clarifies that Sparrow Robertson invented the Old Pal. MacElhone’s later editions acknowledged this, giving credit to Robertson.

Final Thoughts

The Old Pal might not be as famous as its cousins the Negroni or Manhattan, but that’s what makes it special. It’s the perfect cocktail for those nights when you want something slightly sophisticated but with enough attitude to keep things interesting! 🥂